Dietetic Services at Beechwood College

Ludlow Street Healthcare subscribes to the message:

"You are what you eat"

All our clients are nutritionally assessed on admission by our Company Dietitian and nutritional care plans are followed by nursing and other care staff.

• Catering, Dietetics, Nursing, Care staff and Occupational Therapy staff work together to support our clients to eat and enjoy healthy food.
• All clients are weighed monthly. Any clients identified at risk are weighed weekly.
• 5 helpings of fruit and vegetables are offered daily. These are cooked with a view to ensuring the optimum benefit from essential vitamins and minerals.
• Drinks are freely available and clients are encouraged to take at least 6  cups / 8 glasses of fluid daily.
• Well balanced menus are planned to ensure that nutrients recognised to help in conditions such as anxiety, poor concentration, depression, poor memory, stress, irritability and confusion are provided.
• Oily fish are provided on the menu to provide Omega-three fatty acids, clinically proven to help people with depression, challenging behaviour and other mental health problems.
• Choice and variety in the planned menus increase our client's knowledge and experience of healthy foods.
• The use of fresh foods are encouraged in our kitchens to minimise the food additives likely to affect  mental health problems.
• Clients are encouraged to join groups to learn about good nutrition and healthy food.
• The multidisciplinary team approach is used to discuss clients' nutritional requirements and any dietary modifications as necessary.

References:

• Mental Health Foundation: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
• "Feeding Minds", MHF.
• "Changing Diets, Changing Minds" Sustain 2006
• Food Standards Agency: www.eatwell.gov.uk
• LCP Solutions: Malcolm J. Nicholl, June 2005
• Bandolier: Fish & Omega-3 fatty acid intake: JAMA.2002 287.sms0306