• Badly fitting dentures, gum disease, or dry mouth can make chewing difficult.
• Taste and smell senses diminish with age. Food doesn’t taste as good as it used to.
• Side effects of medications for heart disease, constipation, depression, and other disorders affect appetite.
• People living alone don’t like to fix meals just for themselves.
• Loneliness, sadness, depression, grief, and bereavement can all affect appetite.
• Food shopping and preparing meals are increasingly hard to do.
• Lack of physical activity.
• Constipation.

Many older people can’t eat much at one time and prefer snacking throughout the day instead of eating three meals. Stock the cupboard and refrigerator with lots of healthy, ready-to-eat snacks:

• Snack packs of pudding, jello, yogurt, cottage cheese, applesauce, and canned fruit.
• Single-serving cans of fruit or vegetable juice.
• Cheese and crackers with fresh fruit.
• Ice cream bars and popsicles are tempting when nothing else tastes good.
• Cut up raw vegetables with low-fat dip.

Comfort Foods and Social Tips

Old-fashioned “comfort foods” are easy to eat and bring back fond memories of earlier meals. Use favorite family recipes or carry-out from supermarkets and restaurants.

• Grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of soup for lunch or dinner.
• Macaroni and cheese.
• Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy.
• Rice pudding with raisins.

If your family member has Alzheimer’s disease or a similar memory disorder, try serving several small meals of a couple of favorite foods throughout the day instead of three big meals. Serve finger foods or sandwiches. Avoid foods that might cause choking: nuts, raw vegetables, popcorn, and small candies.

Other “non-food” ways to improve a poor appetite:

• Invite a neighbor to share a sandwich and dessert with you and your relative.
• Eat your lunch together on the back porch.
• Ask your loved one to help prepare a meal with you.
• Take a walk together before a meal.

This article is courtesy of Active Daily Living.