How Can I Get Someone to Eat When She Says She's Not Hungry?
The most important thing you can do is to make meals as pleasant an experience as possible. Too often, worry over someone's lack of appetite can make every meal a battle. It often plays out like this: You're insistent, she's defensive, it gets ugly -- and, in the end, she still doesn't eat.
Many health conditions can contribute to poor appetite. Here are some solutions that apply to many people:
Try offering the person smaller but more frequent meals, and serve smaller portions. Also let the person serve herself, if possible. Being served up large portions (or portions she sees as too large) can be an immediate turn-off. If you serve a very small portion and she finishes it, she can always have another.
Focus on providing nutrient density, rather than volume. A big bowl of spaghetti, for example, can overwhelm her. Besides, spaghetti contains few nutrients; it's mostly carbs. Consider instead serving much less pasta along with roasted chicken and vegetables cut up in small pieces. It's easier to eat and provides more nutrition in smaller amounts.
Appeal to a loss of taste caused by aging or disease with the use of stronger seasonings in cooking. Try adding garlic, onion, scallions, turmeric, cumin, curry, ginger, cinnamon, red or green pepper.
Serve beverages between meals rather than with meals. Many older people fill up on fluids at the table and don't have room for real food. If dehydration is a risk, liquids not served at mealtime should be offered throughout the day. Offer beverages that are higher in calories, such as fruit nectars, cocoa, yogurt drinks, and juices.
Serve the biggest meal at the time of day the person is most alert. That's when people tend to have the best appetite. For older people, this is often breakfast or late morning.
Make sure a stash of healthy snacks is readily available. This way, the person can grab something that requires no preparation and is easy to reach. For example, in the pantry or even in the room where she spends the most time, you might have meal bars, nut butter, trail mix and crackers, or whole-wheat fig bars. In the refrigerator, keep front-and-center options like yogurt, hummus and carrots or whole-wheat pita bread, or peeled hard-boiled eggs.
Rely on reminders. People with dementia, in particular, often forget to eat. So you can post a note on the refrigerator about what's inside. Pictures are especially good, as they also can stimulate appetite.
Serve nutritional supplement drinks. Options such as Boost, Ensure, or Sustacal help provide nutrients. Add ice cream to make it more like a shake, which can be drunk through a straw. Supplements also come in pudding form, which most people like.
Make sure the person gets some exercise during the day. Exercise is shown to improve appetite.
excellent article, I use all of the above when my father with aliz. doesn't want to eat, it also helps to serve finger foods, chicken nuggets, fries, fishsticks, etc., things that are easy to handle and put in his mouth, doesn't have to use a spoon.
For my dad, I have learned that he may say he's not hungry, but if I place food in front of him, he will eat it. It may be just as simple as not asking them if they are hungry, but providing a meal anyway. I don't put too much on his plate. He can't eat as much as he used to. 1/2 a chicken breast and a tablespoon of mashed potatoes is plenty, especially since he has a peppermint or some other candy in his mouth almost all day long.
I have also learned that if I provide healthful snacks that he can just pick up and eat on his way past the table, that works too. If he is eating grapes, little finger-sized pieces of peanut butter sandwiches, apple pieces, and mixed nuts every time he walks past them, then he really doesn't need to sit down for a meal anyway. I try to make things that can be eaten as finger foods too. Just make sure they are high in nutritional value, so that if they don't eat much, they are still being "fed".
I also try to make sure he is getting some fiber. This seems to help prevent incidents of bowel incontinence. Hummus, rye or wheat bread, and fruit are all good for this. Just don't overdo it or it can go the other way.
I guess I just pretty much reiterated what was said in the original article. Just hang in there, don't get frustrated. Try and if it doesn't work, try again later. Just remember that you can't teach them to want to eat. It is not something they are trying to do. It does no good to get frustrated with them. They don't understand why you are frustrated. Just try to keep a smile on your face and hang in there...
