DINNER WINNERS DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR

Our dietitian investigates the next generation dining services taking over from traditional meals on wheels

IT CAN be tricky for the vulnerable elderly to keep themselves well fed, especially those who live alone or have mobility issues. For decades, councilrun meals on wheels provided an effective solution, supplying hot dinners straight to the tables of those in need. But cash-strapped local authorities have sought cheaper alternatives and many now out-source the service, resulting in patchy provision and a postcode lottery.

A shocking one in 10 Britons aged 65 and over – equivalent to one million people – are now feared to be malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, says charity Age UK, putting them at an increased risk of heart failure, dangerous falls and chest infections. And the fastest growing demographic is the over-85s, those most likely to need help.

Fortunately, a number of commercial companies are increasingly filling the gap with hot, chilled and frozen products.

“Ready meals can be a real lifeline, helping an older person to eat regularly and keep up their intake of nutrients,” says Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK. “They are especially valuable for those who live alone or who struggle to cook.”

New contenders are increasingly joining established names, such as Wiltshire Farm Foods and Oakhouse Foods. But just how good are their ready meals? The Daily Express asked Sophie Medlin, a consultant dietitian and director of City Dietitians, to sample six brands that count the over-65s as major consumers: Cape & Hartley, Chef Akila, Presto, Oakhouse Foods, Parsley Box andWiltshire Farm Foods.

Scoring them for nutrition, taste, cost and value for money, Sophie tried three meals from each company and used the Food Standards Agency’s traffic light system to make her assessments.

Praising many of the “good options” on offer, she cautioned that several products were “very high in saturated fat”, as is common in convenience foods.This can be problematic if these meals are eaten every day, as cholesterol levels tend to increase with age. But all of them are much better than the tea and biscuits diet on which some older people rely.

“People need to be selective and aware of making healthier choices overall,” says Sophie. “Not all meals will be suitable for everybody depending on medical history.

“The best option will always be homecooked food but these foods do provide a good viable alternative.”