Battling Food

“He’s been pushing the plate away,” my brother texted. A pain of sadness washed over me as I recalled the same issues with my mother.

Food battles seem to be everywhere. At a recent event where I provided childcare, the child hid under the table when confronted with food. Julia, starting to eat new foods every day, isn’t napping well during the day. Teachers try to help parents by encouraging students to eat lunch daily.

I decided that the only way to help was to research and located the following website: https://dailycaring.com/6-ways-to-get-seniors-with-no-appetite-to-eat/ The website pointed out some ideas already implemented like milkshakes but made me think of other ideas. What about yogurt? What about foods that don’t require the use of utensils? Do I need to purchase a fun placement for him or is that a burden for the food staff? Do I need to bring in a charcuterie board and have him try different foods?

I continued reading and located a different article:https://dailycaring.com/9-more-ways-to-get-seniors-with-no-appetite-to-eat/ One idea caught my eye. The author mentioned that dehydration can cause elders to lose their appetite. Dehydration is a big issue with my father. What if I found a new water bottle with horse stickers on the outside?

Both articles mention a keyword: patience. This can be the most difficult challenge. It takes patience to encourage someone to eat when they clearly have no interest. When dealing with young children, ignoring behavior can sometimes work but it can be difficult to stay positive. When my mother would not eat, I tended to give up. How can you actually force an older person to eat? My answer: I don’t know that you can. However, changing up a few things may help. It’s time to head to the Dollar Store and locate some new water bottles. The journey continues…….