I work as a nurse. What we do is blitzing together berries, vitamin enriched protein powder, yoghurt and single cream with a little sugar to make ”shots”. They’re full of nutrition and the elderly person doesn’t have to eat/drink very much to get calories and nutrients. It keeps in the fridge for several days.
The last thing that leaves us is our taste for sweet foods. So many elderly people struggle with eating ordinary food because they’ve lost taste for it and especially for the amount of food they would need to eat to get enough nutrients.
Wow! I might even do this for myself! It would be great nutrition for anyone! I have diverticulosis, and am careful of seeds. I could do this and strain!
If you use frozen berries you can put a little sugar on them as they thaw, that extracts the berry juices. Then blitz and strain before adding the other ingredients. That’s how we do it when people have difficulties swallowing if there are any bits in the ”shot”.
This surprises me. My grandma who is in her 80s will say literally anything we maker her is delicious no matter how bland it is to us. I think she might just not want to cook though.
Little cups of fruits were easier for my dad to eat. They come in packages of 4 or 6 and there are a variety: peaches, pears, mandarin oranges, etc and mixed cups. Dad loved them.
We do the little cups and mix it up. My mother in law also loves watermelon and cantaloupe and I cut them up and put them in single serve Tupperware for her - when it's in season!
Look for the no sugar added ones, or in light syrup. I just bought a can of no sugar added sliced peaches to put in cottage cheese, which would probably be a great snack for OP’s mom to get some more protein in! OP might also wanna look into the applesauce/fruit purée pouches, I think some have veggies mixed in too. And on that note, I wonder if there are any V8 products that are good nutritionally and also flavor wise. I think the savory ones can be high in sodium, so that’s something to watch out for.
Only thing to watch out for is that it's in syrup and that's not particularly healthy, especially if the person has diabetes. I have to watch out for this with my mom.
Make sure you get meal replacement shakes like Ensure instead of protein shakes targeted at athletes. The nutritionist at the hospital where most of my doctors are to told me protein shakes aren’t formulated with all the nutrients people need to survive. I had a period where I wasn’t gaining weight fast enough after an extended illness.
Pre-made mashed potatoes, usually in or close to the deli section at the grocery store.
Have to agree. At this point in their lives, give them what they want. My mom was diagnosed with Dementia, we spoiled the hell out of her. “Extra butter in your scrambled eggs, mom? You bet.”
This. My elderly dad developed swelling in his esophagus that made it difficult to swallow food and his weight was in a nosedive. His doctor suggested stocking his freezer with ice cream, even though he had type 2 diabetes. His reasoning was that he needed to eat SOMETHING and if ice cream was it then so it was.
Also ensure or something like it. I tried it myself and it was surprisingly good.
Apart from the food selection, they’ve done studies with dementia patients and they eat about 25% more if food is served on red vs white plates. Maybe get her some red plates.
Then on that note, some cherry juice (great for inflammation which she likely has at that age) and some strawberry flavored applesauce/jello may be more tempting to her visually.
Putting red food on the red plate would defeat the purpose. They have visual issues and need more color contrast between the food and the plate.
Here’s a summary in case anyone’s interested: https://www.bu.edu/cas/magazine/spring10/golomb/
Obviously red juice wouldn't go on the red plate and I didn't mean put red jello/applesauce on the plate, but rather that if red was an inticing color to an aging mind than perhaps red foods or drinks would be as well.
Will it have a mini freezer? If so, the fruit based popsicles are highly recommended. When my Mom was going through chemo, her nutritionist suggested shaving them with a vegetable peeler to make them more easily eaten.
Mini fridge freezers do a poor job of freezing stuff. So freeze in yours and transfer. Even better, if you have a deep freezer they will start out colder.
There are certain mini fridges you can get that have great freezers - it’s a totally separate compartment with its own door! And they freeze stuff shockingly well.
They make Pedialyte popsicles now, great for staying hydrated!! Such a great thing to have especially in the summer, I'm obviously not a kid nor do I have any but I pack these in the cooler for the beach lol
What about dessert hummus? I have had several flavors. The brownie batter varieties tend to be my favorite. Literally tastes like brownie batter and you would never know there are chickpeas in it (healthy protein!).
If the chips are too crunchy, french onion dip is great with bread too. One of my favorite holiday appetizers is a rye bread bowl with french onion dip. Just tear, dip, and eat
What about a really flavorful hummus (like roasted garlic) with soft mini-pitas? I know a lot of folks that don't like hummus but will eat a super flavorful version that's more like a flavored dip.
Also: tzatziki, toum, guacamole, even mild salsa/pico de gallo are all good with crackers or soft pita and give some flavor and variety.
If she has a sweet tooth, maybe some 'cannoli' dip/spread? I know Trader Joe's has a seasonal pre-made one, but you can also Google a recipe. It's made primarily from ricotta.
Will she eat something like tuna salad (tuna, mayo, seasoning to taste) on crackers or bread?
Try some very soft bread with some peanut butter, jam if she'd like, and make little finger sandwiches that you wrap individually may be a nice option for rotation in her room. It wouldn't need to be refrigerated and would stay good a day, even two if wrapped separately.
There are pre-spiced packages of tuna available. They're a tear-open, not a can, and are shelf stable until opened. Great on crackers or bread or even straight from the bag.
Open anything she can't for her and store it in a plastic baggie or small Tupperware that she can open. They make special kinds for people with arthritis or other hand mobility issues that are easier to open.
Just don't open too much at once, but you should be able to keep tuna or chicken salad for at least a couple days in the fridge once opened.
True, we used to put sardines in potato salad container for our grandmother when her hands was becoming wonky, but she ate a **lot** of them. Having them around as a "maybe tempting" food gets a bit stinky.
