{"id":91,"date":"2025-12-04T11:22:53","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T11:22:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foodgloriousfood.on.worc.ac.uk\/?page_id=91"},"modified":"2025-12-04T11:23:52","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T11:23:52","slug":"think-about-creating-a-supportive-environment-for-eating","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/foodgloriousfood.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php\/think-about-creating-a-supportive-environment-for-eating\/","title":{"rendered":"Think about creating a supportive environment for eating"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"top\">This section covers the followin areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ccd02ab3ab83af6b54a4237019f6930f\" style=\"color:#0c06ff\"><a href=\"#creating\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#creating\">Creating a supportive environment and routines<\/a>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-185986bc516aad760ae3b54d4ca46783\" style=\"color:#0c06ff\"><a href=\"#should\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#should\">Should we think about creating a supportive environment and supportive routines for eating?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4f9a23fade963917269afce9bb63424b\" style=\"color:#0c06ff\"><a href=\"#learning\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#learning\">Key learning from the Food Glorious Food project<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8936c9df5d557030d18ad052de89847a\" style=\"color:#0c06ff\"><a href=\"#create\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#create\">How can we create a supportive environment and supportive routines for eating?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-af318911500e11d56861487d6b66d6e1\" style=\"color:#0c06ff\"><a href=\"#creating1\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#creating1\">Creating an environment and routines that support cultural identity and belonging<\/a>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-8cc93239f3debd8f2410a5622357c791\" style=\"color:#0c06ff\"><a href=\"#should1\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#should1\">Should we think about creating an environment and routines that support cultural identity and belonging?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b8437485aefb5d556fb590f41d088cb6\" style=\"color:#0c06ff\"><a href=\"#learning1\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#learning1\">Key learning from the Food Glorious Food project<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3eca9b5bec6d6bead01a1b14b2ce8939\" style=\"color:#0c06ff\"><a href=\"#create1\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#create1\">How can we create an environment and routines that support cultural identity and belonging?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2cd09520ac119b17e9c8a01161418741\" id=\"creating\" style=\"color:#2e0606\"><strong>Creating a supportive environment and routines<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-39512d818e3f4cbc7a7042a2839941bc\" id=\"should\" style=\"color:#2e0606\"><strong>Should we think about creating a supportive environment and supportive routines for eating?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What are the benefits?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Serving out food can help staff\/ volunteers to manage mealtime activity smoothly (e.g. structure, routine and timings)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serving out food can help people to feel looked after and supported<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serving out food could help people to eat more due to social cues<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serving out food can be an opportunity to individually tailor what is served (ensuring dietary requirements met and minimising food waste), and to check in with each individual<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If sat communally while eating, can bring the group in mutual universal activity that promotes social interaction (including verbal and nonverbal)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supported communal eating can provided opportunities for interaction and reminiscence which express values, skills and knowledge and discuss health and dietary awareness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use of food and drink can provide structure and routine, helping attendees feel secure and oriented and helping staff manage sessions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Upholding the capabilities of attendees can help people to feel valued rather than disempowered, and lead to stimulating activity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If food provision is tailored to the individual, they are more likely to enjoy the food and have a generally affirming experience in the group<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What are the risks?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Serving out food may risk entrenching a carer\/cared for division that is stigmatising and disempowering, with missed opportunity to engage people actively in their own mealtimes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rigid schedules and routines can result in boredom, lack of autonomy, choice and missed opportunities to contribute<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If group food and drink routines differ from what an individual is used to then they may need to change their intake around the group or it may be off-putting or isolating<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In attempting opportunities to uphold capabilities, loss of capability is highlighted to attendees (e.g. encouraging people to undertake tasks that they find they cannot complete)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sensory overstimulation or discomfort from the environment<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3ba99fea9700fbed6ca0318865ad3810 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0c06ff\"><a href=\"#top\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#top\">Return to the top of the page<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-e39da9c099e1effe43b96d323f10842e\" id=\"learning\" style=\"color:#2e0606\"><strong>Key learning from the Food Glorious Food project<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Communal eating and drinking can encourage socialising and group cohesion but may need the right conditions and encouragement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Attention where people are seated can help \u2013 e.g. friends with friends in small groups, or all around a table as a big group \u2013 but may need some experimentation to find what works best.