It’s frustrating to watch your senior family member refuse to eat, meal after meal. Instead of getting into a fight with her about it, you might find that some of these tips help you to come to a compromise with her.

Pay Close Attention to Portion Sizes

Portion sizes might be the single most important part of trying to get a picky eater to eat. If you include one or two bites of something, she is far more likely to actually try that than a full serving. It’s really easy to visually overwhelm your senior with a plate that is completely filled and that’s the last thing you want. Try super small portion sizes to see how your senior reacts.

Make a List of Some Favorite Foods

What does your senior eat? Very few picky eaters refuse to eat anything at all. There might be one particular fruit, for instance, that she’ll always eat. Some of the foods that she will eat might seem odd to you, but as long as they’ve got some nutritional benefit to them, it can’t hurt to try to include them in her daily diet. Some of her favorite foods might even be effective as treats after she finishes one or two bites of something you really want her to eat.

Cold Foods Might Work Better than Warm Foods

Something else to notice is whether your elderly family member has a preference for temperatures. Some aging adults prefer cool or cold foods because they make her stomach, mouth, or throat feel better. It’s also possible that warmer foods are more soothing to her. Different temperatures can also feel better at different times of the day.

Try not to Force Her to Eat

It’s also important to avoid trying to get into a battle with your senior over eating. A picky eater can really dig in their heels and avoid eating altogether if she feels as if you’re pressuring her too much. Sometimes picky eaters will eat better for other people, too. Bringing in elderly care providers can be a great way to see if your elderly family member might be open to a new approach.

If your elderly family member has become a much pickier eater, it’s not because she wants to be difficult. There’s usually a reason behind this change, even if it’s not an obvious one. You may want to talk with her doctor to determine if there are any other solutions that might help her to deal with medical causes.

For Elderly Care Services in Germantown TN, please contact the caring staff at Personal Care Services MidSouth today!