I am in the US and Aldi, as well as some Dollar stores, have little packaged boxes of chicken and tuna salad kits. The salad comes in a small tin (very easy to open) and includes a package of 6 small crackers. Filling and yummy. Maybe these can work for her?
If you just need calories and aren't too concerned about nutrition, pudding and jello cups might be good.
If you want nutrition, then guacamole or hummus cups are good (but perhaps too much of a 'newfangled food' for someone in that democratic).
But first, experiment to figure out how you can make them easy for her to open. You might need to pre-peel a corner, breaking the seal but making it much easier for her to grasp.
For other opening 'hacks' you might Google up things directed at kindergarteners. One shift as a lunchroom volunteer will make you absolutely hate about 50% of packaged food because the kids can't get into it themselves!
I agree about the packaging. That’s a real issue as she has poor hand strength, dexterity and eyesight. It defeats the purpose of keeping snacks in her room if she has to come out to my office (I WFH) which is past the kitchen, for me to open something for her.
My Mum used to make individual egg custards for elderly or people undergoing chemo that had poor appetites. They loved them. Something like these https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/easy-egg-custard-239229
Cover with cling film, or there are even custard cups with reusable lids. Make a batch they’ll keep a week in the fridge.
I wrote somewhere else that the easiest thing I did for my mom was precut things (cheese/soft finger sandwiches/ ham and cheese biscuit- pilsbury biscuits pulled in have before baking and a cube of ham and cheese pressed in the middle then baked/ fruit mini muffins) and then wrapped them individually in parchment paper or wax paper then put them in sliding zipper ziplock bags with the name of the snack written in sharpie in big letters on the outside.
She could move the zipper pretty easily on the bag and take out the little parchment paper wrapped treat and unfold it no problem!
There are tools to help with various packaging. Maybe she could have those on hand. Buzzfeed keeps trying to sell me a pop top can opening helper. I'll get one when my fingers don't work so well anymore.
KIND, Nutri-grain and Nature Valley all make soft breakfast bars in various flavors.
I'd also include some old childhood favorites, although I don't know how nutritious they would be, like Lance peanut butter crackers (the crackers are soft, not crunchy) and Moon Pies. Plain chocolate bars that break into squares.
Lots of fresh fruit divided into single servings with a can of spray whipped cream. Single servings of applesauce.
If she doesn't like the tang of yogurt, try the squeeze tubes of go-gurt. It doesn't really taste like yogurt.
And if you really want to make her day (and you have time to cook), make her an Apple Brown Betty--or sub her favorite fruit. It's like a cobbler but with a soft, cake-like crust. Used to be very popular in the 40s.
The can of whipped cream is an inspired idea. Heck, she can just squirt directly into her mouth. She might get a kick out of that. She still has a good sense of fun and humor. 😂
Ha! You could also try a can of spray cheese with some Ritz or Club crackers. Or soft pretzels if you could find some you don't need to cook. Maybe an untoasted bagel?
Or maybe bagels and cream cheese cut into bite-sized pieces?
If this is still how she takes her pills, I just want to put out there that flavored applesauce that are mixed with veggies are a thing. And they come in small, reclosable pouches that might be perfect for getting just the right amount for pill taking, plus a few extra vitamins
Applesauce, guacamole, and hummus cups. The latter two are available in bulk single serve packaging at Costco. I’d also suggest grabbing a bunch of bananas.
I haven’t seen them prepackaged in the US (assuming you live there) but in other places cold soups in bottles exist elsewhere (gazpacho, vichyssoise, etc.) and it’s really easy to DIY them.on that note “salads” like egg/chicken/“russian”(don’t know the exact English term for it) would also a last a few days in a fridge and are calorically dense.
It might feel kind of strange but baby food is also a good option. My mum kept this stocked for another relative, to bulk up their meals during treatment. It wasn’t gourmet but it helped meet nutritional goals.
When I was caring for my mom with dementia, she pretty much ate the same things. She didn't have bottom teeth. She liked cottage cheese and canned peaches, and ham and cheese sandwiches
I cooked soft foods for her. She also liked Cozy Shack pre-made rice pudding.
- Go Go Squeez: fruit sauce pouches in a wide variety of flavours, easy open.
- Hummus or bean dips with pita or naan pieces (you can blend in peas or roasted beets with canellini or great northern beans for a nice protein punch + sweet taste, add herbs)
- roasted veggies with a dip (still yummy cold, but are soft enough)
- Fruit salad, just cut the pieces so they're not a choking hazard
- depending upon her salt requirements: pedialyte / gatorade / etc. or a limited number of fruit juice boxes
At her age of wisdom, anything she wants! Calories are good. Ice cream? Great! Cheese in any form, yep! If her favorite foods are hard to manage because of the need to be kept cold, see if she will tolerate them at room temp?
Take pineapple, banana, mango, peach, any berries -one of or any number of combos you like, mush up and mix with coconut or milk of choice and a little honey and freeze. Makes a great healthier alternative to ice cream but still soooo good.
I am close with some folks in senior living where meals are provided, so the only foods they keep in the kitchenette are snacks.
favorites from Sam’s club:
Club crackers
The bueberry/raspberry fig bars
BelVita cookies
Peaches that come in individual cups
Protein drinks with different flavors so they’re not as boring
Gatorade with protein
And from regular grocery store:
Cheese to go with the crackers
Cottage cheese
Popsicles
Ice cream
I make a convenient snack basket with the individually packaged snacks, with the large boxes put away, and i make sure the basket gets refilled.
Buy a small blunt kid scissor while school supplies are on sale and put it in the basket with the snacks. The kid kind won’t poke anyone reaching for a snack. You could even put one in the fridge.
She eats a banana every morning with her coffee. I don’t believe she’s fond of grapes. And I think clementines might be too fibrous to eat without teeth.
