Dementia Awareness Week: Supporting Mealtimes with Care, Comfort and Confidence

This week is Dementia Awareness Week, an important moment to raise awareness, share understanding, and support those living with dementia, as well as the families and carers who support them every day.

Mealtimes are often central to comfort, routine, and connection, but for people living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, they can gradually become more challenging. Food may be forgotten, appetite can change, or familiar tasks like cooking and using cutlery may become more difficult.

Small, gentle adjustments can help keep mealtimes calm, familiar, and enjoyable. Below we’ve shared practical advice from Registered Dietitian Marcela Fiuza.

Keep meals simple and familiar

Smaller, more frequent meals or snacks can often feel easier to manage than three larger meals a day, helping to reduce overwhelm and support steady energy throughout the day.

For example:

• A warm bowl of soup mid-morning
• A light sandwich or snack in the afternoon
• A yoghurt or simple dessert in the evening

Parsley Box soups and lighter meals like our Tuna salads can be a helpful option here, offering easy, portion-friendly choices that are quick to prepare.

Make each mouthful count

When appetite is reduced, adding extra nourishment into familiar foods can help support intake without increasing portion sizes.

This might include:

• Using full-fat milk in drinks or cereal
• Adding butter, cheese, or olive oil to vegetables, pasta, or mash
• Blending fruit with yoghurt or milk for a simple smoothie

Keep hydration in mind

It’s easy for drinks to be missed during the day, so gentle reminders and regular offers of fluids can help. Hydration doesn’t always need to come from water, tea, milk, soup, and smoothies all count too.

Include protein where possible

Protein plays an important role in maintaining strength and energy. Including it regularly in meals and snacks can be helpful, with options such as eggs, chicken, fish, beans, lentils, tofu, and dairy foods.

Simple, familiar meals like beans on toast or cheese and crackers can also work well. We offer a High Protein Meal Box, designed to make it easier to include protein without extra planning.

Make mealtimes easier and more relaxed

If cutlery becomes harder to manage, finger foods such as sandwiches, soft fruit, or simple snacks can help support independence. A calm, uncluttered table can also make mealtimes feel more relaxed and less distracting.

A little extra support for carers and families

Having easy, reliable meals available can help take some of the pressure out of day-to-day cooking.

Parsley Box meals are designed to be simple and reassuring, shelf-stable, cupboard-friendly, and ready in minutes. Familiar favourites like Shepherd’s pie or Classic dinners can offer comfort and ease when it’s most needed.

When more support is needed

If you notice ongoing changes such as weight loss, reduced eating or drinking, difficulty swallowing, or food being refused, it’s important to speak with a GP or healthcare professional.

Support is always available, and no one needs to navigate these changes alone.