Food First Approaches

Explains how to tackle malnutrition with a “food first” approach in care homes. Covers nutritional screening and practical ways to add calories and protein to meals with everyday foods before considering supplements.

Food First Approaches

Go to the Food First Training

Course Information

This course is targeted at care home staff (including care and catering teams) and covers using a “food first” approach to tackle malnutrition. It explains how to carry out nutritional screening (assessing who is at risk of malnutrition) and what to do after the screening. 

You will learn what a “food first” approach means: basically, trying food-based solutions like fortifying meals and snacks with extra calories and protein before considering prescribed supplements. The module aligns with local policies requiring that care providers try food-based interventions for residents at risk of malnutrition, and it gives tips on how to implement these steps in a care setting (like adding cream or butter to foods to boost nutrition).

Available at:

Time Required: 60 minutes

This course is suited for:

  • Care home support workers or nurses involved in resident nutrition and mealtime support
  • Catering staff or cooks in care settings responsible for meal planning
  • Any care staff tasked with monitoring weight and nutrition of service users