Happy Table is a Lutheran Services initiative raising the bar on mealtimes in aged care. It’s about good nutrition, the joy of wholesome food, delicious menu choices and a friendly dining experience.
Good nutrition is the foundation for wellbeing and quality of life. It leads to improved immunity, more independence and improved moods. Good nutrition can also reduce the risk of falls, pressure injuries and unplanned weight loss. Because life is better when we dine well, engage our senses and enjoy each day.
Happy Table is an evidence-based approach to delivering exceptional food and dining experiences that tackle malnutrition. It’s a comprehensive program encompassing food science and social strategies, alongside an expert dietitian service, toolbox talks, nutrition challenges and on-site Nutrition Champions. Importantly it is also a food first approach.
The science shows boosting nutrition rates is not as simple as eating more or having white tablecloths and candles. We know it is a complex play of delivering tasty, nutritious fresh food in a welcoming, home-like setting where people have the time to relax and enjoy their dining experience.
Food first means making sure residents get their nutrition through real, fresh and healthy food. Recipes devised by experts deliver optimum protein, are nutritious and fortified with wholesome ingredients. This means less reliance on supplements to fill in the nutritional gaps. It’s all about improving quality of life through the joy and benefits of good food.