Changes in eating habits and food preference

Dementia can affect how much and when someone eats, as well as what food they prefer. Their experience of flavour may change. They might enjoy flavours they never liked before, or dislike foods they always liked.

Eating and drinking
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Changes to diet or routine

Eating and drinking can be more difficult if a person’s routine and diet are changed. For example, the person may be used to having different portion sizes, or eating more or less regularly throughout the day. By understanding a person’s life experiences and preferences, you can support them to eat and drink.

Considering a person's life history

Thinking about a person’s life history can be useful to understanding their present attitude towards food. Dementia can cause ‘time-shifting’. This is when a person believes they are in an earlier period of their life. 

This might affect their eating habits. For example, if a person who has had an eating problem or disorder earlier in their life, this may affect their present relationship with food. Or a person who had been vegetarian may want to eat meat. It can be difficult to know what to do in these situations.

Coping with changing eating habits

  • Support the person to make their own choices as much as possible, even if the food combinations seem unusual or are different to what they have always liked to eat.
  • Be led by the person on when they prefer to eat. Some people like a light lunch and larger evening meal and others prefer a main meal in the middle of the day. This may be different to when they have previously wanted to eat. 
    The person’s preferences about how they eat may have changed. They may prefer to talk and be sociable while eating, while others might not like this.
  • Consider the environment the person prefers to eat in - at a table or sitting on the sofa, while watching TV or listening to music, or in silence.
  • If the person does not seem to be enjoying their food, experiment to find out what types of flavours the person might prefer now. You could use herbs and spices, sauces and chutneys to enhance flavours.
  • Consider trying food the person has never eaten before, but remember the person’s beliefs and personal preferences about certain foods.
  • If a person often enjoys sweet foods, a healthier option might be fruit or naturally sweet vegetables. Adding small amounts of honey, syrup or jam to food can also help.
  • Our This is me® leaflet can be used to record details about a person who can’t easily share information about themselves. This includes their food and drink preferences.
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