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Present and attentive staff, who work as a team with a committed person-centred ethos, can play a crucial role \u2013 e.g. being on hand to encourage social interaction, upholding attendees\u2019 capabilities, and showing \u2018subtle vigilance\u2019 in tackling any issues sensitively.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Things need to be flexible, as what people want, need or have capacity for may change day by day or moment by moment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Staff and volunteers should be aware that social interaction is not just verbal, but can include non-verbal acts such as passing food, mirroring gestures and sharing routines.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Serving food out to seated attendees (i.e. table service-style) has benefits including staff being able to tailor food offered to individuals and manage mealtimes (e.g. timing and safety) better, plus the social cues of serving food may prompt people to eat more readily.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, while seated \u2018table service\u2019 might make some attendees feel looked after, others may find it disempowering as it reinforces \u2018carer vs cared for\u2019 roles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Food and drink can be used to create routines and structure the day\/session in a way that helps orient attendees and helps them feel safe and secure \u2013 but if too rigid attendees can also feel that they lack choice or variety.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Attention to the sensory and aesthetic aspects of the environment \u2013 from light, temperature and noise levels to comfortable furniture, appealing crockery and space to safely move around \u2013 can enhance people\u2019s experience of food and ensure they are not uncomfortable, overstimulated or incapacitated by environmental factors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3ba99fea9700fbed6ca0318865ad3810 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0c06ff\"><a href=\"#top\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#top\">Return to the top of the page<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-731cde788bc2d1b98b1ed46641764045\" id=\"create\" style=\"color:#2e0606\"><strong>How can we create a supportive environment and supportive routines for eating?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What helps?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Responsive food service \u2013 tailored portion sizes and staff\/volunteers attentive to preferences, appetite, wants and needs (both in planning and on the day)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Timing and duration of mealtimes\/food and drink provision are as person centred as possible \u2013 considering practical needs, autonomy, preferences, choice and opportunities to contribute, plus how to balance these together (e.g. serving those who eat more slowly first, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consideration of how attendees who finish eating a meal before others spend their time, e.g. providing a parallel activity<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Staff and volunteers are present and actively attentive during food and drink helping initiate and sustain conversation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Attention to seating \/ table layout to optimise social interaction (e.g. existing friends or those of similar communication needs together), and accessibility (i.e. people are able to safely move around)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Offering attendees opportunities to contribute to food-related activities, (see Involving attendees in food practices) to recognise and support capabilities and strengths<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Skilled \u2018subtle vigilance\u2019 from staff and volunteers in supporting attendees in a non-disempowering way (including ensuring aids such as glasses, dentures or hearing aids are present and functioning)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ensuring there is time for socialising at the end of the meal (as concentration on eating may prevent socialising)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Staff\/vols motivated by an ethos that includes person-centredness, patience, openness, teamwork, commitment to supporting others and a love of food<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consideration of lighting, sound, temperature, smell, touch and visual elements with perspective\/capacities of attendees in mind \u2013 adapting the physical and sensory environment to be appealing and familiar whilst also practical and safe<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What challenges might we need to think about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Attendees may have accustomed roles with food and may not feel comfortable being served<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Logistical limitations, e.g. environmental limitations, staff\/vol availability and time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>May be a higher demand on staff and volunteers planning and overseeing activities if attempting to offer opportunities to uphold capability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lack of adequate space, facilities or equipment, including appropriateness of venue, from a sensory environment perspective (e.g. echoey space or poor lighting, lack of appealing tableware or comfortable furniture)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3ba99fea9700fbed6ca0318865ad3810 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0c06ff\"><a href=\"#top\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#top\">Return to the top of the page<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d71afe2582c98901f712bc13e6389d5a\" id=\"creating1\" style=\"color:#2e0606\"><strong>Creating an environment and routines that support cultural identity and belonging<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-1442025e5d3a40412584e5ed5a78000e\" id=\"should1\" style=\"color:#2e0606\"><strong>Should we think about creating an environment and routines that support cultural identity and belonging?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What are the benefits?