What the Nutrition Judges are looking for

1.  That you understand what a balanced diet means for your client group when menu planning
2. That you can cook a balanced meal (containing enough starchy carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals and fibre in balance)
3. That you know what nutrient density means, why it is important, and you demonstrate that you can apply this to your main meal and your dessert
4. Awareness and understanding of the content of the Care Home Digest
5. Awareness and understanding of the nutritional needs of your clients

• We strongly recommend you read the: Care Home Digest
• This link will give you more guidance guidance: Creating a fortified diet for Care Home Caterers

• Statements about vitamin/mineral contents of specific food ingredients are not necessary or helpful to include so please avoid these.
• Avoid making health or nutrition claims about something e.g. “nutrient X can cure alzheimers” or “rich in nutrient Y” unless you are very clear on the therapeutic level required and the evidence to support this claim
• Statements such as “easy to digest” are not helpful to include so please avoid these