Care and hospital caterers across the world will be playing their part to highlight the importance of good nutrition and hydration later this month. Whilst both of these issues are vital throughout the year, March 12-18 sees the return of Nutrition and Hydration Week, with a range of events to raise awareness to patients, staff and service users. Now in its sixth year, the aim of the week is to create a global movement to focus energy, activity and engagement on nutrition and hydration as a fundamental element of maintaining health and wellbeing.

The week is also continuing focus on the following aims:

• Promoting Mealtimes Matter and protected mealtimes

• Sharing good nutrition and hydration practice

• The introduction of minimum standards for good nutrition in all settings

• Promoting continued education and professional development especially in the health and social care sector for catering staff

• Improve staff awareness of their own hydration and nutritional requirements

• Encouraging the introduction of nutrition advocates /champions to each health and social care setting

• Promoting the 10 Key Characteristics for Good Nutritional Care

Andy Jones, co-founder of Nutrition and Hydration Week, said: “It’s brilliant to see how the week has grown into a global event, and the willingness of people to collaborate across continents has been fantastic. It is through these people we have been able to make the week the focal point of the year for many.” Like last year, social media will play an important role and caterers are urged to share news about their work and events on Twitter (@NHWeek) and Facebook, or by emailing info@nutritionandhydrationweek.co.uk. For more information and resources visit https://nutritionandhydrationweek.co.uk.

Making a difference every day

Focus events for the week (commencing March 12):

Monday – Breakfast

Tuesday – Snacks

Wednesday 15th – Global Tea Party afternoon tea

Thirsty Thursday

Fruity Friday

Smoothie Saturday

Sundae Sunday

In addition, the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists will be holding a Swallowing Awareness Day on March 14. For more information visit http://www.givingvoiceuk.org/swallowing awareness-day/.