There are numerous reasons why many seniors lose their appetite or refuse to eat. We share six suggestions for encouraging seniors who have lost their appetite to eat.
Have a Regular Snack and Meal Routine
Having an orderly daily schedule and having meals at approximately the same period each day assists bodies to be prepared to dine during those times.
Don’t depend upon your senior kin’s instincts of feeling hunger pangs (it numbs over time) before serving them meals.
Serve Smaller Portions of High Nutrient Foods
Some seniors might feel uneasy when they encounter some mass portions of food placed before them. Instead of serving huge portions, serve small portions.
Or you could change to a regular practice in which seniors eat five lighter meals to replace three bigger ones.
Boost the healthy calories in those smaller servings by adding the following:
- Finely diced meat, cheese, and egg
- Avocado
- Olive oil
- Peanut or other nut kinds of butter
- Soft cheeses, including mascarpone or ricotta
For faster cooking, you may cook meals in bigger batches. Please keep it in distinct compact-sized containers so it’s easier to serve and heat.
Remove The Need for Utensils
The challenges of being unable to utilize a fork, spoon, or knife might make some seniors not want to eat in frustration at the trouble.
To enable them to eat without fuss, try serving meals that might get eaten without utensils or using adaptive utensils.
Some suggestions:
- Chicken nuggets or bits
- Fish fingers
- Boiled or raw veggies, including broccoli, carrots, bell pepper strips, or cucumber pieces
- Meatballs
Get Plenty of Easy-to-Eat Snacks Standing Ready
Several seniors might nibble over the day instead of eating full meals. This might work.
Keep various delicious, healthy, and essential snacks accessible, so they pick from healthy selections.
Several suggestions:
- Cheddar sticks or cheese strips
- Full-cream yogurt
- Sliced fruit, fresh or packed
- Peanut butter and toast
- Cheese and biscuits
- Full-cream cottage cheese
- Whole milk or banana milk
Make Smoothies or Milkshakes
If chewing is complicated or challenging, even with tiny bits of food, consider serving softer or more fluid meals.
Some suggestions:
- Nutritious soups – seasoned with olive oil, cream, or pureed veggies or meats
- Organic smoothies – add fruit, bananas, full-cream yogurt, or veggies, including spinach or carrots
- Hot chocolate
- Full-cream milk
- Milkshakes – soft chilled ice cream works better than not eating
- Necessary: This does not solve problems for those with dysphagia (swallowing issues).
Keep Track of Meals That Work Well
Keep diaries so you may keep records of the meals your senior kin likes, ingredients they don’t enjoy, and ingredients that may be harder to eat or are slow to digest.
You might track the specific times of day they’re more willing to eat, and times they hold an improved appetite.
Keeping records enables you to experiment with ingredients that work well and stop adding ingredients that aren’t.
Sensations Dining
Our signature dining program guarantees several satisfying and delicious options for every meal daily. A good diet is essential for a healthy brain. This is especially so for seniors, who may be at risk of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Like any other part of your body, the brain requires the proper nutrients to stay healthy. If you want to boost your brain or keep your cognitive functions tip-top, eating our meals to prevent brain decline will ensure that the food is both nutritious and delicious. Enjoy flavors from around the world, local specialties, regionally inspired comfort favorites, and special requests.