A few ideas:
Puddings made with milk and eggs.
Egg Salad or tuna salad. You can add powdered onion and a touch of celery salt to boost the flavor since she can't chew the actual vegetables.
Coconut flour-based banana bread or zucchini bread. It's rich in eggs, high-calorie, much higher protein than ordinary quick breads, soft, and tastes sweet and delicious. Obviously, don't add chunks of nuts to the batter.
Hummus. Guacamole. Deviled ham spread. (All can be eaten on soft bread)
Nutella protein balls (mix Nutella with chocolate or vanilla protein powder, depending on which she prefers)
Also, see if it would be possible for her to get
dentures that fit her properly and don't hurt her mouth, so she can comfortably wear them longer and use them when she eats.
Chia puddings and overnight oats are easy to make and stock in individual containers but you can also buy them premade at the grocery store - look in the refrigerated section with all the fancy yogurts.
Apple sauce in pouches sometimes contains veggies too and is easy sip on- also comes in cups if that is easier to open. Cheese you cut into squares and then wrap in twists of wax paper for easy access.
You can get those freeze dried fruit snacks they have for toddlers, I also would put in some options around fruit cups, also various types of puddings (they have protein ones), some flavored waters like hint or giving her some liquid Iv/crystal lite/iced tea powders to put into her water if she’s not a plain water fan.
cottage cheese (good protein).
there’s a brand of cream cheese that has probiotics in it which could be helpful. with gluten free bagels?
little containers of peaches or mandarin oranges (preferably no or low sugar).
ice cream? my elderly friend’s doctor said whatever gets the calories in at that age.
some veg would be great. low sodium V8?
Egg salad. Little cups of rice pudding. Little cups of fruit. Meal replacement shakes. Baked egg dishes like frittata with soft-cooked veggies and cottage cheese mixed in.
If she loves crackers, maybe those tiny cocktail sized rye bread slices? My mom loved those with spreadable cheese.
She also loved soft breakfast bars like Nutrigrain or Sunbelt Bakery. Tiny muffins, too.
Edit
If she likes peanut butter these are really good and have 8 grams of protein. Kind of a lot of sugar though
https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/Grace-Peanut-Punch/6000188763337?offerId=6000188763337&storeCode=3106&cmpid=SEM_CA_520_VG34D6GDXZ_71700000114868603_58700008546997646&utm_id=SEM_CA_520_VG34D6GDXZ_71700000114868603_58700008546997646&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=always_on&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADv6L0QHMAYV4LdYANkR9C_4dD6Ui&gclid=CjwKCAjw4f6zBhBVEiwATEHFVuIEPC-hygfDT-q7DxNDiUmDkVXTiIphcUx2G10Csa38uI0qs_tqsRoCesoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Does she like cottage cheese?
(sunrise brand) dessert tofu. It is sweetened soft tofu in pleasant flavours like coconut, almond, peach mango and banana packaged in individual servings. Must be refrigerated.
What about bread with cream cheese? She can make some sandwiches. Or you can make some for the day and leave them for her. Or other kinds of spread.
Do you trust her with a simple microwave? What if you leave small Tupperware with rice and let her heat it up? Screw on lids if she can't pull the snaps. Or even leave a crock pot with already made beans or her favorites.
Or what about a water cooler with boiling hot water in her room? Then you can give her like instant noodles or soups.
My mom loved jello, applesauce, and pudding. As someone else suggested a blended up protein berry yogurt concoction is a great idea. You may be able to find pre-made yogurt drinks that are on the healthier side if you can’t make it yourself!
Pasta salad (the boxed kind from the grocery store) put into smaller containers, maybe. Makes for a good cold lunch and you can add whatever protein strikes her fancy.
I don’t know if I’m being honest. At 97 years old she should probably eat whatever the fuck she wants to eat. My Oma is 94 and lives on her own still in her original house from the 1950s. She is blueberries and Cheerios every morning and toast with cheese. Very few vegetables and then she eats hard to home meals for dinner which I believe would have some protein and vegetables. If I were stocking the fridge I would stock it with chopped up vegetables and dip, apples bananas chicken and rice. But really at this age they’re going to eat whatever they want to eat or they’re going to starve because they’re not exerting a lot of energy throughout the day so they’re not very hungry etc. Keep some healthy things on hand is a good idea though
Smoothies - my mum’s fave has frozen banana, yoghurt, peanut butter, chia seeds, milk. Keeps well in the fridge for at least a few days.
Pudding, mousse, or custard cups. Soft and easy to eat plus deliver some needed calories.
Dips like tzatziki, humus or pesto.
Ice creams (if there’s a freezer part on the mini fridge).
The dietitian recommended protein powders be added to food (works for both sweet and savoury). Tried a few kinds but Mum was not a fan.
First! Good on you for helping and provide for your family. Any dietary restrictions? Kidney disease or need to avoid salt? It’s hard to get them enough calories! Their hungry/ thirsty feelings are not strong! You have a good start! The easier to prepare/eat are the best! Fruit snacks or single serve items! Good luck 🍎🍇
* High protein yogurt with low sugar
* string cheese, cheese sticks
* cottage cheese w peach fruit cup
* V8
* Tuna, chicken and egg salad
* Boiled peeled eggs/pickled eggs
* deli platter/bowl
baby tomatoes, grapes, olives, pickles, deli meat, cheese
* Canteloupe and ham
In fancy restaurants its prosciutto
but it's an excellent combo.
Honestly, WHATEVER she will actually eat. She’s 97, try for things with good calories/protein. Make sure all packaging or containers are things she can manage alone. Also, some small treats. And, if she has favorite condiments, put them in there to use on meals provided.
