Building on the Mealtimes pillar of LIMT: Studying effectiveness of blue plates

This Building on the Mealtimes pillar of LIMT: Studying effectiveness of blue plates research project was focused on evaluating dining improvements being implemented by Schlegel Villages (SV). The study compared blue and white dishware. It was expected that the darker coloured dishes would provide greater contrast and would thus improve resident food intake and mealtime experience.

Results indicated that the blue dishware was no better than white dishware at increasing the amount of food residents ate or decreasing eating challenges for those who are cognitive impaired. The main limitation of this study was related to the amount of colour contrast present at mealtimes. A paler shade of blue was used for the dishware along with beige tablecloths. This may not have produced enough contrast between the dishware and the food to assist with residents’ perception of food on the plate. Also, changes in natural lighting within the dining room throughout the day may change the contrast between dishware and food, and could have also impacted the amount of food eaten.

The information collected from this research study indicated The researchers concluded that investing in blue dishware within memory care units in long-term care facilities is not worth the cost.