Maggie Beer ramps up push for better food in aged care

Maggie Beer has been on a mission to improve the food served to aged care residents for some time, and has put her money where her mouth is yet again, hosting a master class for chefs in the sector.

The celebrity chef, who launched an education program for chefs working in aged care facilities back in 2015, hosted 30 cooks at a masterclass in Wollongbar this week, the ABC reported.

It was the first stop on a program of workshops across regional Australia. Her next stops are in Grafton and Armidale, where she’ll meet with the managers of aged care services.

Beer told the ABC this week that she became interested in working with aged car providers after being named Senior Australian of the Year in 2010, which gave her an opportunity to speak to the CEOs of aged care companies.

“I did a lot of research and found wonderful things and terrible things about food in aged care,” she said.

On her own site, the chef explained that passionate workers within the sector were struggling with limited resources, and that she hoped to pull together the best advice on science, research, nutrition and management in one place – her not-for-profit Maggie Beer Foundation – to improve the opportunity for aged care residents to have wholesome, tasty food.

“I truly believe everyone deserves to enjoy good food,” she said.

It’s not the first time the in-demand chef has held such masterclasses; last year Beer hosted a two-day program in Sydney for aged care chefs

On her foundation’s site, Beer publishes scores of recipes, ranging from old favourites such as Anzac biscuits to lesser-known treats such as gubing bark.

Do you like Maggie Beer’s food or admire her community work? Was she a good choice as Senior Australian of the Year?