World-first with Finger Food Bites from apetito

A trailblazing new range – Finger Food Bites – launches today from leading care home meals provider, apetito. Finger Food Bites is set to change the way care homes plan their strategic menus and enable them to provide a positive, inclusive, dining experience for residents who are living with dementia. For the very first time, residents that live with dementia or co-ordination difficulties can feed themselves nutritionally balanced meals in one bite without having to struggle to manipulate cutlery.  Finger Foods Bites allow residents the freedom to pick up and put down a complete hot meal with no mess and with minimal residue left on fingers.  Furthermore, Finger Food Bites can be enjoyed whilst sitting down, or if a resident is ‘on the move’. The range features 12 dishes including 6 Finger Food Bite and 6 Classic Finger Foods.  Finger Food Bites includes Chicken and Mushroom Casserole, Ham and Leek, Chicken tikka, Sausage Casserole, Salmon Supreme and Veggie Bolognaise.  The 6 Classic Finger Foods are Chicken Goujons, Fish Goujons, Chicken Fillets & Stuffing, Pork Meatballs, Chipolatas, and Omelettes. Importantly, care homes can choose from a selection which includes plant-based meals as well as healthier choice, and gluten free. Calling on its 60 years’ experience of ‘making mealtimes matter’, apetito, which partners with over 600 care homes across the nation, says the new range was many years in the making – as Care Homes Divisional Lead for apetito, Richard Woodward explains: “Our development chefs embraced world leading technology to ensure the quality of the meals met our high standards of taste, texture and flavours and in this respect, the team has truly ‘led the way’. “The elements of Finger Food Bites are cleverly designed and created so they melt in the mouth.  Each ‘Bite’ encapsulates the flavours of a traditional meal and for the very first time, this innovative new range will allow residents living with dementia to enjoy feeding themselves, with no mess and with tasty meal options.   It’s a real game-changer for care homes and their residents. “We’re hugely excited by the range and see this as a key part of a nutritional strategy for a care home to overcome difficulties using cutlery and delay the need for assisted feeding”. apetito knows how complex catering for dementia residents can be.  Woodward continues: “It takes time to manage menu planning and deliver a great dining experience, whilst catering for allergies, specialist dietary requirements and whilst giving support to those residents experiencing co-ordination difficulties, and importantly ensuring the ongoing design of a nutritious, balanced, and appetising menu. “Mealtimes can be a real challenge for care homes in delivering a quality dining experience for those living with dementia.  Residents can lose concentration, forget to eat and drink, and struggle to use cutlery or cups.  The resulting potential loss of nutrition is also a factor for concern. “Food is one of life’s simple pleasures and we strongly believe (as do all the care homes that we work with) that residents should all be able to enjoy dining with dignity with meals they can look forward to eating”. apetito, is the UK’s leading creator and supplier of meals for the health and social care sector, partnering with 600 care homes, independent schools, nurseries, and hospitals. Each recipe is developed to meet precise nutritional standards – in line with the British Dietetic Association guidelines and Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering.  As proud supporters of the care industry, apetito partners with many industry organisations such as the National Care Association, National Care Forum and Care England. apetito was also a founding partner of the Malnutrition Taskforce. To find out more about Finger Foods Bite and how this range can add strategic value to mealtimes in your care home, Care Home Meals & Dining Services | Tailored to You | apetito