At a team meeting organize time to discuss diet and culture with your colleagues. Identify clients in your care who have specific needs.

        Try to find out more about the dietary requirements of particular religions. You could ask other people such as the chef, cook or the local dietician, or look on the internet. As you research, try to find out which of the following statements are correct.

Diet and culture

Jewish people:

1. Do not eat meat;
2. Do not eat chicken;
3. Do not eat meat and milk together;
4. Are vegetarian.

Hindus:

1. Have their meat killed and prepared in a particular way (kosher)
2.  Do not eat meat from carnivorous animals
3.  Do not eat beef only eat fish.

Muslims:

1.  Will only eat meat killed in a particular way (halal)
2.  Don’t eat fish or meat
3.  Are vegetarian
4.  Do eat pork.

Sikhs:

1. Do not eat beef and do not drink alcohol
2.  Do not eat pork or drink alcohol
3.  Do drink alcohol
4.  Only eat meat.

Vegetarians:

1. Only eat organic vegetables
2.  Have nut loaf for Sunday lunch
3.  Have a protein deficient diet
4.  Do eat dairy products and eggs.

Rastafarians:

1. Do not eat pork
2. Do not eat beef
3. Like their meat cooked in a certain way
4. Drink milk with their meals.

Planning and monitoring

        Talk to your clients and find out how their different needs are managed. Where do you record this information?

        Ask your manager whether you can complete the menu request form with one client over a period of, say, 2 weeks. Check that the client is happy for you to do this. Have a look at menu; ask yourself and your client questions to help you analyze the information. The following questions may help you.

• What choices are there?
• Over a period of time what has the variety been like?
• Is the client always choosing the same thing?
• Does more choice need to be given?
• Has the client had the chance to request something different?
• Have the client’s personal beliefs and preferences been met in full?
• Is the client happy with the choices offered or do you feel that he/she is just accepting what is on offer?
• Do you feel anything more could be done?
• Complete the client’s care plan on your findings. You need to make sure your entry is correct. Remember to ask for help if you are unsure.
• Write up what you have done, what you have found out and what action you feel needs to be taken. Present this report to your manager.

Reporting

        Helping a client to eat and drink their preferred food is also a very important part of a Care Worker’s role. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration.