Tempting Poor Appetites

Over a lifetime the average American spends about three years eating.

That's a lot of meals. By the time you've reached late life, food may have lost some of its appeal.

There are a variety of reasons why people lose their appetites as they age:

• Badly fitting dentures, gum disease or dry mouth make chewing difficult.

• Taste and smell senses diminish with age. Food doesn't taste as good as it used to.

• Side effects of medications for heart disease, constipation, depression and other disorders affect appetite.

• People living alone don't like to fix meals just for themselves. Older men may not know how to cook.

• Loneliness, sadness, depression, grief, bereavement can all effect appetite.

• Food shopping and preparing meals are increasingly hard to do.

• Lack of physical activity.

• Constipation.

Many older people can't eat much at one time and prefer snacking throughout the day instead of eating three meals.

Stock the cupboard and refrigerator with lots of healthy, ready-to-eat snacks:

• Snack packs of pudding, jello, yogurt, cottage cheese, applesauce, canned fruit.

• Single serving cans of fruit or vegetable juice.

• Cheese and crackers with fresh fruit.

• Ice cream bars and popsicles are tempting when nothing else tastes good.

• Cut up raw vegetables with low-fat dip.

Old-fashioned "comfort foods" are easy to eat and bring back fond memories of earlier meals. Use favorite family recipes or carry-out from supermarkets and restaurants.

• Grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of soup for lunch or dinner.

• Macaroni and cheese.

• Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy.

• Rice pudding with raisins.

If your family member has Alzheimer's disease or similar memory disorder try serving several small meals of a couple of favorite foods throughout the day instead of three big meals. Serve finger foods or sandwiches. Avoid foods that might cause choking: nuts, raw vegetables, popcorn, small candies.

Other "non-food" ways to improve a poor appetite:

• Invite a neighbor to share a sandwich and dessert with you and your relative.

• Eat your lunch together on the back porch.

• Ask your loved one to help prepare a meal with you.

• Take a walk together before a meal.