“While most people know that dairy is a source of calcium, often they will associate protein with red meat and not realise that dairy is the next best source of protein in your diet.”

• Dairy products are a source of both protein and calcium and can be easily incorporated into recipes to boost the nutrient component of meals.
• Dairy can also play a broader role in protecting against malnutrition, with milk and yoghurt important sources of other essential nutrients.
• Products like Dairy Farmers High Protein Full Cream Milk, Protein Smoothies and Dairy Farmers Thick and Creamy Yoghurt are ideal choices for the aged care market.

As our bodies age, our requirements for certain nutrients like protein and calcium increase. This is an important consideration for cooks and chefs working in the aged care sector, where taste needs to be balanced with good nutrition in menu planning and ingredient procurement.

“Protein is important in maintaining healthy muscle mass, while calcium is necessary for bone health,” says Bega Foodservice Corporate Chef Caroline Westmore. “And while most people know that dairy is a source of calcium, often they will associate protein with red meat and not realise that dairy is the next best source of protein in your diet.”

In fact adding extra dairy ingredients like cheese, yoghurt and milk is one of the simplest ways you can increase both the protein and calcium content of your finished meals. “Cheeses, especially hard cheeses like parmesan which are around 35 per cent protein, are good choices, while yoghurt tends to be around 20g of protein per cup,” Caroline says. “You can add 35g more protein to your potato mash simply by including 100g of cheddar or parmesan in the mix.”

Now you can also easily add an extra protein shot to milk-based drinks like smoothies, milkshakes or even milk-based coffees by replacing regular full cream Dairy Farmers High Protein Full Cream Milk. This versatile product contains 6g of protein per 100ml (70 per cent more than regular full cream milk) and is also ideal for boosting the protein content of soups, custards, mashed potato, breakfast porridge and more without adversely impacting taste or presentation.

In addition to their value as sources of calcium and protein, dairy products can play a broader role in protecting against malnutrition, says Bega Foodservice Senior Nutritionist and Accredited Practising Dietitian Jennifer Arguelles.

“Milk and yoghurt are important sources of other essential nutrients, including iodine which assists with brain health, phosphorus which is beneficial for bone maintenance, vitamins B2, B5 and B12 which assist with energy delivery, and potassium which is important for hydration and contributes to muscle function.”

These nutrients can be delivered by liberal use of milk and yoghurt on the aged care menu, as well as by stocking up on ready to serve mealtime and snack options like Dairy Farmers Protein Smoothies, Yoplait, Fruche and Dairy Farmers Thick and Creamy Yoghurt.