Eating: Tips, Equipment and Techniques
This Fact Sheet accompanies the Eating class in the Techniques for Everyday Tasks classroom.
Problems with eating may be caused by:
- Difficulties with swallowing
- Poorly fitted dentures or some type of mouth discomfort
- Side effects of medication
- Inability to recognize hunger
- Inability to recognize difference between food and non-food items
- Depression
- Some medical condition
- Losing interest in food, or hoarding food
- Forgetting to eat
Physical aspects of eating
- Encourage person to sit up straight with head slightly forward
- Present the food no more than 24 “ away from the person
- Encourage self-feeding at beginning of meal and then help feeding as the meal progresses
- Or help feeding at beginning of the meal and then encourage self-feeding as meal progresses
- Give only one utensil to use
- Give bowl instead of a plate
- Use spill-proof plate, plate guard, or scoop plate
- Use wet washcloth or Dycem placemat under dishes to avoid spilling
- Allow enough time between bites
Environmental aspects of eating:
- Avoid distractions and noise such as conversation, television or radio
- Keep the table setting simple, remove everything from the table that has nothing to do with eating (e.g. centerpiece, flowers, papers)
- Use unbreakable plates, bowls, and cups
- Avoid tablecloths, placements, plates and cups with a pattern on it
- Use plain colored dishes with a contrasting colored tablecloth or placemat
- Make sure there is enough light to see the food
- Try relaxing music to encourage eating/feeding
Tips to increase or maintain good eating habits:
- Offer meals at regular times and in the same place
- Have several small meals instead of three large meals
- Have the main meal in the morning or early afternoon
- Offer liquids frequently, and at room temperature
- Offer a variety of food, since a person’s food preferences may change over time
- Offer finger food or food in bite size pieces
- Offer food that does not require much chewing
- Offer food at the right temperature
- Thicken liquids with food thickeners
Web Sites for Assistive Devices
- http://www.dynamic-living.com/
- (for adaptive utensils and dishes look under “Easy Dining”) (for Dycem placemats look under “Baking” then “Dycem mats”)
- http://ecom1.sammonspreston.com/
- (for insulated dishware and adaptive utensils and dishes look under “kitchen and dining self helpers” )
- http://www.brucemedical.com/
- (for “Thick-it” look under “Foods/Beverages” then “Food and beverages thickeners”)
- http://www.caregiversmarketplace.com/
- (for “Thicken-Up” look under “Medical Nutrition” then “swallowing problems” then “view swallowing problems”)
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