Vegetarian for Life Roving Chef Claire shares some simple ideas about how to savour good food as our bodies change with age.
Food is about much more than nutrition. It can bring back memories, connect us with other people and provide comfort, pleasure and a sense of independence. Yet for many older people, eating can become less enjoyable as they age.
The way we experience food can be affected by changes in taste, smell, appetite, chewing, swallowing, eyesight, mobility and even memory. For people living with dementia, these changes can be particularly significant.
The good news is that there are lots of simple ways to make food more appealing, enjoyable and accessible.
Why can food become less enjoyable as we age?
As we get older, our sense of taste and smell can become less sensitive.
This can make familiar foods seem bland or less interesting. For someone living with dementia, tastes and food preferences may change further. They may suddenly prefer sweeter foods, develop new favourite dishes or reject foods they previously enjoyed. Rather than assuming someone is simply being 'fussy', try to discover what they enjoy now.
Fresh herbs, spices, garlic, ginger, lemon, fruit, sauces and chutneys can add flavour without simply relying on salt.
Appetite can decrease
Older people may feel less hungry, particularly if they are less physically active. Appetite can be also affected by factors such as medication, constipation, illness, low mood, dental problems and difficulties chewing or swallowing. For people living with dementia, changes to memory and thinking can make it difficult to recognise food or remember to eat. Eating less can lead to weight loss, reduced muscle strength and frailty.
Food can become physically difficult to eat
Poor-fitting dentures, sore mouths, dental problems and difficulty chewing can make eating uncomfortable.
Dysphagia – difficulty swallowing food or drink – can also develop among older people, particularly as dementia progresses.
Signs that someone needs a swallowing assessment include: coughing or choking during meals; a wet or 'gurgly' voice; repeated throat clearing; food remaining in the mouth; and recurrent chest infections.
If you notice these signs, speak to a GP or healthcare professional. A speech and language therapist can assess swallowing and recommend appropriate food and drink consistencies. See Vegetarian for Life's Vegan Texture-Modified guide for recipe suggestions.
How can we help people enjoy food again?
Here are four ways you might consider making your dishes more appealing to older people for whom food may be losing its appeal.
1. Make food look appealing
We eat with our eyes. Use colourful vegetables, attractive presentation and contrasting colours between the plate and food.
For someone with dementia or visual difficulties, a plain plate that contrasts with the food can make it easier to see what is available.
2. Think small and often
Large portions can look overwhelming and may put someone off eating. Try smaller portions and offer nutritious snacks between meals. Six smaller meals or snacks may be easier for someone struggling to eat enough than three large meals.
You may want to try mini meals such as:
3. Make every mouthful count
A small bowl of nourishing food can sometimes provide much more benefit than a large plate that remains untouched.
For plant-based meals, consider adding ingredients such as nut or seed butters, tahini, ground nuts, fortified plant milks, beans, lentils, tofu and vegan alternatives to cheese or yoghurt, where suitable for the individual's dietary and swallowing requirements.
Vegetarian for Life's Food Fortification for Vegans guide shows how to use vegan, dairy-free alternatives to add calories and protein to meals.
4. Use familiar flavours and memories
Food can be a powerful connection to the past.
Ask about favourite meals, childhood dishes, family recipes and foods associated with celebrations. Someone who doesn't respond to a generic meal may become interested when offered something familiar.
Cooking can be a beneficial activity in itself. People living with dementia can often participate in simple food preparation tasks, helping them maintain skills and remain involved in mealtimes.
Changing the menu can help reduce salt
Rather than reaching for the salt, flavour with herbs and spices. I'm a big fan of using garlic and ginger to add flavour. I tailored the menu of a recent cookery course to accommodate one participant's medical conditions – she was on medications that affected her taste, and for her food tasted bitter or metallic. This led to her relying on heavily salted microwave meals or she snacked on lots of cakes and sweet treats.
We made a range of Indian dishes and curries that were layered with spices. She didn't like a dish to be too spicy hot, so we reduced the chilli and used flavourful aromatic spices: ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cumin and coriander along with garlic. This gave such a tasty dish without the need for too much salt.
The participant said the course had led them to use spices in casseroles and stews, and to reduce salt in her diet.
Food should be about pleasure
It is easy to focus so heavily on calories, protein and hydration that we forget one of the most important ingredients: enjoyment.
For older people, and particularly those living with dementia, food can provide routine, comfort, memories, independence and social connection.
At VfL, we believe plant-based food should be nutritious and delicious. Whether it is a favourite family recipe, a colourful bowl of vegetables, a comforting lentil curry or a freshly baked treat, we aim to help older people to continue to enjoy food throughout later life.
Sometimes the solution isn't simply to tell someone to eat more. It can be about making food more appealing, more familiar, easier to eat and more enjoyable – one mouthful at a time.
Please remember: if someone is persistently eating or drinking less, losing weight, coughing or choking during meals, or showing signs of swallowing difficulty, seek advice from their GP and/or relevant healthcare professionals.
Categories:
Nutritional Advice