Care homes in England must register with the Commission for Social Care Inspection and are required to follow the Care Homes Regulations 2001.

The regulations and National Minimum Standards are extensive, but include:

• Taking into account service users’ wishes and feelings
• Ensuring the dignity of service users…with due regard to religious persuasion and cultural background
• Recording the food provided in sufficient detail to enable an inspector to determine whether the diet is satisfactory
• Recording details of any special diets prepared for individuals
• Providing, in adequate quantities, suitable, wholesome and nutritious food which is varied and properly prepared
• Catering for religious or cultural dietary needs as agreed at admission and recorded in the care plan
• Offering a choice of meals, with a regularly changed menu which is given, read or explained to service users
• Ensuring that mealtimes are unhurried

The aim of this guide is to build on these standards, which are equally applicable throughout the UK, with particular reference to older vegetarians and vegans.