Those catering for older people will be familiar with trying to serve meals reflecting preferences, choice, and individual needs. The Care Quality Commission's 2006 Bulletin Highlight of the Day? was very useful in highlighting the general issues. But it only touched tangentially on vegetarianism. This guide aims to give care homes and others catering for older people useful guidance to help them respond to the specific needs of vegetarians and vegans. There is a growing recognition of the importance of nutrition in care settings. In November 2006 the Government launched its Dignity in Care campaign and this states:

“High quality health and social care services should be delivered in a person-centered way that respects the dignity of the individual receiving them. Unfortunately, older people are not always treated with the respect they deserve.”

‘Oh, by the way, the new arrival’s a vegetarian.’ If you’re in charge of catering, and despite your best intentions, these words are likely to cause an immediate response: one that is quite possibly negative! But, don’t despair. With a little thought and planning, vegetarians and vegans need not create a lot of extra work. The guide makes it easier to make meals an enjoyable experience for your vegetarian or vegan diners. Perhaps you’ll get a few tips to help in catering for your non-vegetarians too as many care homes tell us that residents find meat free dishes easier to digest.