Food for Thought

For people with dementia who have difficulties with co-ordination and struggle to use cutlery, finger foods are a good solution. These are everyday foods that are prepared in a way that makes them easy to pick up and eat with the hands.

Finger foods help to maintain independence and self-esteem at mealtimes as the person does not have to rely on assistance from another person to eat. This is important as it helps to preserve dignity and confidence. It also means that the person is in complete control of what they eat and the time it takes to eat. They are also easy to eat either at or away from a table.

Types of finger food

Breads and cereals

Try different breads for variety, including wholemeal and white. Keep sandwiches small to make them easier to manage. Ideas include:

• buttered toast or bread fingers
• small bread rolls with butter
• sandwiches
• buttered crumpets or muffins
• crackers with butter or soft cheese
• biscuits
• scones, malt loaf, fruit loaf, teacakes or hot cross buns
• slices of fruitcake or gingerbread
• waffles
• soft cereal bars
• chapattis or small pitta breads.
  

Meat, fish and vegetarian alternatives

Meat that is dry may be difficult to eat, so try to keep it moist. Try:

• chicken breast, cut into pieces
• hamburgers, meatballs, sausages, chipolatas, hotdogs or slices of meatloaf
• pieces of fish fillet (boned), fish fingers, small fishcakes or crabsticks
• slices of pork pie
• vegetable burgers or vegetarian sausages
• slices of quiche or pizza
• hard-boiled eggs (quartered)
• cheese cubes
• slices of cheese on toast
• kebabs.
  

Fruit

Fruit can be peeled if preferred. However, the peel may make it easier for the person to grip the pieces, particularly if it is a 'slippery' fruit, such as peach or nectarine:

• slices of apple or pear
• melon wedges
• pineapple chunks or rings
• orange segments
• slices of kiwi fruit
• strawberries or raspberries
• apricots (stone removed), cut into halves
• nectarines or peaches (stone removed), cut into slices or chunks
• seedless grapes
• bananas, whole or sliced
• dried fruit - ready-to-eat apricots, pears, apples or stoned prunes.
  

Vegetables

Vegetables can be steamed, boiled or served raw, depending on what the person prefers and can manage:

• broccoli florets
• cauliflower florets
• carrot, swede or parsnip, cut into sticks or cubes
• brussel sprouts
• green beans or mangetout
• cucumber slices or sticks
• celery sticks or pieces
• cherry tomatoes or salad tomatoes, sliced or cut into wedges
• courgette slices or sticks
• sliced peppers
• mushrooms.
  

Potatoes

• potato wedges or chunky chips, oven baked or fried (you can also use sweet potatoes)
• small roast potatoes
• boiled potatoes, whole or halved, with or without skin.
  

Finger food menu suggestions

Some suggestions for mealtimes are shown below. Remember to offer drinks regularly throughout the day as well - a healthy guide is about eight cups a day.

Breakfast

Include either fresh fruit (such as sliced kiwis or orange segments) or orange juice with:

• buttered toast fingers (jam or marmalade optional)
• buttered muffins
• buttered toast or bread fingers and a boiled egg, cut into quarters.
  

Lunch

• sandwiches served with cherry tomatoes and cucumber sticks (see sandwich fillings below)
• cheese on toast, cut into fingers, or small toasties
• soup, served in a mug with pieces of bread or small bread rolls to dip in it
• buffet style lunch including a selection of: buttered, soft bread rolls, cheese cubes, hard-boiled eggs cut into quarters, cooked
• meat (cut into pieces), small pickled onions, small scotch eggs,
• slices of quiche
• salad selection which can be cut into sticks or slices or wedges,
•  including cherry or salad tomatoes, cucumber, peppers (yellow, orange or red are sweeter than green), carrot, celery, apple (makes a sweeter salad).
  

Main meal

• pieces of roast chicken breast with small roast potatoes and broccoli and carrots
• fish fingers, fishcakes or pieces of boned fish fillets with potato wedges or chunky chips and tomato wedges
• sliced quiche with small boiled potatoes, green beans and carrots or a side salad.
  

Pudding

• fresh fruit, such as strawberries or banana, served individually or as a chunky fruit salad
• fruit with yoghurt to dip it in is a tasty alternative
• sliced fruit cake or gingerbread
• individual fruit pies.
  

Sandwich fillings

Sandwich fillings that are moist are more likely to stay in position in the bread when they are being handled and eaten. These classic sandwich fillings are tasty and also help stop sandwiches falling apart:

• egg or tuna mayonnaise
• soft cheese
• pâté
• meat or fish paste
• peanut butter.
  

Pale-coloured fillings, such as soft cheese or egg mayonnaise may look more appealing in brown bread. Salad items can be served on the side of sandwiches.

Snack ideas

A person with a good appetite may have no problem eating sufficient food at regular mealtimes. Alternatively, some people may prefer to eat 'little and often' - five or six small meals spread out over the day instead of the usual three. It is a matter of what works best for the individual. Try:

• buttered crackers with soft cheese
• buttered savoury or sweet scones
• buttered muffins or crumpets
• sliced maltloaf
• hot cross buns or tea cakes
• toast or bread fingers with Marmite™ or peanut butter
• dried fruit
• fresh fruit
• cereal bars
• slices of fruitcake or gingerbread.