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Original poster

Ready meal advice

86 replies

Lippy1234 · 29/01/2020 19:17

Hi, I’m new on here. My DM is 68 and has advanced Alzheimer’s, we’ve been agreed a care package for her. A call in the morning to help with medication, make her breakfast and make a sandwich for lunch. She’ll also receive an early evening call when the carer will heat up a ready meal. The plan is I’m going to do an up line shop for her once a week and be at her house when it arrived to put it all away. So my question is has anyone got any recommendation for supermarkets that do nice ready meals. My Mum likes healthy food, I don’t think she like meals such as cottage pie. I’m also trying to find meals that are not high in salt as she has high blood pressure.
The last year or so have been very difficult so I’m hoping the care package will help at least for a few months before we start looking at alternative accommodation for her.

OP posts:
Esspee · 03/02/2020 21:39

Every time I cooked dinner I made a bit extra and froze it. My mother ate very little so that way I knew she was eating a well balanced meal with no additives. I also did that with my home made soup and she was given that with her lunchtime sandwich. It really was no trouble.

Orangeblossom78 · 03/02/2020 21:28

Carer not courier!

Orangeblossom78 · 03/02/2020 21:28

Lippy I have just heard today my dad has been given the same care package as your mum. Two half hour visits am and pm

Not sure if your mum goes out to anything during the week with a courier or something as the delivery people can use a key safe to go in and put it away then. If that is an option. It seems they have set delivery days in some places for dad's area it is Friday

We are just waiting for they say, a care company to pick up the contract before it can start. Hopefully it will get easier with time.

Original poster
Lippy1234 · 03/02/2020 17:57

I like the sound of the driver putting the food in the freezer but I think my DM is past that stage now as it’s difficult enough just to let us relatives into her home. I did the first home supermarket delivery at the weekend and it went well.
I’m feeling very overwhelmed with it all today and may start a new thread later.

OP posts:
Smellslikebiscuits · 03/02/2020 17:38

I order Wiltshire Farm Foods for 93yo MIL. Not cheap, but she does enjoy them, and the service is always excellent.
I can order as later as Sunday afternoon for a Monday delivery, the driver pops then in the freezer, and puts any that are already in the freezer to the top, so they get used first.
Straight forward instructions.

Purplewithred · 03/02/2020 16:43

I assume you've got a key safe in place? Ocado will deliver and put away, as will Oakleaf/Wiltshire. Are there meals on wheels locally too - some are brilliant, definitely worth a try.

And if she likes her food then before she goes into care ask if you can have lunch there before deciding (especially if it's self-funded) - gives you a really good insight in to the atmosphere and decent grub makes a massive difference to quality of life.

CarolinaPink · 03/02/2020 16:38

Hi there. M&S have some good ones. My aunt is currently having them for lunch.

Orangeblossom78 · 30/01/2020 16:54

Hi Wiltshire farm foods put it away in the freezer and can use an access code to get it if needed. So the warden at dad's place told me.

I guess others might do it as well though if you ask.

BigFatLiar · 30/01/2020 16:20

I think it was Wiltshire farm foods that deliver and put away.
Check if meals on wheels is available in her area.
Try different suppliers to see which she likes (even Iceland do ready meals)

Original poster
Lippy1234 · 30/01/2020 16:09

Orangeblossom78 What was the company you mentioned earlier that deliver and put away ready meals? Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lippy1234 · 30/01/2020 16:07

£4.50 is really good value, the social worker sort of put me off and made it sound expensive. I think to have Appetito I also had something called a prepaid care card and would source my own carers. The social worker could see I was at the end of my tether and suggested I go for a council managed budget where they do all the organising. That’s definitely something to think about if the ready meals don’t work out.

OP posts:
Orangeblossom78 · 30/01/2020 16:06

On M&S there is a plan for Ocado to stock their food sometime this year I think, as well.

Orangeblossom78 · 30/01/2020 16:05

Apparently Appetito/Meals on Wheels use Wiltshire Farm foods, it's all the same.

StopGo · 30/01/2020 15:58

We have to pay for Appetito, think it's £4.50 a day. I think paying for food is fair enough.

CMOTDibbler · 30/01/2020 14:41

On microwaves, the cheapest ones from Amazon like this have survived much better as the knobs are easier to use. I taped off the times above 5 min, and restricted it to one power setting

Original poster
Lippy1234 · 30/01/2020 14:11

Thank you. I just heard the first call went well this morning and they are going back later to make an omelette as we haven’t sorted out the microwave (DM blew the last one up) and ready meals yet.

OP posts:
Orangeblossom78 · 30/01/2020 14:05

Hopefully once you get it up and running it will all be easier. Kind thoughts

Original poster
Lippy1234 · 30/01/2020 13:15

Thanks once again. The social worker did tell me about Appetito but unfortunately it wouldn’t be funded with my Mum’s care package. I’m off to invest all your suggestions and tips (after I’ve had some lunch myself, it’s very easy to neglect your own needs when so involved with caring for others).

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 30/01/2020 10:12

If you can find a good independant cleaner, they might be happy to cook some fresh food while they are there with your mum. My cleaner does that for one of her clients who has mild dementia and can't cook by themselves but enjoys having sausages and a jacket potato (for instance) when she's there - she pops it in the oven with them, does her cleaning (and does a washing load, makes the bed, clears the fridge out) and then serves it up for them. Also things that just need longer in the oven than a carer can heat up in their limited visit time - lasagna for instance.

StopGo · 30/01/2020 10:00

@Lippy1234 in my DM's area the local authority do a hot meals on wheels service. Food is provided by Appetito which is part of the Wiltshire Farm Foods organisation. A two course meal is delivered at lunch time and they can leave a sandwich tea if required. The delivery person will plate the meal up and get a drink ready. They also provide a welfare check and will raise the alarm if anything is the matter. Maybe it is available in your mum's area?

OneHanded · 30/01/2020 09:58

Asda are some of the worst for salt fat and sugar. I’d recommend ocado anyday. Sainsburys delivery is very good, but can’t comment nutritionally.

Original poster
Lippy1234 · 30/01/2020 09:44

So much help, thank you.

OP posts:
ThisIsNotADrillLangCleg · 30/01/2020 09:18

Check out local small businesses in your mums area. We have a few that do healthy meals prepped fresh using local suppliers/produce and delivered each week. They're a bit pricey but v naice. You can ask for specific diets like low salt/higher protein etc and mix in a few that are suitable for freezing.

Cyborgfeminist · 30/01/2020 09:06

My GPs had Wiltshire Farm Foods, which they both enjoyed

Selfsettling3 · 30/01/2020 08:56

You can ask the housekeeper to put away the shopping for you to save you being tied to something else.