Date: 27th October 2017
This reduction in daylight means many of us may not get the sunshine vitamin that we need to ensure our bodies function properly, with one in five people believed to have low levels*. Vitamin D is not only an essential nutrient needed for healthy bones and calcium levels but a deficiency can lead to a range of serious health problems, including heart disease, bowel and breast cancer, as well as type 2 diabetes and multiple sclerosis.
The winter months and our increased time indoors means that vitamin D deficiency can happen to anyone. However the elderly are particularly prone – which is why Pritchitts is encouraging the care sector to join them in this year’s Vitamin D Day on 2nd November 2017.
With the global initiative shining a light on the pandemic, there has never been a better time for care home caterers to give their winter menus a vitamin D boost.
Simon Muschamp, Head of Marketing at Pritchitts explains:
“Lack of daylight, long periods in doors, as well as poor or special diets means that the over 65s are particularly vulnerable. Taking supplements can help, along with eating vitamin D rich foods such as eggs, oily fish and red meat. However this can prove challenging for residents who have difficulty swallowing or have dietary needs.
"It is for this reason we added vitamin D to Millac Gold Double, which provides 15% of your recommended daily requirement per 100ml. From porridge and scrambled eggs to cream teas and pies, caterers can easily add this essential vitamin to a wide range of dishes without making drastic changes to their menus and most importantly residents will enjoy."
For this year’s Vitamin D Day, the dairy solutions provider is encouraging caterers to join the global campaign and put on a sunshine menu. To help care caterers, Pritchitts is offering a free 1litre sample of Millac Gold Double and recipe booklet to help chefs get inspired and raise awareness on the importance of vitamin D among staff, residents and their families. Simply click here to claim your kit now.
Simon adds:
“Whether you’re simply planning to update your recipes with Millac Gold Double or introduce a new menu, we’ve got the tools to help caterers make the most of Vitamin D Day and beyond.”
Millac Gold Double is the high performance cream alternative; it can be used for cooking, pouring and whipping – it whips up to three times its volume providing superior yield – and is ideal for both sweet and savoury dishes. It is sold in 12 x 1 litre packs and has a long, ambient shelf life offering care chefs an easy and hassle-free option to boost the diet of ‘at risk’ residents.
*Public Health England (PHE)
To find out more about Pritchitts call 0208 290 7020
