NDIS Home Delivered Meals: Making Summer a Breeze

Summer is almost upon us and that often means regular schedules are out the window, holidays are planned, days are longer and there’s lots to do outside. For people on the NDIS, this can also be a time of uncertainty – maybe your carer is taking a week’s leave, or you’ve planned to stay with relatives but don’t want to burden them with special meal plans that you may need for your health and wellbeing. If you’re looking for a NDIS approved meal provider that will work with you this summer, read on for tips on finding the right provider and making your summer meal planning a breeze.

Taste Matters!

There are lots of NDIS meal prep and delivery services out there, but not all of them have the gourmet touch, but why is that even important, food is food, right?

An MDPI Nutrients Journal issue from 2020 covered the various ways that smell and taste impact the acceptance or rejection of nutritious food, linking good taste and smells in food to higher satiation rates, better acceptance of nutritious meals and regulation of hunger signals. That’s why finding a NDIS meal provider that considers the taste and smell of their meals as just as important as the nutritional value can be so impactful for your health.

Variety in your diet also plays an important role in helping you feel satisfied and creating a great balance of nutrition so that you get the most out of your meals over the long run. When choosing an NDIS meal delivery services, look for variety in the menu and a commitment to using quality ingredients to create tasty meals and plans, so you can enjoy the ‘Silly Season’ with flavoursome and hassle free food. No one should have to forego a little gourmet in their life!

Look For No Lock-In Contracts

You may have ‘Daily Activities’ listed in your Core Supports for your NDIS plan, or you may have a separate line item for meal preparation and delivery. Just ask your Plan Manager if you're covered for meals. However, finding a good NDIS approved provider can be challenging, especially understanding the contracts. NDIS meal delivery services often come with complicated contracts that can be restrictive during the summer months when maybe you’ve planned a trip away, or a carer is taking some time off, or you have people coming to stay.

It’s important when choosing a NDIS meal provider to read through how the contract will work carefully – signs of a restrictive contract include requiring a monthly subscription or fees and high exit costs for cancellation. It’s important, especially over the summer months when plans can change at the drop of a hat, to opt for a NDIS meal service that offers flexibility, with no lock-in contracts.

Hassle Free Holidays

While the NDIS can’t fund a holiday, there may be some parts of your summer vacations that are covered in your NDIS plan. For example, if you have a carer that usually buys groceries and cooks your meals, you may be eligible for services that cater to meal preparation and delivery through the NDIS if that carer is taking a short break over the summer. Similarly, if you’re going to visit family in another location and your carer can’t accompany you, it may be easier to find a NDIS-approved meal provider for the duration of your stay. This can be helpful in making hassle-free plans, especially if you have special dietary needs that may be difficult to accommodate on a holiday without a NDIS meal delivery service. To know which services you may be eligible for, it’s best to talk with your plan manager or chat directly with the NDIS – but you may be surprised at how many aspects – including meal delivery services – can be included for your holiday plans.

Healthy Summer

Summer in Australia means not only vacation season, but also the indulgences of Christmas and New Years to contend with.  You want to be able to enjoy yourself with delicious and provider-approved NDIS home delivered meals that won’t let the festive season find its way to your waistline. Choosing meal delivery services that include healthy options like salads, and healthy snacks are the way to go.

One NIH study showed that consumption of sugary drinks was particularly detrimental to health and weight goals, as these drinks provide loads more calories than you would think, and without any nutritional benefits – the so-called ‘empty calorie’. Even fresh fruit juices can do more harm than good, as you’re not getting the fibre intake that whole fruit offers to offset the sugar. So, it’s important to watch what you’re drinking over the summer months – yes, it’s hot and a soft drink may be tempting, but in the long run a glass of water or iced tea (unsweetened!) will serve your health better.

New Year’s Resolution

Over the summer, many people will sit down to write their New Year’s resolutions. According to the Pew Research Center, over 79% of people make New Year’s resolutions related to their health. The same research also stated that 41% of people who make resolutions don’t’ keep them, or only partially manage to keep some. So, what’s the secret to setting goals that stick? It’s having a plan in place.

For your healthy New Year resolutions, partner with an approved NDIS food delivery service that can work with you on your goals, and tailor to your dietary needs. You want a meal provider that has all the nutritional information available for each meal choice, and can help you plan your weekly menu so that you will be able to keep to calorie goals, or hit different macro goals like protein intake and carbohydrates without having to calculate it all yourself.

With the right NDIS food delivery service to help you, you can make your summer fun, healthy and with a touch of the gourmet!