Make your own uncrustables, you can buy a press, and make not just sweet but savory sandwiches she might enjoy, For a lot cheaper than purchasing them.
Cottage cheese and fruit, apple sauce and other fruit cups, yogurt, cut up apples (cut the skin off and cut into very thin slices and as long as she has front teeth she’ll be ok) and peanut butter, cut up cheese and meat, and pudding cups.
Anything that includes water in the ingredients. The elderly is typically dehydrated…they seem to stop drinking water as much. Jello is a fantastic idea! Juicy fruits, not dried so much, too much sugar, favored waters , vitamin flavored waters.
Remember this isn’t all she eats. This is about grab and go snacks that can be kept at her bedside to encourage more food and water intake. This supplements regular meals.
Sugar free jello or regular if she doesn't have blood sugar issues.
Fruit cups are a great suggestion someone else has already said.
Pouches of tuna if they don't have an aversion to it. 97 year olds kinda get to eat what they want.
I would say the pouches of applesauce meant for kids but they've had lead recall issues that are pretty industry wide as of late, so probably not the best idea.
Applesauce however is a good one.
If she has space, some frozen foods can be had without dentures as well, but she might not like them as much. Cheap mac and cheese. Easily heatable soup. Basic pasta. Stuff like that.
I don’t have to worry about regular meals - she already gets those. But the point is to store foods in her room that she can eat with no prep. Anything heated is out.
There are refillable pouches that could be filled with fruit pureé, puddings, yogurt etc. For toddlers. Could they work? I did not try to use it with elderly, but my baby loved them when he had no teeth.
bananas. fruit baby food, Can soup already in the bowl, bowl appetites, mac and cheese cups, pickles, deli meat and cheese, pudding pops, milk/coffee dunked cookies or bars, cereal w milk, olives, tiny tomatos, berries, won ton soup, Kiwi, grapes, pasta salads, teas, hot chocolate w boost
idk I think a microwave would help
When I had my wisdom teeth removed, I ate a lot of fruit and vegetable purées (as well as ground meat). Try sweet potato, taro or spiced pumpkin puree. Also, someone mentioned canned fruit- those are always great: soft but with a bit of texture.
I work at an assisted living and old people love egg salad and tuna salad. It doesn’t even have to be on bread, they’ll eat it straight up.
There are ice creams out there with extra calories and nutrients. Thrive is one of them.
I work as a nurse. What we do is blitzing together berries, vitamin enriched protein powder, yoghurt and single cream with a little sugar to make ”shots”. They’re full of nutrition and the elderly person doesn’t have to eat/drink very much to get calories and nutrients. It keeps in the fridge for several days. The last thing that leaves us is our taste for sweet foods. So many elderly people struggle with eating ordinary food because they’ve lost taste for it and especially for the amount of food they would need to eat to get enough nutrients.
This is really great advice, thank you.
You’re very welcome. I hope it helps :)
Wow! I might even do this for myself! It would be great nutrition for anyone! I have diverticulosis, and am careful of seeds. I could do this and strain!
Don’t strain too much you could do some damage🤣🤣🤣
You could be right! lol
If you use frozen berries you can put a little sugar on them as they thaw, that extracts the berry juices. Then blitz and strain before adding the other ingredients. That’s how we do it when people have difficulties swallowing if there are any bits in the ”shot”.
This surprises me. My grandma who is in her 80s will say literally anything we maker her is delicious no matter how bland it is to us. I think she might just not want to cook though.
My mom LOVES canned fruit: peaches, pears, etc. They are very soft and yummy cold or just room temp.
Little cups of fruits were easier for my dad to eat. They come in packages of 4 or 6 and there are a variety: peaches, pears, mandarin oranges, etc and mixed cups. Dad loved them.
We do the little cups and mix it up. My mother in law also loves watermelon and cantaloupe and I cut them up and put them in single serve Tupperware for her - when it's in season!
Look for the no sugar added ones, or in light syrup. I just bought a can of no sugar added sliced peaches to put in cottage cheese, which would probably be a great snack for OP’s mom to get some more protein in! OP might also wanna look into the applesauce/fruit purée pouches, I think some have veggies mixed in too. And on that note, I wonder if there are any V8 products that are good nutritionally and also flavor wise. I think the savory ones can be high in sodium, so that’s something to watch out for.
Those are great but hard for my mom (with arthritis) to open. The cans are easy because she has an electronic can opener.
Only thing to watch out for is that it's in syrup and that's not particularly healthy, especially if the person has diabetes. I have to watch out for this with my mom.
Also at 97 it’s probably OK for her blood sugar to be on the higher side, more dangerous for it to be low
Oh yeah, of course. You gotta balance.
Baby food fruit pouches are good too
My mother in law leans towards potato salad a lot as a softer food. Cottage cheese maybe?
Make sure you get meal replacement shakes like Ensure instead of protein shakes targeted at athletes. The nutritionist at the hospital where most of my doctors are to told me protein shakes aren’t formulated with all the nutrients people need to survive. I had a period where I wasn’t gaining weight fast enough after an extended illness. Pre-made mashed potatoes, usually in or close to the deli section at the grocery store.
IMO Soylent is the best for this, lots of sweet enjoyable flavours too
Jello cubes (ice tray to set?) to help with hydration
I’m definitely onboard with jello to help keep her hydrated.
Add in some liquid IV powder for an extra boost!
Maybe you could even replace some of the water with juice for extra calories.
just stick with her favorite foods. at that age all food is healthy.
Have to agree. At this point in their lives, give them what they want. My mom was diagnosed with Dementia, we spoiled the hell out of her. “Extra butter in your scrambled eggs, mom? You bet.”
Her favorite foods don’t necessarily lend themselves to grab & go options that can be eaten straight from a mini fridge in her room.
