Adding Supper to Your Mid-Meals Menu

Unilever Food Solutions spoke with Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian Julie Dundon, General Manager of Nutrition Professionals Australia, about mid-meals and how including supper on the menu is impacting resident wellbeing in aged care homes.

Why mid-meals matter

It is commonly known elderly people often have smaller appetites and struggle to finish main meals. Relying on three main meals a day rarely meets their daily requirements. Dietitians recommend mid-meals to “top up” both energy and protein, especially for frailer residents.

Is supper the missing meal?

Often supper is either not available or not substantial enough, despite playing a critical role in sustaining wellbeing and hydration overnight.
Evening meals are commonly served around 5pm, a time that does not reflect how most people ate before entering aged care. Eating a main meal at 5, and not being able to eat again until breakfast at 7 or 8 am is a significant gap.

Designing a better supper

Julie recommends introducing supper as a planned, protein-rich meal event rather than an afterthought. She suggests incorporating evening activities and making sure the food offered is high on the list of resident favourites.
Her other recommendations include:

Make supper later, predictable and appealing

Where possible, push the evening meal a little later and schedule supper around 8 pm or later. Make the food delicious and appealing so residents look forward to a final, nutritious snack before bed.

Incorporate supper into an evening activity

If people are staying up to watch television, socialise or read, making supper part of the evening routine will mean residents will come to expect delicious food before bed.

Four “Doable tomorrow” tips to improve mid‑meals

1. Make every mid‑meal protein-rich
   
   Include a clear protein item - providing at least 5mg of protein -  at morning tea, afternoon tea and supper, such as yoghurt, custard, cheese and crackers, egg dishes, milk-based desserts or milky drinks, so snacks top up residents’ protein and energy, not just provide biscuits and tea
   
   
2. Upgrade supper to ‘second dessert’
   
   Replace plates of sweet biscuits with favourites like cake and custard, mousse made with milk, stewed fruit with yoghurt or ice cream, which residents - especially those with dementia - are more likely to enjoy eating.
   
   
3. Offer real milk drinks
   
   True milk-based drinks like malted milk, hot chocolate, milky, latte-style coffee can be served. For those who prefer savoury food, a small mug of soup can be offered.
   
   
4. Plan a visible, grab‑and‑go snack station
   
   Stock a glass-fronted fridge with ready-to-serve snacks, making it easy for care staff to offer snacks whenever residents feel like eating.

By treating mid-meals, including supper as essential eating occasions rather than optional extras, aged care homes can close nutrition gaps, support better sleep and wellbeing for their residents.

See Unilever Food Solutions recipe inspiration below:

HEHP recipes.
Dessert range.
Finger food developed especially for aged care menus.

FAQs:

1. What are the key compliance changes from 1 November 2025?

 The strengthened standards introduce a new level of compliance and increased scrutiny, with providers audited every three years from November 2025 and a staged rollout across providers. Initially, the Commission expects good-faith efforts backed by documented evidence.

2. If we’re unsure what to do first for Standard 6, where should we focus?

 Prioritise resident choice and control over food and mealtimes; set up clear, easy feedback channels with documentation; and ensure leadership/governance buy-in so dining practices can change to meet Standard 6.

3. How can we improve intake and uphold consumer dignity alongside Standard 6?

 Add a late-evening “supper” to close the long overnight gap; design menus with multiple choices at every eating occasion, and manage allergen risks through clear communication, resident choice, qualified support when risks are accepted, and thorough documentation.

Disclaimer: The content of this article is created for inspiration purposes only. It is not intended as clinical, medical or nutritional advice.