Planning meal and grocery services in advance is a vital piece to creating your age in place plan. It is important to plan for a surgery, family caregivers out of town or when you just don’t feel like doing these tasks.
I’ve been working closely with Meals on Wheels for their Holiday Gift Drive. In my conversation with Kristen of Meals on Wheels Edmonton, we realized many people don’t know the full extent of programs available for nutritious meals and grocery delivery services through this program. I’ve asked her to share some information about the programs and how to decide which program might benefit you now, or in the future…
Wondering if Meals on Wheels is right for you? Read through the following statements. Do any of them ring true?
- “I often reach for quick and easy processed foods instead of preparing well-balanced meals.”
- “I don’t like asking the people in my life to help with cooking or grocery shopping.”
- “I dread going to the grocery store.”
- “Cooking is not as easy or enjoyable as it once was.”
- “It can be difficult to arrange assistance from people in my life and they aren’t always around to help me.”
- “I’m able to cook for myself, but I’d love if I didn’t have to a few nights a week.”
- “I don’t have family or friends close at hand to help with meals or groceries.”
- “I want to eat healthier, but I don’t know where to start.”
- “I’m finding it difficult to cook now that I have to follow special dietary restrictions.”
- “I’d like to cook for myself again one day, but I need assistance while I heal from an injury/illness.”
Chef’s Choice® Daily Meals
The Chef’s Choice Daily Meal Program is ideal program for those who:
- Don’t mind staying home for part of the day at least a couple days a week. (delivery window 10:30AM – 1:00PM, Monday through Friday).
- Are unable to cook for themselves entirely and looking for a “one stop shop” to look after their dietary needs (One meal, Two meal, Lunch, and breakfast packages available).
- Want an easy solution that doesn’t require a lot a time and effort (Sign up, choose the days you want meals, make payment, DONE).
- Eat a texture modified (cut-up, soft, minced, or pureed) or specialty diet (diabetic, low sodium, and renal).
- Are low-income and have limited funds to spend on food (Meal subsidy rates available).
- Don’t mind eating a wide range of foods and are not overly picky (6 weeks set rotating menu).
- Want to eat healthy, portioned controlled, well-balanced meals (Each meal comes with a protein entrée, starch, and vegetable).
Additional Info:
- Prepared locally in our in-house commercial kitchen by Red Seal chef and highly skilled cooks.
- No referral or qualifications needed
- Able to cancel service anytime or skip days.
- Sign up online and a representative will contact you or by calling the Meals on Wheels office.
“It really helped them in their time of need. It helped them stay in their own home. My mom wasn’t able to cook anymore. After 68 years of cooking, she was done. It was nice to have to have those meals and not worry about it. And they were very good meals.” – daughter of client
“Being diagnosed with kidney disease is not the end of the world. I cannot believe the food that I eat is catered to my diet. It tastes so good. My life has changed, but it is not the death sentence I thought it would be.” – client
Chef’s Choice® Frozen Meals
The Chef’s Choice Frozen Meals program is ideal program for those who:
- Are unsure if Meals on Wheels is right for them and wants to try the meals out (easy to order and test out).
- Wants more flexibility and to not be restricted by daily deliveries (Order as often as you wish, once a week delivery)
- Is able to cook but would like meals on hand when they’re in a pinch or don’t feel like preparing a meal (Order in bulk, store in freezer, microwave and eat when you wish)
- Wants to choose the meals they receive and have more options (Halal, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, South West Asian, and Asian entrée selections available).
- Want to eat healthy, portioned controlled, well-balanced meals (Each meal comes with a protein entrée, starch, and vegetable).
- Do not follow a specialty diet or require texture modifications (substitutions, alterations, and texture modification is not available).
- Want easy access to ingredient lists and nutritional information (can be found on label and website).
“I love having the frozen meals on hand! I can have a full meal when I don’t feel like cooking!”
Additional Info:
- Prepared locally in our in-house commercial kitchen by Red Seal chef and highly skilled cooks (with exception to halal, gluten free, and vegan meals)
- Delivery window is 5:00PM – 7:00PM Wednesday and Thursday
- No referral or qualifications needed
- No ongoing commitment
- Order online or by calling the Meals on Wheels office
The Grocery Bag®
The Grocery Bag program is ideal program for those who:
- Can cook but cannot shop for groceries on their own.
- Is unable to cook full meals but would like snack and household items to supplement meal service.
- Is able to grocery shop but does not enjoy it.
- Has family to help them grocery shop but needs something for when they are out of town or unavailable.
- Doesn’t like relying on others to help them with grocery shopping.
Additional Info:
- Choose from an extensive list of over 100 items including dairy products, meat, produce, sweets, bread, household items, and more.
- Minimum order: $15 Maximum order: $100
- $5 delivery dee
- Delivery on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, within Edmonton city limits
“I am very grateful for your grocery service. It’s getting harder and harder to go out and I know in the winter it will be impossible. At least I have EMOW to rely on as I have no one else.”
Meals on Wheels Edmonton
(780) 429-2020
emow@mealsonwheelsedmonton.org
www.mealsonwheelsedmonton.org
Thank you Kristen for sharing all this wonderful information with all my readers!
Want to learn more? Join me on Tuesday January 26 at 10am as Kristen from Meals on Wheels joins us for a FREE online information session and ask your questions! {{ Click to Register in Advance }}
Your age in place plan needs to include services you can call when you are in hospital, or not feeling well. Trying these services in advance of needing them is a great way to learn if you want to rely on that service or need to research other options. Nutritious meals and access to groceries is necessary to age well in your home. I hope this information has added some additional resources to your age in place plan!