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If both food practice and the environment is aligned to backgrounds and expectations of attendees this helps promote familiarity and belonging, supports cultural identity and connection and ultimately attendance and engagement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Marking\/celebrating culturally significant events can help people feel a sense of familiarity, help them feel valued, and help orient them<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the importance of food practices to social gathering is understood and those practices replicated, attendees more likely to feel the group is for them and engage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If diversity of experiences, preferences and backgrounds (within a or between cultural groups) is recognised, attendees will feel more personally valued and included&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What are the risks?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If food practice, the environment and events celebrated predominantly reflect a particular cultural, ethnic or socioeconomic group,&nbsp;individuals from other backgrounds may feel excluded or that the group is not for them<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Replicating particular food practices important to social gathering may not always be safe, or may not be accepted as authentic if not done properly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3ba99fea9700fbed6ca0318865ad3810 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0c06ff\"><a href=\"#top\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#top\">Return to the top of the page<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-787a68e15d12ed3ddba9c9c0286c6d60\" id=\"learning1\" style=\"color:#2e0606\"><strong>Key learning from the Food Glorious Food project<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If targeting a particular cultural demographic, then food practices and the environment (e.g. d\u00e9cor, music, room layout, seating routines, crockery and cutlery choices) should reflect the general cultural, ethnic or socioeconomic background of the group where possible<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Knowledge of the culture and background of your target attendees is essential in planning what you do with food \u2013 for example in some cultures hot meals or brought contributions of food are central to social gathering, so without this your group will not be seen as socially appealing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Food is a great way to mark\/celebrate culturally significant events, and marking culturally significant events is a great way to help people feel belonging and engagement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No identified cultural or ethnic community or demographic will be homogenous \u2013 there will likely be people of a variety of backgrounds, heritage, classes, faiths and sub-cultures, as well as lots of individual variation in life experiences, values and preferences, so it is important to pay attention to this with person-centredness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If your group caters for more than one cultural demographic, it is important to recognise, understand and value all so that people do not feel excluded.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3ba99fea9700fbed6ca0318865ad3810 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0c06ff\"><a href=\"#top\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#top\">Return to the top of the page<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-aed82c1ef1c2b4162f82fe90e1eee0b4\" id=\"create1\" style=\"color:#2e0606\"><strong>How can we create an environment and routines that support cultural identity and belonging?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What helps?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Food offer, practices and environment that reflect the general cultural, ethnic or socioeconomic background of a group<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recognising and replicating particular food practices important to social gathering for some cultural groups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Food provision informed by ongoing consultation that recognises the diversity of backgrounds, origins, and preferences within and between cultural or ethnic groups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Using food and drink to celebrate and mark traditions and events that are meaningful to attendees<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recognising and accommodating culturally traditional eating practices, e.g. hand washing, using hands to eat<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What challenges might we need to think about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Having the resources. venue and expertise to offer culturally appropriate food practices and a culturally appealing environment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Being able to replicate food practices in a way that attendees accept as authentic<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Managing the needs, preferences and expectations of multiple cultural groups or sub-groups, especially if conflicting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3ba99fea9700fbed6ca0318865ad3810 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0c06ff\"><a href=\"#top\" data-type=\"internal\" data-id=\"#top\">Return to the top of the page<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-fc2346eba77410d292a28f549bd3df72 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#0c06ff\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foodgloriousfood.on.worc.ac.uk\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"2\">Return to the home page<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This section covers the followin areas: Creating a supportive environment and routines Should we think about creating a supportive environment and supportive routines for eating? What are the benefits? What are the risks? Return to the top of the page Key learning from the Food Glorious Food project Return to the top of the page [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-91","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foodgloriousfood.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foodgloriousfood.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foodgloriousfood.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foodgloriousfood.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foodgloriousfood.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/foodgloriousfood.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":94,"href":"https:\/\/foodgloriousfood.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/91\/revisions\/94"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foodgloriousfood.on.worc.ac.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}