Phase 6: Develop and Implement Oasis Meal Program

Establishing the meal program at each of the expansion sites was perhaps the most challenging of all activities; in conducting the needs assessment with each site, this was the pillar where sites have great variation in suggestions. We identified two important aspects of the nutrition pillar: ensuring Oasis members receive adequate nutrition, and promoting opportunities to dine communally and foster social interaction. Site-to-site this was described in many ways. Some groups wanted to go out to eat, some preferred formal catering, and others wanted to focus on cooking or pot lucks. The result was a lot of trial and error at each site for the first year. You may feel your options for this programming pillar are limited; however, we hope that this section illuminates some of the creative ways to incorporate nutrition into Oasis programming.

 

Complete building renovations and repairs for meal service

 

None of the sites required renovations or repairs related to the meal program. Fortunately, each common room was able to support the gathering of a group for communal dining. While there was enough space for the groups to gather and eat, most of the Oasis rooms did not have the space to store formal meal equipment like chafing dishes, serving dishes, etc. Each of the sites also had access to a sink and refrigerator in their common rooms; some even had a small kitchenette to a full-sized kitchen to support the meals. The research team worked with Public Health and Safety to ensure that the existing spaces could support meals (visit your local Public Health for more information). As you will see, the variety in the meal offerings greatly depended on the existing space that each Oasis group had. Should you wish to incorporate renovations in your meal program preparations, it is necessary to discuss this with the property owner.

 

Initiate communal meal program

 

Perhaps the most critical barrier to developing the communal meal program at each site was cost. In consultation, most Oasis members described a $10.00/meal cap for a weekly or twice-weekly meal. In exploring local catering options, we found this to be a difficult price to match without a meal subsidy. One site had a resident in their local community who happily agreed to cater a regular meal at this cost, but they were not able to provide meals once a week to the group and ultimately could not continue with the demand. Pricing was especially difficult in terms of catering because the numbers were fairly small compared to what a formal catering company would typically see – one meal for 15 people once a week was difficult for more formal catering companies to commit to. One building in Kingston got creative and reached out to local restaurants, not caterers, to set up an 8-week rotation of suppliers. The restaurants were happy to support since it was infrequent enough that they had the capacity to support the meals. However, most places were unable to deliver, so members relied on the coordinator to pick-up the food and serve it to the group each week.

 

Another challenge in this set-up was ensuring that the meals were nutritious. This particular site was more concerned in social dining and felt they received adequate nutrition the other days of the week, so having fish and chips once every two months was okay. The coordinator worked with the group to choose the healthiest options, for example substituting grilled fish for regular fish and salad options for the chips. One Greek restaurant offered two well-balanced options a month that included a variety of meats, rice or potatoes, and large quantities of salad, which the group really enjoyed. After trialling a number of restaurants, the coordinator distributed a feedback survey for those participating in the meal program. This feedback was critical as the meal program developed over time. An example of a survey can be found in Appendix 6a.

 

Potlucks were a popular option at some of the sites who did not want to pay for meals, but members typically held these monthly as a social convening or party (i.e. birthday celebration). At one site, a monthly potluck was a way the group bonded over shared cultures and trying new foods. Some Oasis groups held “Bring your own lunch” events to focus more on the social aspects of dining as a group. After further consultation, and with support from students in the Queen’s University Occupational Therapy program, a few of the sites moved toward the format of a “community kitchen”. This idea was suggested after two of the Oasis sites hosted local dietitians who gave food demonstrations, showing the group how to incorporate inexpensive and healthful foods into their daily diets by putting together a fun recipe for all to enjoy.