Health & Social Care Moray (HSCM) is celebrating the success of Nutrition and Hydration Week 2026, recognising the many teams and community partners who came together in creative and innovative ways to encourage people across Moray to eat well, drink well and feel the difference healthy habits can make.
The national campaign focuses on making healthy food and drink choices easy and enjoyable. HSCM’s Health Improvement Team worked with colleagues across health, care and community services to highlight the important role they play in supporting people to make good nutrition and hydration part of their daily routines.
Staying well hydrated and eating a balanced diet helps people feel stronger, maintain independence and have more energy. For older people especially, not drinking enough or skipping on good nutrition can lead to tiredness, dizziness and even falls – all of which can often be prevented.
This year, 16 organisations – across care homes, sheltered housing, health and social care services, GP practices, community hospital, leisure and community settings – took part, with four joining for the first time.
Throughout the week, activities encouraged people to make small, realistic changes, such as drinking water more often, trying a wider range of fresh fruit and healthier snacks, and being more aware of how food and drink support overall wellbeing.
Glenisla Care Home in Keith and The Grove Care Home in Elgin embraced the campaign with great creativity and enthusiasm. Both have been awarded a Certificate of Recognition as Nutrition Champions by HSCM, celebrating their whole-home approach to boosting everyday nutrition and hydration and making healthier choices easier for residents.
At Glenisla, staff and residents threw themselves into the week with great enthusiasm. A community nurse created a colourful hydration character called “Hector H₂O” to remind everyone why staying hydrated matters. Staff ran a friendly healthy meal challenge, sharing photos in a group chat, and with a fruit basket for the winner. Residents also made fruit smoothies, took part in quizzes and interactive sessions using the Eat Well plate to learn about balanced diets.
The Grove introduced daily fruit snacks, themed coffees to boost fluid intake, and bean-based dishes on the menu. Staff and residents are now adapting several of their activities into ongoing routines, helping to keep the healthy habits going.
There was also recognition for the efforts of staff and tenants at Burnside Court in Buckie. Following a suggestion from a tenant, they introduced a shared fridge stocked with bottled water. With a small contribution per bottle, the initiative is self-sustaining and has made water more visible, accessible and appealing. As a result, more residents are now choosing to drink water more regularly.
Nutrition and Hydration Week was full of great examples of people learning together, said Nonye Agbaza, Area Public Health Coordinator.
“People told us that healthy choices feel much easier when they’re part of everyday life rather than a separate effort. When the water option is easy to see and reach, healthy snacks are available, and people eat and drink together, healthier choices become the natural choice,” Nonye said.
“After taking part in the campaign, many people said they planned to drink more water throughout the day, choose healthier snacks, and cut back on energy drinks and caffeine. Whether it’s filling up your water bottle a little more often, adding an extra portion of vegetables to your meal, or simply encouraging someone around you to do the same, small steps really do make a difference.”
HSCM would like to thank all participating staff and organisations for their commitment and enthusiasm, as well as local supermarkets who donated fruit and healthy snacks to support local activities.
