Articles & stories

In later life, it’s not uncommon to have a smaller appetite than when you were younger. But it’s still important to make sure you eat enough to stay strong and healthy. This week, we share our five top tips for maintaining a healthy appetite. From less sensitive taste buds to badly fitting dentures and medication side effects, there’s a whole range of things that can affect our appetite as we get older. Most of us know how difficult it can be to eat when you don’t feel hungry. But with our simple tips, you can make sure you get the nutrients you need to stay healthy – and find your way back to truly enjoying meals again.

Wimbledon is here again, bringing with it the perfect excuse for tucking into some luscious strawberries and cream as you watch the tennis stars wow the crowds. It also marks the season when a fantastic variety of foods reach their peak of perfection. And long, warm summer days tempt you to enjoy your meals outside in the fresh air and sunshine. Eating fruit and vegetables that have been grown this season ensures they’re at their most delicious and colourful – and packed with essential vitamins and antioxidants.

With temperatures set to soar this week, we’re picturing sparkling blue seas, olive groves and a table set with delicious Mediterranean food. Renowned as one of the healthiest diets in the world, there couldn’t be a better time to give it a try. From juicy, sun ripened tomatoes and salad drizzled in olive oil to succulent seafood, traditional dishes enjoyed in southern France, Spain, Italy and Greece are full of the nutrients needed for healthy ageing. In fact, people who follow a Mediterranean diet tend to have a lower risk of developing age-related health problems including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even Alzheimer’s. We take a look at the common ingredients in Mediterranean meals and some simple ways to include them in your day-to-day diet.

As we get older, our bones become weaker and if we fall we’re more likely to hurt ourselves. For Falls Awareness Week, we look at some simple tips for taking care of your bones and staying steady on your feet. Falling over is one of the biggest risks to independent living for older people. Because bones become more brittle as we age, it can lead to breaks or injuries that can really affect your quality of life, and knock your confidence about doing things on your own.  

Following Food Safety Week we’re helping spread the message about how to cut the chance of getting food poisoning. By following a few simple tips, you can make sure the food you prepare is always safe to eat. Foodborne illnesses aren’t pleasant for anyone. But they pose a bigger risk in later life, as our immune systems weaken with age meaning it can take longer to recover. To reduce your chances of getting ill, you should always follow these simple tips:

It’s Carers Week, and we’re sharing our top tips for making sure you and the person you care for enjoy a balanced diet. Being a carer for a loved one comes with a whole host of challenges – particularly when it comes to mealtimes. Whether because of illness, disability or becoming less active, many people can find it difficult to eat or find that their dietary needs or appetite have changed. Here a few ways to make mealtimes easier, and help the person you care for get the nutrients they need:

As the weather gets warmer, we take a look at some refreshing, flavour-packed smoothies to help you keep cool.  If you find getting your 5 a day can sometimes be a chore, try drinking, rather than eating them. Digging out the blender and making a juice or smoothie is a simple, tasty way to pack loads of fruit (and even vegetables) into your daily diet. And because smoothies are thicker than other liquids, they’re also a great refreshment option for people with difficulties swallowing.

Spicy food can be just the thing in the warmer weather but there’s another great reason to try something new and exotic. From soothing joint pain to easing indigestion, we look at the surprising health benefits thought to be behind some of our favourite spices. They are the secret behind some of our most popular ready meals, from curries and Mediterranean classics to warming desserts. But far from simply adding mouth-watering flavours, these small yet powerful seasonings are believed to be good for us, too.

We’re all used to hearing about how exercise and a balanced diet help keep our hearts healthy. But a healthy lifestyle is also essential for looking after your brain. Here we explore some tips that could reduce your chances of developing Alzheimer’s in later life. Alzheimer’s disease affects the brain, causing a range of symptoms such as memory loss, difficulty concentrating and becoming confused and disorientated. Although no main cause has been found, people who keep their blood pressure, cholesterol and weight in check are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s as they get older.

This article was published in 2015. Read a more recent article about our puréed range. Oakhouse Foods has developed its offering of puréed dishes suitable for a Category C texture modified diet, in a move designed to bring a better standard of food to those with limited mealtime options. Company founder Tony Blood said, “Food choices for those with dysphagia are restricted but we believe that puréed dishes can and should be appealing, enjoyable and satisfying just like any other meal. Our range of puréed meals has already proved to be extremely popular, and we’ve now added more choice including mini meals and desserts as there is a clear need for good quality and varied puréed options. Being able to enjoy an appetising meal is vital to a person’s quality of life, and we’ve taken great care to make our food is as appealing and as tasty as possible.”