Head chef Darren Walker found that some patients were reluctant to eat pureed food because it looked bland and unappetising, even though it was the only food they could consume. He came up with the idea of deconstructing classic British dishes and presenting them in a novel and attractive way. For example, a cottage pie smoothie would be presented to look like a pint of Guinness, with the meat filling forming the base, and the ‘head’ formed from mashed potatoes.
Hospice inpatient Winn Brownbridge said: “The smoothies are delicious and nicely-presented. They’re easy to swallow, but you still get the taste of the food and fell as if you’ve had a dinner.”
Chef Darren said: “The patients love our smoothies; before we introduced them some commented that pureed food looked like baby meals, and they didn’t fancy them. Now they really tuck in! One patient hardly ate anything, but by taking so well to our hot smoothies he’s now back on solid food.”
Dishes in smoothie form now include fish and chips, roasted vegetable and butter bean casserole and fish pie. The meals are presented in a nice glass, and can be eaten with a spoon or drank.
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