Vegetarian for Life (VfL) is celebrating the incredible impact of its ‘Roving Chefs’ initiative, which has reached over 61,000 individuals in the last 3 years alone.
Chef Ollie. Photo credit: VfL
Working with a diverse range of groups – including care homes, community centres, stroke survivor groups, food banks, and older people’s friendship groups – the charity is transforming the accessibility and enjoyment of plant-based food for older adults.
VfL’s team of four Roving Chefs, based in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow, covers the whole of the United Kingdom.
This national presence enables them to work closely with a wide variety of organisations, offering hands-on cookery training and expert guidance to improve plant-based meal provision.
Case Study: Transforming Menus in Care Homes
Care homes across the UK are recognising the growing demand for plant-based options among their residents. Leading care chain, HC-One, which has over 275 care homes, recently partnered with VfL to enhance its vegan and vegetarian menu offerings.
During a dedicated development day, VfL’s Roving Chef Alex Connell (pictured top) led training for HC-One’s chefs and kitchen assistants, introducing innovative plant-based recipes while addressing key nutritional considerations for older adults.
The session helped build confidence among the culinary teams, ensuring they could offer diverse, nutritious, and appealing meals to all residents.
Victoria Meakin, Group Development Chef at HC-One, shared: “We cater for every diet in HC-One care homes, and we have also noticed more and more of our residents choosing to eat less meat and more plant-based foods.
That’s why giving our chefs the confidence to introduce delicious vegan and vegetarian dishes into our homes not only meets this growing demand but also encourages a more diverse diet and promotes resident well-being.”
Beyond recipe development, the training also covered texture-modified meals, ensuring that residents with specific dietary needs could still enjoy flavourful and nutritious plant-based dishes.
Expanding Impact Beyond Care Homes
Chef Justina. Photo credit: VfL
While care homes are a key focus, VfL’s cookery school also empowers local community groups.
In West Lothian, Scotland, the Robertson Estate Women’s Group participated in virtual cookery demonstrations, helping members – many of whom have health conditions such as high cholesterol or heart disease – learn to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diets.
Mrs Lee, the group’s founder, noted: “We have enjoyed all the kitchen ‘hacks’ and the fantastic range of recipes. The sessions have made it easier to try plant-based cooking at home.”
One participant, Isabella Spiers, added: “I need to reduce my cholesterol and have enjoyed how tasty and easy the VfL recipes are. My husband and I love the Veganising Classic Dishes recipes, and he has even joined in with the cooking!”
Looking to the Future
Margaret, an independent vegan in her 80s, has struggled to maintain her plant-based diet because of limited access to affordable food and social isolation. Her experience is not unique – many older vegans and vegetarians face similar challenges, which is why VfL’s work is so vital.
To address these issues, VfL is dedicated to expanding its reach and ensuring that older adults – whether living independently or in care settings – have access to diverse, nutritious, and enjoyable plant-based meals.
Beyond cookery demonstrations, VfL offers a range of initiatives to support individuals like Margaret, including a ‘Veggie Meals to Your Door’ guide for meal delivery options, a Lunch Club Catering Guide to help organisations incorporate plant-based meals, and a pen-and-phone-pal scheme to connect older veg*ns and reduce isolation.
By championing practical cooking skills and fostering community connections, VfL is helping to ensure that older vegans and vegetarians can continue to thrive, regardless of their circumstances.
For more information or to arrange a cookery demonstration with one of VfL’s Roving Chefs, contact [email protected] or visit www.vegetarianforlife.org.uk.
