Planning a Menu for Seniors with Chewing Difficulties

As an adult child of a senior, it’s important to monitor the food intake of your senior loved one. If they are eating poorly, there may be many causes – but chewing difficulties can be a big contributor to their increased frailty and lack of energy.

The National Institute of Health lists dental problems as a risk for malnutrition in senior adults: “Oral health and dentition have been shown to significantly affect food intake. This means more difficulty eating a range of foods which lead to problems associated with a greater likelihood of poor general health and decreased quality of life.”

Soft Strategies

Difficulty chewing does not have to mean giving up flavorful and nutritious food, but it does require thinking in different ways about preparing food.

• Some soft and moist foods require little or no preparation. They include the following:
• Oatmeal is a whole-grain food loaded with important vitamins, minerals and antioxidant plant compounds.
• Applesauce also contains antioxidants, and some brands contain vitamin C.
• Bananas contain several nutrients and are a source of potassium; a mineral important for heart health.
• Berries are another antioxidant source that is high in fiber, and have anti-inflammatory properties.
• Avocado, the main ingredient in guacamole, contains an abundant amount of nutrients and minerals, as well as heart-healthy fats.
• Cottage cheese is high in protein and essential nutrients. It is available in creamed, whipped, lactose-free, reduced sodium or sodium-free varieties.
• Yogurts contain calcium and probiotics
• Cooked beans are filled with protein and fiber

Sauces to consider:

• Gravy
• Cheese sauce
• White sauce
• Stock

Desserts might include:

• Custard
• Milk puddings
• Ice cream or sorbet

Using a food processor to finely dice vegetables and meats can help. Likewise, a blender can create frozen fruit smoothies. The Food Network has some great smoothie recipes.

When it comes to nutrition, eggs are a great source of the protein that seniors need to help maintain muscle. They can be hard-boiled, scrambled, poached, or finely diced into egg salad.

Soups can provide a wide variety of softened meats and vegetables. Allrecipes has recipes for 20 easy soups that can be ready in 30 minutes or less.

Even hard vegetables can be softened. Potatoes can be mashed. Squash, cauliflower, and carrots can be steamed and softened.

Flaky fish like salmon, orange roughy, or cod are easier to chew. They are a low-fat, high-quality protein, and a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. However, fish like mahi-mahi and tuna are harder to eat for seniors with chewing difficulties.

Other Food-Softening Tips

• You can soften bread products or crackers for your senior in soup, milk or tea.
• Use milk, cream, or broth when mashing up vegetables like potatoes, yams or squash.
• Cheese sauce can moisten vegetables.
• Gravy, broth, or sauce can moisten meat, poultry or fish.
• Remove skins and seeds from fruits and vegetables before cooking
• If your senior’s appetite is small, serve reduced food quantities more frequently during the day.

Follow All Dietary Restrictions

While thinking about how to feed your senior who has chewing difficulties, don’t forget that some chronic health conditions require special dietary food choices that cannot be ignored, including diabetes, kidney disease, high cholesterol, gout, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

Consult with a physician before making changes to your loved one’s diet. A registered dietitian can also provide excellent recommendations and ideas to keep your senior enjoying foods that also maintain and improve his or her health.

If you’re a caregiver seeking more resources, visit Bethesda’s blog for Caregiver Tips.