On Sat 16 Aug 2008 05:24:28a, Janet Baraclough told us...

> The message >
> from "jmcquown" > contains these words:
>
>> I can't seem to get my mother to eat anything lately.
>
> Has she had her teeth checked lately? She might have sore gums or loose
> dentures the dentist can do something about.
>
> From the list of what she will eat, two things stand out; texture
> and bland taste.
> She maybe has very little sense of taste or smell left (this is
> pretty common in old age, and it happens gradually so sometimes people
> aren't aware of it. ). Emphasising visual appeal may help; more food
> colours on the plate , or make a pattern or picture on the plate with
> the food . If you made a circle heart or criss cross of mayo brownsauce
> or tomato ketchup direct on the plate, for example, the aim is to
> stimulate her interest in the meal, and it really doesnt matter if she
> barely touches the ketchup etc.
>
> She also likes soft food that doesn't require a lot of biting or
> chewing. That's pretty normal too. In old age facial and jaw "chew and
> swallow" muscles get weaker (cheeks sag and necks get scrawny) and gums
> shrink. I'd just work around what her tastes tell you, feels
> comfortable in her mouth. Cooked veg and fruit can be mashed, or pureed
> through a baby-mouli (apples, beans carrots, peas, parsnip, tomatoes,
> broccoli) . Fresh fruit like mango, banana , strawberry, avocado are
> easy to eat. Lentils cooked really soft store in the fridge a few days,
> can be hidden in almost anything and are a good protein source. A
> spoonful of orange mashed lentils or cooked rice is another colour on
> the plate.
>
> Making her food prep simpler for yourself may help reduce your
> boredom and frustration. Use canned food. Buy small sizes. Canned tuna
> and sardines can be mashed up with some lemon juice and served as a
> spread on toast fingers. or in a spoonful beside her scrambled egg or
> mashed potato. Canned mandarin orange segments, chopped pineapple, rice
> pudding or soup, are no work for you and easy to eat.
>
> Janet.
>

A lot of good suggestions, Janet.

--
Date: Saturday, 08(VIII)/16(XVI)/08(MMVIII)

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