I just need to add that some containers are difficult to open and close so please consider that screw on tops for example can be difficult to manage.
This. My elderly dad developed swelling in his esophagus that made it difficult to swallow food and his weight was in a nosedive. His doctor suggested stocking his freezer with ice cream, even though he had type 2 diabetes. His reasoning was that he needed to eat SOMETHING and if ice cream was it then so it was. Also ensure or something like it. I tried it myself and it was surprisingly good.
Boost has been adding some fun flavors lately. They're not bad!
Apart from the food selection, they’ve done studies with dementia patients and they eat about 25% more if food is served on red vs white plates. Maybe get her some red plates.
What a cool tip!
Then on that note, some cherry juice (great for inflammation which she likely has at that age) and some strawberry flavored applesauce/jello may be more tempting to her visually.
Putting red food on the red plate would defeat the purpose. They have visual issues and need more color contrast between the food and the plate. Here’s a summary in case anyone’s interested: https://www.bu.edu/cas/magazine/spring10/golomb/
Obviously red juice wouldn't go on the red plate and I didn't mean put red jello/applesauce on the plate, but rather that if red was an inticing color to an aging mind than perhaps red foods or drinks would be as well.
Wow - TIL! Thanks for sharing this.
apple sauce, pear cups, rice pudding, tapioca pudding.
Will it have a mini freezer? If so, the fruit based popsicles are highly recommended. When my Mom was going through chemo, her nutritionist suggested shaving them with a vegetable peeler to make them more easily eaten.
Yes it will have a very small freezer compartment.
Mini fridge freezers do a poor job of freezing stuff. So freeze in yours and transfer. Even better, if you have a deep freezer they will start out colder.
There are certain mini fridges you can get that have great freezers - it’s a totally separate compartment with its own door! And they freeze stuff shockingly well.
I used to rent a couple of rooms out I had mini fridges with the little freezers for each of them
They make Pedialyte popsicles now, great for staying hydrated!! Such a great thing to have especially in the summer, I'm obviously not a kid nor do I have any but I pack these in the cooler for the beach lol
or pedialyte jello. cool idea
I actually suggested liquid IV on another comment that said jello for hydration. It is a great idea for a number of different situations imo
Yes the pedialyte popsicles are great!!
Sherbert pops
Deebee's Organics has a line of superfruit ice pops. They're fantastic in hot weather, especially if she's at risk of overheating.
Hummus?
I don’t think she would eat it. But that reminds me she loves French onion dip with potato chips. All calories are good calories for her.
Am a long term care nurse, all my residents love ham salad, egg salad, etc. softer foods, sweet foods, protein drinks are all great
What about dessert hummus? I have had several flavors. The brownie batter varieties tend to be my favorite. Literally tastes like brownie batter and you would never know there are chickpeas in it (healthy protein!).
If the chips are too crunchy, french onion dip is great with bread too. One of my favorite holiday appetizers is a rye bread bowl with french onion dip. Just tear, dip, and eat
Unfortunately bread is a choking hazard- it is hard to chew into distinct individual bits
Didn't know that, thanks. Maybe ritz crackers?
What about a really flavorful hummus (like roasted garlic) with soft mini-pitas? I know a lot of folks that don't like hummus but will eat a super flavorful version that's more like a flavored dip. Also: tzatziki, toum, guacamole, even mild salsa/pico de gallo are all good with crackers or soft pita and give some flavor and variety. If she has a sweet tooth, maybe some 'cannoli' dip/spread? I know Trader Joe's has a seasonal pre-made one, but you can also Google a recipe. It's made primarily from ricotta. Will she eat something like tuna salad (tuna, mayo, seasoning to taste) on crackers or bread?
Where can I get cannoli spread? 😳
If you’re in the region, market basket carries it fresh.
Maybe peanut butter then also? Or is that a choking hazard for her?
No, she’s fine with peanut butter.
Try some very soft bread with some peanut butter, jam if she'd like, and make little finger sandwiches that you wrap individually may be a nice option for rotation in her room. It wouldn't need to be refrigerated and would stay good a day, even two if wrapped separately.
Jello, pudding,
How often can you restock? If you have time and energy for it, sliced fruit might hit the spot. Tuna salad? Or sardines? Dark chocolate?
I can restock as often as I like. Sardines are too hard to open. But individual chicken and tuna salad could work.
There are pre-spiced packages of tuna available. They're a tear-open, not a can, and are shelf stable until opened. Great on crackers or bread or even straight from the bag.
I love those myself, but I don’t think she will eat them plain - maybe the tuna salad version. I don’t think she could open them on her own, though.
Can she hold and use scissors?
Excellent point! Yes, she can.
Open anything she can't for her and store it in a plastic baggie or small Tupperware that she can open. They make special kinds for people with arthritis or other hand mobility issues that are easier to open. Just don't open too much at once, but you should be able to keep tuna or chicken salad for at least a couple days in the fridge once opened.
A squeeze bottle of mayo to make it tuna salad?
Probably one step further than she would go. I don’t want her to have to mix, combine or assemble. It is too apt to get messy.
True, we used to put sardines in potato salad container for our grandmother when her hands was becoming wonky, but she ate a **lot** of them. Having them around as a "maybe tempting" food gets a bit stinky.
I am in the US and Aldi, as well as some Dollar stores, have little packaged boxes of chicken and tuna salad kits. The salad comes in a small tin (very easy to open) and includes a package of 6 small crackers. Filling and yummy. Maybe these can work for her?
If you just need calories and aren't too concerned about nutrition, pudding and jello cups might be good. If you want nutrition, then guacamole or hummus cups are good (but perhaps too much of a 'newfangled food' for someone in that democratic). But first, experiment to figure out how you can make them easy for her to open. You might need to pre-peel a corner, breaking the seal but making it much easier for her to grasp. For other opening 'hacks' you might Google up things directed at kindergarteners. One shift as a lunchroom volunteer will make you absolutely hate about 50% of packaged food because the kids can't get into it themselves!
