lunch box/ meal ideas

 So I am working on boxing day and that is strategic that some people who I need to thank for presents and somewhere practical, and I am sure some of my readers who are in the industry would  have gifted clients new bags and lunch boxes,

But then it what to fill them with and there are many  “ nutrition” content creators that have some great ideas, but there are going to be some additional considerations,  such as allergies, Mobily issues where they are going, how long they are going to be there and what “perks “they provide.

Some offices have free snacks, as long as they aren’t an everyday thing I think take advantage of it, It is part of the remuneration package, as well, but I know if the person is in a Sil ( or group home) they will track eating to see that the person is eating well.

But some ideas are classic ideas, of muesli bars, rice crackers and cheese sticks and these are adults, so can you send cheese cubes, but again check allergies well as younger you can buy some of the 6packs but I get screw top lidded containers and decant, this is something that an amazing support worker would get a client to do over the weekend.

Again as well with vegetable sticks so carrots and celery are popular choices, as well. Then there is the cracker option with a dip, cheese or depending on what people can bring in, such as peanut or other nut butter, or even dried fruit and nuts,

But what is solid is yes sometimes you over sandwiches, but they can be made in a variety of ways and styles, starting with the Aussie classic of vegemite and cheese, or ham and cheese, or tomato, ham and cheese and putting the tomato between the ham and cheese stops it from getting soggy, egg and lettuce and mayonnaise is another option, but depending on shortages, you can get creative, such as rice balls, vegemite rice rolls, as well as if they have access to heating leftovers as well,  and then there are options like savoury muffins and your can stuff them with vegetables and have a chutney as well, or Minni quashes, as well, we need to have variety as well, and in the height of winter, if they are not choking risk soups in an insulated container.

And I need to mention fresh fruit, but check what the person will eat, I am sure we all don’t need to have flashbacks to either the squashed banana that you forgot about to add to the pile at kindy, or the fruit that went mouldy in the backpack and your mother or caregiver having to wash the bag. So I want to touch on containers, I am a huge advocate of a bento box and you can get some amazing ones from the grocery store that can go threw a dishwasher as well as have an insulated case as well, but check that your client can open it or will have the support to open it as well.  The other thing is to check the policies of what they can bring in in regards to its culture as well, I find having a reusable set is a great idea as well. But again have everything named as well, it helps for tracking what they have eaten but also food hygiene in SIL and day centres is important as well.

This is just the start of my series getting back to basics of how support staff can level up what they are doing in support and it has been a very requested series, that I have been hesitant to do because I feel that I am throwing some staff under the bus, but I realised that the call is coming from inside the house, that is to say that support staff want to know how to support higher functioning clients better and there is no simple answer but the start is to ask them what they need help with and watch them and build relationships with them.