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The Dementia Dietitian

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Table of Contents

What is wild rice?

Why does this work for a person with dementia?

How to Make this

Ingredients

Instructions

Recipe

Wild Rice Chicken Mushroom Soup

Ingredients

Video

Notes

References

This Wild Rice Chicken Mushroom Soup is a great cold-weather meal. It’s good for families and for people with dementia, because it’s comforting, balanced, and easy to chew. Here you’ll learn about flavorful and healthy wild rice, and how to make this straightforward soup that caregivers can prepare quickly and that you and your loved one can enjoy together.

What is wild rice?

Not everyone is familiar with wild rice. If you haven’t had anything made with this ingredient before, you are missing out!

First, wild rice is not that closely related to the rice that we typically know. It is a grain harvested from aquatic grasses, and has a distinctive dark outer layer and nutty taste. Because it holds its shape well during cooking and offers a rich texture, it works especially well for soups.

When compared to rice (even brown rice), wild rice has less fat and more protein, while having a similar amount of fiber (1). Brown rice and wild rice are also both whole grains, which means they both have more fiber and nutrition than processed grains like white rice.

Brown Rice vs Wild Rice (1)

Nutrient	Brown rice (1 cup cooked)	Wild Rice (1 cup cooked)
Protein (g)	5	7
Fat (g)	2	0.5
Carbohydrates (g)	47	37
Fiber (g)	3	3

Combining these two ingredients adds even more nutrition to this meal! Wild rice has significant amounts of Zinc, Manganese and Phosphorus (a), and brown rice has significant amounts of B vitamins B6, Niacin and Thiamine (a).

Why does this work for a person with dementia?

Soups are a great food for people with dementia because they are soft and moist, making them easier to chew and swallow. If your person with dementia needs even softer food, this soup can easily be pureed in a blender, without needing to add more liquid.

This recipe is balanced and nutritious, high in protein, and as with many soups, it is an easy way to include extra vegetables.

Total fat: One serving (75 g) of chicken has 6 g fat (1). Reducing overall fat intake can lower LDL cholesterol and reduce cardiovascular disease risk (2). This means this is a better choice for the whole family.
Protein: One serving (75 mg) of chicken contains 22 g protein (1). This matters for older adults who need more protein to help maintain muscle, and those with dementia who may eat less overall (3). If your loved one with dementia isn’t eating much, you can add more chicken to add even more calories and protein!

This recipe is low sodium

Almost everyone eats more salt than they need, and many soups are high in sodium. Too much sodium raises blood pressure and the risk of stroke and heart disease. Lowering sodium in home cooking is one of the simplest ways to reduce overall sodium and support heart health (4). If a lower-sodium meal is not something that is important to you, you can add salt in the recipe or at the table for extra flavor.

This soup is full of vegetables

Soup makes it easy to include vegetables for more fibre, vitamins, and minerals.

This soup is a balanced meal that is full of vegetables.
If you want to add more vegetables, you can!
- Frozen vegetables are an economical way to add vegetables

How to Make this

This is an easy one-pot soup. The main ingredients are below:

Ingredients

Brown rice and Wild rice: These are our main carbohydrates. They both give the soup hearty texture and long-lasting energy. The wild rice also adds a rich, nutty flavor.

Chicken: This is a healthy, lower cost meat that has lots of protein and savory flavor that anchors the whole dish.

Onion: This adds a sweet and savory base that makes the whole soup taste richer. I browned the onion, but allowing the onion to cook for longer to caramelize will give a sweeter and milder flavor.

Garlic: Brings warmth and depth with its unmistakable aroma.

Celery: Adds freshness and a subtle, earthy crunch as it cooks down.

Carrots: Bring natural sweetness and color to balance the savory notes.

White mushrooms: Add umami and a tender, earthy richness to the broth.

Instructions

Start with sautéing diced onions in a little oil until they are translucent. Add garlic and stir for about 30 seconds.

2. Add diced chicken and stir periodically until the outside is cooked.

3. Add celery and carrots, stir and add stock until everything is covered.

4. Add washed brown and wild rice to pot. Mix well.

5. Add mushrooms and spices (basil, sage, thyme, and salt to taste).

6. Cook until rice is fully cooked, about 30 minutes.

Recipe