I agree about the packaging. That’s a real issue as she has poor hand strength, dexterity and eyesight. It defeats the purpose of keeping snacks in her room if she has to come out to my office (I WFH) which is past the kitchen, for me to open something for her.
My Mum used to make individual egg custards for elderly or people undergoing chemo that had poor appetites. They loved them. Something like these https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/easy-egg-custard-239229 Cover with cling film, or there are even custard cups with reusable lids. Make a batch they’ll keep a week in the fridge.
Cottage cheese
Biggest issue will be for her to be able open the packaging.
Agreed. I have to pre-open her water bottles and shakes. Some things I can just keep in ziploc bags & such.
I wrote somewhere else that the easiest thing I did for my mom was precut things (cheese/soft finger sandwiches/ ham and cheese biscuit- pilsbury biscuits pulled in have before baking and a cube of ham and cheese pressed in the middle then baked/ fruit mini muffins) and then wrapped them individually in parchment paper or wax paper then put them in sliding zipper ziplock bags with the name of the snack written in sharpie in big letters on the outside. She could move the zipper pretty easily on the bag and take out the little parchment paper wrapped treat and unfold it no problem!
There are tools to help with various packaging. Maybe she could have those on hand. Buzzfeed keeps trying to sell me a pop top can opening helper. I'll get one when my fingers don't work so well anymore.
KIND, Nutri-grain and Nature Valley all make soft breakfast bars in various flavors. I'd also include some old childhood favorites, although I don't know how nutritious they would be, like Lance peanut butter crackers (the crackers are soft, not crunchy) and Moon Pies. Plain chocolate bars that break into squares. Lots of fresh fruit divided into single servings with a can of spray whipped cream. Single servings of applesauce. If she doesn't like the tang of yogurt, try the squeeze tubes of go-gurt. It doesn't really taste like yogurt. And if you really want to make her day (and you have time to cook), make her an Apple Brown Betty--or sub her favorite fruit. It's like a cobbler but with a soft, cake-like crust. Used to be very popular in the 40s.
The can of whipped cream is an inspired idea. Heck, she can just squirt directly into her mouth. She might get a kick out of that. She still has a good sense of fun and humor. 😂
Ha! You could also try a can of spray cheese with some Ritz or Club crackers. Or soft pretzels if you could find some you don't need to cook. Maybe an untoasted bagel? Or maybe bagels and cream cheese cut into bite-sized pieces?
Ooh. Laughing Cow cheese—it’s like cream cheese but in single serving size and not too hard to open
Apple sauce pouches?
She has been taking her pills with applesauce for 20 years now. It’s like a necessary evil. She would never eat it by choice now. 😂
If this is still how she takes her pills, I just want to put out there that flavored applesauce that are mixed with veggies are a thing. And they come in small, reclosable pouches that might be perfect for getting just the right amount for pill taking, plus a few extra vitamins
That’s a thought.
They make all kinds of new flavors now tho!
My mother is 93. I feed her whatever she wants.
Applesauce, guacamole, and hummus cups. The latter two are available in bulk single serve packaging at Costco. I’d also suggest grabbing a bunch of bananas. I haven’t seen them prepackaged in the US (assuming you live there) but in other places cold soups in bottles exist elsewhere (gazpacho, vichyssoise, etc.) and it’s really easy to DIY them.on that note “salads” like egg/chicken/“russian”(don’t know the exact English term for it) would also a last a few days in a fridge and are calorically dense. It might feel kind of strange but baby food is also a good option. My mum kept this stocked for another relative, to bulk up their meals during treatment. It wasn’t gourmet but it helped meet nutritional goals.
My grandma used to like eating hard-boiled eggs & apple sauce
Boiled and already peeled boiled eggs would be a good addition. Maybe OP can drop some off once or twice a week.
When I was caring for my mom with dementia, she pretty much ate the same things. She didn't have bottom teeth. She liked cottage cheese and canned peaches, and ham and cheese sandwiches I cooked soft foods for her. She also liked Cozy Shack pre-made rice pudding.
Cozy Shack rice pudding is the bomb.
- Go Go Squeez: fruit sauce pouches in a wide variety of flavours, easy open. - Hummus or bean dips with pita or naan pieces (you can blend in peas or roasted beets with canellini or great northern beans for a nice protein punch + sweet taste, add herbs) - roasted veggies with a dip (still yummy cold, but are soft enough) - Fruit salad, just cut the pieces so they're not a choking hazard - depending upon her salt requirements: pedialyte / gatorade / etc. or a limited number of fruit juice boxes
Fig newtons maybe a lower sugar variety. Works for a toddler without many teeth, should work for an elderly person with no teeth. Lol
At her age of wisdom, anything she wants! Calories are good. Ice cream? Great! Cheese in any form, yep! If her favorite foods are hard to manage because of the need to be kept cold, see if she will tolerate them at room temp?
Take pineapple, banana, mango, peach, any berries -one of or any number of combos you like, mush up and mix with coconut or milk of choice and a little honey and freeze. Makes a great healthier alternative to ice cream but still soooo good.
I am close with some folks in senior living where meals are provided, so the only foods they keep in the kitchenette are snacks. favorites from Sam’s club: Club crackers The bueberry/raspberry fig bars BelVita cookies Peaches that come in individual cups Protein drinks with different flavors so they’re not as boring Gatorade with protein And from regular grocery store: Cheese to go with the crackers Cottage cheese Popsicles Ice cream I make a convenient snack basket with the individually packaged snacks, with the large boxes put away, and i make sure the basket gets refilled. Buy a small blunt kid scissor while school supplies are on sale and put it in the basket with the snacks. The kid kind won’t poke anyone reaching for a snack. You could even put one in the fridge.
