BUTTER, CHEESE AND WHITE BREAD ARE ALL BACK ON MENU
‘OLDER people get into a vicious cycle of malnutrition where they eat less and then lose their appetite,’ says Jane Clarke, a dietitian who specialises in advising older people.
‘It can be hard to get your appetite back and you may have to force yourself to eat, especially at first,’ she says. Here’s her advice for frail over 65s and anyone over 75.
STOCK the fridge with ingredients that provide maximum calories and essential nutrients: full-fat yoghurt and cream — which you can add to fruit smoothies as well as soups. Always keep butter and cheese in.
SNACK whenever you want and add a piece of cheese if you have an apple. Cakes and biscuits should never be your main source of food, but the odd treat is a useful way to get calories.
YOU need a balanced diet with
protein: an omelette, or fish in a rich sauce, is easy to make and good sources of nutrients.
CONVENTIONAL advice to eat plenty of wholegrain isn’t always appropriate for older people with small appetites. Instead, try a good-quality white loaf — and make boiled eggs with soldiers thickly spread with butter, cheese on toast or a ham or cheese sandwich.
YOU can get fortified drinks on prescription from your GP, but they generally taste unpleasant. It’s much nicer to make your own — for instance, hot chocolate made with fullfat milk. Another option is bananas and custard or a supermarket creme caramel or tinned rice pudding (adding honey and cream), which are all easy to swallow, if you can’t manage solids, and full of calories. Have plenty of custard with your stewed fruit.
IF YOU’RE buying frozen ready-made food, get whole meals such as roast dinners or pasta bakes, as these contain a good range of vegetables and protein as well as carbs. Buy good brands from a supermarket or delivered by Age UK-approved food websites such as
wiltshirefarmfoods.com or oakhousefoods.co.uk.
LOOK for equipment to address your particular problems from a range of clever devices available on websites such as ageuk.org.uk, essentialaids.com or abilitysuperstore.com.
Nourish, by Jane Clarke, is published by Collins & Brown (£18.95).