Celebrity TV Chef Rosemary Shrager Judges ‘Bake Off’ At Avante Home

Celebrity TV Chef Rosemary Shrager judges ‘Bake Off’ at Court Regis Care Home

Nutrition and Hydration Week took place last week and to support this staff from Avante Care and Support care homes from around Kent took part in a ‘Bake Off’ competition with Celebrity Chef Rosemary Shrager judging the event.

Avante Partnership, along with many other care providers across England held afternoon tea parties to help raise awareness for the importance of good food provision and good nutritional care too.

Last Tuesday (18th March) Court Regis care home in Middletune Avenue, Sittingbourne was the venue for the alliance between Avante Care Home Managers with their respective Cooks from other care homes for the ‘Bake Off’.

Cakes were presented from a number of their care homes, with Rosemary and nominated residents judging them. Sophie Murray, Avante’s Head of Nutrition and Hydration had organised the “Bake Off” event which was part of a big tea party for the residents.

Afterwards Sophie said; “The staff were excited when Rosemary agreed to judge the “Bake Off” event.  We have a relationship with Rosemary as last year the Cooks attended a specially-devised cookery course at the celebrity’s new cookery school in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.  This was to help them in their work preparing a range of meals each day for residents, improving nutrition for those with dementia in residential care.

‘Nutrition and Hydration Week’ was introduced by the NACC (National Association of Care Caterers) and is attracting more awareness than ever, extending this year as far as Australia, India and Florida, who are also joining in by holding tea parties too.

One of the issues within care catering that is gaining increasing awareness is the problem of malnutrition.  It is estimated that 8% of the elderly are at risk from malnutrition which broadly means they may be low in weight and losing weight.  Malnutrition can lead to health complications, reduced quality of life and can even result in death if untreated.

Avante have been focused on working on nutrition and malnutrition with a number of initiatives specifically to support those living with dementia including fortified snacks and finger food as well as using bread machines and filtered coffee machines to promote smells to aid consumption.