The NDIS healthy meal service provider is an important part of your loved one’s care plan. A good provider will be able to tailor the meals to meet their needs, provide flexibility and choice with meals and snacks, communicate with you as a family member or friend about dietary requirements and preferences, as well as offer a delivery service for those who are unable to cook for themselves or have trouble leaving their home.
There are quite a few providers who serve NDIS meals and snacks for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses. The meals are all made from fresh ingredients and can either be delivered or picked up at their premises. You can choose to have the meals delivered weekly or monthly. But the important part is knowing how to find the right meal provider. Here are a few things to consider:
Diversity of food
You should consider the diversity of food items. The meals should be prepared hygienically and must be tasty.
It is also important that you get the food delivered on time so that your child does not miss lunch or dinner, which would cause him/her to lose appetite.
Care and Quality
The next step is checking how the meal provider ensures the food is of high quality. Does it have a quality assurance program? How does it ensure meals are prepared and stored safely, transported securely and delivered warm?
A quality assurance program should be in place to ensure that meals meet appropriate standards and contain food that will help you or your loved one maintain good health.
Flexibility
Flexibility is an important aspect to consider when selecting a meal service for your NDIS plan. This can be applied in a variety of ways, including:
- Menu options – are the meals nutritious and delicious? Can you choose from a wide range of foods?
- Meal times – do you want to eat in the kitchen with other people, or would you rather have your meal delivered to your home? Will it be served at the same time every day?
- Dietary requirements – will staff cater for specific dietary needs such as vegetarianism or gluten-free diets, low salt content or low sugar levels?
Cost-effective
As well as the costs of food, delivery and management, you must consider numerous other factors when deciding on an NDIS meal service provider. These include:
- Cost of equipment
- Cost of labour
- Marketing costs
- Insurance costs
Awareness of diet and dietary requirements
The provider should be able to advise on food and diet requirements, as well as the best food choices for each individual. If you have a disability, your NDIS provider must be able to provide advice on how to manage your particular condition in conjunction with your NDIS plan.
Delivery service
When selecting your NDIS Healthy Meal Service provider, it is important to consider how they will deliver the meals. Do they have flexibility in time of delivery? How frequently are the meals delivered and where?
NDIS Healthy Meals service providers offer an extensive range of food options, from which you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
There are plenty of things to consider when selecting an NDIS meal provider, so be sure to take your time and weigh up all the factors before making your final decision.