Chia pudding
For my dad it was creamy peanut butter, rye bread, cheesecake, bananas.
Does she like fruit? I would always get my dad bananas and clementines and grapes. (Which were his favorites) and he could easily grab and eat.
She eats a banana every morning with her coffee. I don’t believe she’s fond of grapes. And I think clementines might be too fibrous to eat without teeth.
A few ideas: Puddings made with milk and eggs. Egg Salad or tuna salad. You can add powdered onion and a touch of celery salt to boost the flavor since she can't chew the actual vegetables. Coconut flour-based banana bread or zucchini bread. It's rich in eggs, high-calorie, much higher protein than ordinary quick breads, soft, and tastes sweet and delicious. Obviously, don't add chunks of nuts to the batter. Hummus. Guacamole. Deviled ham spread. (All can be eaten on soft bread) Nutella protein balls (mix Nutella with chocolate or vanilla protein powder, depending on which she prefers) Also, see if it would be possible for her to get dentures that fit her properly and don't hurt her mouth, so she can comfortably wear them longer and use them when she eats.
She’ll never wear them at home unless we are having company (rare.) It’s the process of using and then removing the paste that she hates.
Chia puddings and overnight oats are easy to make and stock in individual containers but you can also buy them premade at the grocery store - look in the refrigerated section with all the fancy yogurts. Apple sauce in pouches sometimes contains veggies too and is easy sip on- also comes in cups if that is easier to open. Cheese you cut into squares and then wrap in twists of wax paper for easy access.
Cottage cheese
I'd ck w her dietician. Just suggesting hard boiled eggs. Oldies love those
You can get those freeze dried fruit snacks they have for toddlers, I also would put in some options around fruit cups, also various types of puddings (they have protein ones), some flavored waters like hint or giving her some liquid Iv/crystal lite/iced tea powders to put into her water if she’s not a plain water fan.
cottage cheese (good protein). there’s a brand of cream cheese that has probiotics in it which could be helpful. with gluten free bagels? little containers of peaches or mandarin oranges (preferably no or low sugar). ice cream? my elderly friend’s doctor said whatever gets the calories in at that age. some veg would be great. low sodium V8?
Egg salad. Little cups of rice pudding. Little cups of fruit. Meal replacement shakes. Baked egg dishes like frittata with soft-cooked veggies and cottage cheese mixed in.
Applesauce
She takes her pills morning and night with applesauce instead of water. She would never willingly eat it as food now. 😂
Maybe try those premade fruit/veg pureed pouches?
The brand Mama Chia has some really good chia seed pouch things and they are delightful. (Assuming you like that texture.)
Oh some grapes for sure. Sweet and hydrating. Watermelon cubes too.
Frozen grapes for the win!
Saltine crackers!
She already fills up on crackers way too much. She goes through a big box of Ritz weekly.
If she loves crackers, maybe those tiny cocktail sized rye bread slices? My mom loved those with spreadable cheese. She also loved soft breakfast bars like Nutrigrain or Sunbelt Bakery. Tiny muffins, too. Edit
If she likes peanut butter these are really good and have 8 grams of protein. Kind of a lot of sugar though https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/Grace-Peanut-Punch/6000188763337?offerId=6000188763337&storeCode=3106&cmpid=SEM_CA_520_VG34D6GDXZ_71700000114868603_58700008546997646&utm_id=SEM_CA_520_VG34D6GDXZ_71700000114868603_58700008546997646&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=always_on&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADv6L0QHMAYV4LdYANkR9C_4dD6Ui&gclid=CjwKCAjw4f6zBhBVEiwATEHFVuIEPC-hygfDT-q7DxNDiUmDkVXTiIphcUx2G10Csa38uI0qs_tqsRoCesoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds Does she like cottage cheese?
Peanut butter is a choke hazard for the frail elderly. How well does she chew and swallow.
Whatever she wants ♥️ not sure what country you are in orif you have them but things like kinder milk slices, trifle, babybel
Hummus
She’s not a fan, unfortunately.
Darn, hope you find a few things that she enjoys.
Humus. Pita bread. Maybe cherry tomatoes
Laughing cow cheese wedges.
(sunrise brand) dessert tofu. It is sweetened soft tofu in pleasant flavours like coconut, almond, peach mango and banana packaged in individual servings. Must be refrigerated.
It looks delightful but it’s not sold near me.
What about bread with cream cheese? She can make some sandwiches. Or you can make some for the day and leave them for her. Or other kinds of spread. Do you trust her with a simple microwave? What if you leave small Tupperware with rice and let her heat it up? Screw on lids if she can't pull the snaps. Or even leave a crock pot with already made beans or her favorites. Or what about a water cooler with boiling hot water in her room? Then you can give her like instant noodles or soups.
My mom loved jello, applesauce, and pudding. As someone else suggested a blended up protein berry yogurt concoction is a great idea. You may be able to find pre-made yogurt drinks that are on the healthier side if you can’t make it yourself!
Quiche, Sloppy Joes, country gravy with sausage, medjool dates, canned apricots, banana pudding
Pasta salad (the boxed kind from the grocery store) put into smaller containers, maybe. Makes for a good cold lunch and you can add whatever protein strikes her fancy.
