Making Mealtimes Easier When Caring for Someone with Alzheimer's
By Marcela Fiuza, Registered Dietitian
If your loved one is living with Alzheimer’s, you may have noticed that mealtimes aren’t quite what they used to be. Food might be forgotten, favourite flavours change, or cooking safely becomes tricky. Watching this happen isn’t easy — especially when meals have always been a time for comfort and connection.
It’s also common for it to bring new challenges at the table, from changes in appetite to difficulties with cutlery or swallowing. The good news is that gentle adjustments can make eating easier, more enjoyable, and more nourishing.
Practical Tips to Support Eating and Nutrition with Alzheimer's
1: Keep it Little and Often
For many people, three big meals a day can feel overwhelming. Breaking food into five or six smaller meals or snacks often makes eating more manageable. It might be a bowl of soup mid-morning, half a sandwich with tea in the afternoon, or yoghurt with fruit in the evening. Parsley Box’s soups and lunch pots are handy here: quick to heat, light, and just the right size.
2: Make Every Mouthful Count
If only small amounts are eaten, it helps to add extra nourishment without making the plate look bigger. Choose full-fat milk for cereal and drinks, stir cheese, butter, or olive oil into mashed potato, vegetables, or pasta, or blend fruit and yoghurt into a smoothie. Little tweaks like these can make each bite more nourishing.
3. Keep up with fluids
It’s easy to forget drinks, and dehydration can make confusion worse. It doesn’t have to be plain water — a milky tea, smoothie, or even a comforting cup of soup all count.
4. Add protein-rich foods
Protein keeps up strength and energy. Try to include it in meals and snacks — eggs, chicken, fish, beans, lentils, tofu, or nuts. Think beans on toast or cheese and crackers for a small meal or nourishing snack. Parsley Box also has a High Protein meal plan for an easy way to keep protein on the menu without extra planning.
5. Make Eating Easier
If cutlery feels like a barrier, finger foods such as sandwiches, sliced fruit, or scones with jam can make things simpler. A calm table, without too much clutter, also helps mealtimes feel less stressful.
Ready Meals and Smart Planning for Carers
Having easy-to-prepare meals and snacks, organised in a practical way, can make a big difference for carers. Ready meals can be especially useful, taking away the pressure of daily cooking. Parsley Box’s meals are designed with this in mind — they’re shelf-stable, need no fridge or freezer, and include comforting classics like shepherd’s pie and rice pudding that are ready in minutes.
Knowing there’s always something quick, easy, and nourishing to hand can bring a little calm back to the table on busy days.
If Eating Becomes More Difficult
Alzheimer’s Awareness Day, Sunday 21st of September, reminds us that many carers are facing similar challenges. Small adjustments and strategies — like offering extra snacks or a favourite pudding — can ease the pressure, offer nourishment and comfort.
If you notice ongoing weight loss, eating much less than usual, difficulties with chewing or swallowing, or food and drink being refused altogether, it’s worth speaking to a GP. Remember, you’re not on your own — support is always out there when you need it.
Marcela Fiuza, Registered Dietitian
Make mealtime organisation easier with our curated Meal Plans here.