Is your loved one with dementia not eating enough?

I know from working with many, many people with dementia and their families that ‘not eating enough’ is very common.

One of the things that I recommend is making sure that every bite counts. If Mom will only eat half of her meal, then lets make sure that what she does eat has as much calories and protein as possible.

What you do will depend on what your loved one will eat

Some people with dementia do eat better with foods that they can pick up and eat with their hands, even if they walk around while doing it. They may do better with small snacks or sandwiches that can be easily held.

Some people drink well but are less likely to eat their entire meal. This means that getting them their calories and protein through a drink, like a smoothie or a supplement drink, may be more helpful.

Many people with dementia tend to want sweet flavors and focus on desserts. In this case you can add protein to any desserts you provide for them.

What can you do for your loved one with dementia?

If your loved one eats eat best in the morning:

Sometimes people with dementia eat more at breakfast because they have a very good appetite in the morning. To take advantage of this:

• Make sure there is a source of protein like eggs, meat, or plant protein.
  • 2 eggs: 140 calories, 12 g protein
  • Chopped ham (½ cup): 90 calories, 10 g protein
  • Reduced sodium sausage: 175 calories, 18 g protein
  • One meatless sausage patty: 100 calories, 7 g protein
  • Reduced sodium peanut butter (2 tbs): 180 calories, 8 g protein
• On toast add higher calorie spreads
  • Guacamole (2 tbs): 50 calories, 1 g protein
  • Hummus (2 tbs): 50 calories, 3 g protein
• If they like smoothies, make a rich smoothie with lots of calories and protein. Add any of these ingredients to your regular smoothie:
  • 2% Greek yogurt (½ cup): 90 calories, 13 g protein
  • Reduced sodium peanut butter (2 tbs): 180 calories, 8 g protein
  • Avocado (¼ cup): 60 calories, 1 g protein

If your loved one eats soups add:

• Greek yogurt to cream soups
  • 2% Greek yogurt (½ cup): 90 calories, 13 g protein
• Sour cream (2 tbs): 55 calories, 1 g protein
• You can add protein to soups as well
  • Diced chicken (½ cup): 130 calories, 13 g protein
  • Tempeh (100 g): 200 calories, 18 g protein

If your loved one likes sandwiches:

Sandwiches can be easier for people with dementia to eat because they are easy to hold.

• Add cheese slices to the sandwich.
  • Cheddar (2 slices): 110 calories, 7 g protein
• Add mayonnaise as a spread
  • Mayonnaise (2 tbs): 190 calories
• Add guacamole as a spread
  • Guacamole (2 tbs): 50 calories, 1 g protein
• Peanut butter or other nut butters are a great addition
  • Reduced sodium peanut butter (2 tbs): 180 calories, 8 g protein
• Try using biscuits or croissants to make the sandwich. Two slices of 60% WW bread provides 124 calories and 6 g protein. Instead you could use:
  • A croissant: 270 calories, 5 g protein
  • A buttermilk biscuit: 300 calories, 6 g protein

If your loved one will eat hot meals

• Add to casseroles, pastas, sauces, vegetables, or rice:
  • Butter or margarine (1 tbs): 100 calories
  • 2% Greek yogurt (½ cup): 90 calories, 13 g protein
  • Whole milk (½ cup): 80 calories, 4 g protein
  • Silken tofu (½ cup): 70 calories, 6 g protein
  • Shredded cheese (½ cup): 230 calories, 14 g protein
• To vegetable dishes add:
  • Salad dressing (1 tbs): 70 calories.

If your loved one likes desserts

People with dementia sometimes eat sweet foods and desserts better than a meal

• Sweeten some Greek yogurt with honey or jam and use it as a dessert.
• Try my High Protein Chocolate Smoothie.
• Try my Pumpkin Pie Smoothie.

If your loved one will eat snacks

People with dementia may eat better if they are offered small amounts of food throughout the day.

• Offer small snacks between meals
  • Try canned fruit in syrup for more calories than fresh fruit
    • Fruit cocktail (½ cup): 120 calories
  • 15 crackers with ¼ cup diced cheddar: 200 calories, 9 g protein
  • Muffins
    • Blueberry muffin: 425 calories, 5 g protein
  • Add peanut butter to snacks or use as a dip for veggies

If your loved one will drink better than they will eat

• Consider a nutritional supplement drink
• Try smoothies/ shakes

If your loved one with dementia is not eating much, try adding some of these items to the food they eat to make sure that they get as much calories and protein as possible!

Did any of these tips help you?

References

Canada Nutrient File

The Calorie King