Caregiving
Bon Appétit By Ana Daniel , PCOA Aging and Caregiving Specialist
them out https://www.jellydrops.com. The internet also shares how to make these. • Having trouble chewing and/or swallowing, cut food into smaller pieces or puree foods like chicken soup or cooked canned beans. • For the light eaters, try eating small snacks throughout the day and/or smaller portions of food. Blueberries make a perfect snack or dessert. They can be a finger food and be eaten with nut butter for glucose management and added protein. • If taste or lack of smell are an issue, try cooking with aromatics (garlic, onion, rosemary, cumin, etc.) and include meals with vibrant cooked veggies (carrots, bell peppers, sweet potato). • If there is overindulging in unhealthy sweets, then swap them out for a fruit smoothie that contains frozen unsweetened berries, kale or spinach, and protein powder or unsweetened nut butter. • Explore a meal with varying temperatures and consistencies. For dinner make seasoned chicken with steamed carrots and pureed sweet potatoes. For dessert make a fruit smoothie. • Consider whether there might be food sensitivity to the top 8 allergens. (Gluten, cow’s milk, peanuts, fish, nuts, eggs, corn, and soy). These allergens can cause digestive issues that can decrease appetite and affect our overall health. • Do you need a break from cooking? Try making enough food to have as leftovers so you don’t have to cook the
When our loved ones are dealing with an illness or are experiencing physical changes as older adults tend to do, their desire to eat can diminish and/or their food preferences can change suddenly. As someone who is caring for this person, you might feel exhausted and hopeless not knowing how to navigate this situation. It can be useful to explore different foods and drinks that might be helpful in increasing appetite and identifying your loved one’s food preferences. Keep in mind whether your loved ones are getting enough nourishment from the foods they eat. A good place to start is by finding out why they might not be eating well; that way you can better understand their situation and help them accordingly. There is no universal solution for appetite loss, but below are some possible considerations that might help. I encourage you to consider them and to experiment for yourself. Food tips that may be useful: • Finger foods often are more appealing than chasing peas around a plate. If they like finger foods, leave green beans long if needed, they can pick them up like it was a French fry. Serve sweet potato tots instead of French fries for added nutrition. • Not drinking enough water really saps energy; try edible water drops that look like candy but give hydration to the body. Here is a website to check
next day. You can also freeze leftovers and enjoy them on days where you might feel tired or don’t have time to cook. • It is okay to need and accept help. PCOA can be here to support you on your caregiving journey. Contact our helpline at PCOA to see if you or your loved one can qualify to receive delivered meals from our Home Delivered Meal Program. Call our helpline at 520-790-7262, or help@PCOA.org. • Another idea is to be screened to see if you can receive respite care that can provide help with meal preparation and to give you a break from caregiving. Contact our helpline to be screened for this service. • You can also speak to our family caregiver support team if you need guidance with meal and nutrition ideas or problem solving. Just let the helpline know of your request to speak with our Aging and Caregiver specialists.
Page 14 | February 2022, Never Too Late
Pima Council on Aging
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