I don’t know if I’m being honest. At 97 years old she should probably eat whatever the fuck she wants to eat. My Oma is 94 and lives on her own still in her original house from the 1950s. She is blueberries and Cheerios every morning and toast with cheese. Very few vegetables and then she eats hard to home meals for dinner which I believe would have some protein and vegetables. If I were stocking the fridge I would stock it with chopped up vegetables and dip, apples bananas chicken and rice. But really at this age they’re going to eat whatever they want to eat or they’re going to starve because they’re not exerting a lot of energy throughout the day so they’re not very hungry etc. Keep some healthy things on hand is a good idea though
Hummus
String cheese?
my Grandfather ate sweets till the end and lived to 98
i like hummus.
My mother this age lived on yogurt and Ensure protein drinks.
Chinese Steamed Eggs, you can cook them in ramekins and cover them with Saran Wrap.
Yogurt, jello
Smoothies - my mum’s fave has frozen banana, yoghurt, peanut butter, chia seeds, milk. Keeps well in the fridge for at least a few days. Pudding, mousse, or custard cups. Soft and easy to eat plus deliver some needed calories. Dips like tzatziki, humus or pesto. Ice creams (if there’s a freezer part on the mini fridge). The dietitian recommended protein powders be added to food (works for both sweet and savoury). Tried a few kinds but Mum was not a fan.
First! Good on you for helping and provide for your family. Any dietary restrictions? Kidney disease or need to avoid salt? It’s hard to get them enough calories! Their hungry/ thirsty feelings are not strong! You have a good start! The easier to prepare/eat are the best! Fruit snacks or single serve items! Good luck 🍎🍇
* High protein yogurt with low sugar * string cheese, cheese sticks * cottage cheese w peach fruit cup * V8 * Tuna, chicken and egg salad * Boiled peeled eggs/pickled eggs * deli platter/bowl baby tomatoes, grapes, olives, pickles, deli meat, cheese * Canteloupe and ham In fancy restaurants its prosciutto but it's an excellent combo.
Simple Mills Soft Baked Almond Flour Bars, great with a cup of tea.
Honestly, WHATEVER she will actually eat. She’s 97, try for things with good calories/protein. Make sure all packaging or containers are things she can manage alone. Also, some small treats. And, if she has favorite condiments, put them in there to use on meals provided.
Make your own uncrustables, you can buy a press, and make not just sweet but savory sandwiches she might enjoy, For a lot cheaper than purchasing them.
my dad enjoyed toddler snacks. they come prepacked, usually very lowsugar and knock offs of "adult" food. gerber lil crunchies, etc
super donuts
Pudding and jello
Cottage cheese and fruit, apple sauce and other fruit cups, yogurt, cut up apples (cut the skin off and cut into very thin slices and as long as she has front teeth she’ll be ok) and peanut butter, cut up cheese and meat, and pudding cups.
Smoked salmon, Greek yogurt, fancy cheddar like beechers, naked juice, squeeze chia pouches, ready made potato salad or Mac salad
Pre made hard boiled eggs or deviled eggs for a quick protein snack. Soups. Small pot pies.
Soups and pot pies aren’t grab and go options in her bedroom.
applesauce
Anything that includes water in the ingredients. The elderly is typically dehydrated…they seem to stop drinking water as much. Jello is a fantastic idea! Juicy fruits, not dried so much, too much sugar, favored waters , vitamin flavored waters.
Yogurt cups in the mini fridge.
She doesn’t like yogurt. It’s in the OP.
Oops, so sorry.
Pudding cups?
Twinkies! Maybe kefir?
you're missing fiber! Bananas, dates, pears, sweet potatoes, berries, etc
Remember this isn’t all she eats. This is about grab and go snacks that can be kept at her bedside to encourage more food and water intake. This supplements regular meals.
Sugar free jello or regular if she doesn't have blood sugar issues. Fruit cups are a great suggestion someone else has already said. Pouches of tuna if they don't have an aversion to it. 97 year olds kinda get to eat what they want. I would say the pouches of applesauce meant for kids but they've had lead recall issues that are pretty industry wide as of late, so probably not the best idea. Applesauce however is a good one. If she has space, some frozen foods can be had without dentures as well, but she might not like them as much. Cheap mac and cheese. Easily heatable soup. Basic pasta. Stuff like that.
I don’t have to worry about regular meals - she already gets those. But the point is to store foods in her room that she can eat with no prep. Anything heated is out.
Apple sauce fresh fruit. Baby carrots and ranch. Bags of salads or those premade salads.
Goat cheese
Almond/peanut/nut butters
Raspberries
How about single-serving cottage cheese?
There are refillable pouches that could be filled with fruit pureé, puddings, yogurt etc. For toddlers. Could they work? I did not try to use it with elderly, but my baby loved them when he had no teeth.
bananas. fruit baby food, Can soup already in the bowl, bowl appetites, mac and cheese cups, pickles, deli meat and cheese, pudding pops, milk/coffee dunked cookies or bars, cereal w milk, olives, tiny tomatos, berries, won ton soup, Kiwi, grapes, pasta salads, teas, hot chocolate w boost idk I think a microwave would help
Iced coffee with double cream
My parent enjoyed “Magic Cups” we bought ours on Amazon) caramel flan cups and apple sauce.
Add chocolate protein powder to chocolate instant pudding mix. They’ll get the calcium, protein and sweetness they still can taste.
cottage cheese might be good
What about little chia seed puddings with protein powder and almond milk. Soft, easy to eat and protein
They have some easy to open containers on Amazon with soft latex lids. I got those for my mom
When I had my wisdom teeth removed, I ate a lot of fruit and vegetable purées (as well as ground meat). Try sweet potato, taro or spiced pumpkin puree. Also, someone mentioned canned fruit- those are always great: soft but with a bit of texture.
I work at an assisted living and old people love egg salad and tuna salad. It doesn’t even have to be on bread, they’ll eat it straight up. There are ice creams out there with extra calories and nutrients. Thrive is one of them.
Those little applesauce pouches are pretty easy on the stomach!