Assessing the need for hot meals: a descriptive Meals on Wheels study.

According to recent literature, delivering chilled Meals on Wheels to seniors increases food quality and safety. The purpose of this study was to determine the acceptability and/or feasibility of a cook-chill delivery system for participants in the Maimonides Geriatric Centre Meals on Wheels program in Montreal, Quebec. The authors also evaluated whether the meal was eaten upon delivery, documented where the meal was stored if consumption was delayed, determined what cooking/heating appliances were used and if the recipients were capable of heating up their meals, and assessed preferences for receiving chilled versus hot meals. Upon receiving the meal, 89% of the 60 seniors did not eat it immediately. Those who ate the meal later stored it in the refrigerator. All had some appliance available to heat the delivered meal; 55% used a microwave. Approximately 75% did not object to receiving meals chilled. The majority of recipients did not require delivery of hot meals, as most delayed consuming the meal until later in the day. Other meal-delivery program planners can use these findings when deciding if a cook-chill system is appropriate for their client populations.