There are various practical ways in which you can help yourself follow a
healthy diet - all too often the effort involved in preparing food can mean you
don’t have the energy or inclination to eat properly so the following tips may
be helpful in avoiding or minimising this problem.
Shopping and preparing meals
Careful planning can make shopping and preparing meals far easier and an occupational
therapist will be able to give you tips to help with this aspect of your
routine. Here are some tips to help you:
- keep a good range of foods
in your cupboard and freezer that have a long shelf life as these are
always a good back up if you are unable to shop as planned
- plan meals in advance and
write a list of the ingredients before going to the shops, or ask someone
to buy ingredients for you
- think about how long you
can stand preparing your meal and don’t decide on a menu that will take
longer to prepare than you can cope with
- if taking the trouble to
cook a meal that can be frozen for other days then remember to double or
treble the quantity so that you have a few quick and easy meals another
time
- make use of ready prepared
meals as they can be simply reheated and can save on electricity or gas as
well as your own energy. Remember that frozen and tinned vegetables and
fruit can be just as nutritious as fresh
- if you do not own a
microwave you may consider buying a small one as meals or snacks can very
simply and quickly be thoroughly cooked or reheated this way
- look out for specially
adapted supermarket trolleys for those who have limited mobility.
Special food aids
Special aids for eating are available. Ask your occupational therapist for
information on what is available in your country and suitable for you. Below
are some suggestions that may help although not all may be available where you
live:
- try using cutlery that has
specially adapted handles which are angled or weighted for ease of use, or
‘rocking’ knives that can be used one handed
- try using two handled cups
or beakers, or a large mug filled only halfway to reduce spillage
- use an insulated cup to
keep hot drinks warm
- use specially weighted cups
that help prevent tremor
- use a straw and don’t
overfill cups
- use an apron or bib and an
easy wipe table cloth
- try placing elbows on the
table to steady your hands and arm when eating
- try raising your plate on a
book or box so that it is nearer to your mouth
- use a damp cloth or special
non-slip mat under a plate can stop it moving as you eat
- try using a special plate
which keeps food warm or microwave a meal when it becomes cold so that it
remains appetising. Some plates have angled, high rims to prevent spillage
and make it easier to get food onto cutlery
- look for special devices
designed to grip jars and bottles for easy opening
- contact your local
Parkinson's disease association for information on aids that are available
in your country www.epda.eu.com/members
Eating and swallowing
Being comfortable when eating is important in ensuring that you are able to
eat and swallow food.
If a meal takes a long time and becomes cold and unappetising you may prefer
to eat smaller portions and four or five smaller meals rather than 3 large
meals each day. It is also a good idea to time meals so that medication is
working properly – eating is very difficult during ‘off’ periods so try to
avoid meals when ‘off’.
If you experience a lot of difficult swallowing or opening your mouth ask to
see a speech and language therapist. They will be able give tips on the
consistency and texture of food to make it easier to eat, and also on ways of
eating. Some tips for easier swallowing are:
- try to relax the throat
muscles by yawning before and during eating
- make sure that you are
comfortable and sit up straight without leaning on the table
- try tucking your chin down
to your chest to make swallowing easier
- soften hard foods with
sauce, gravy, or dips
- avoid soups with bits in
and go for thick creamy ones rather than thin, watery soups
- take smaller mouthfuls and
regular sips of water
- avoid dry, brittle foods
such as toast or crackers, or if you really like to eat these moisten them
with plenty of spread or dip in something like soup
- eat wholemeal bread rather
than white as it is less likely to get stuck around your mouth
- instead of bread try pasta,
noodles or mashed potato as carbohydrate in a meal
- ensure that any dentures
are a good fit and not uncomfortable when chewing.
A semi-solid diet will make swallowing much easier and in extreme difficulty
a puree diet may be recommended but you should only follow such a diet on the
advice of your doctor, dietician or speech and language therapist.
Menu suggestions
Below is a sample of a daily eating plan with regular meals which include a wide
and balanced range of foods from the various food groups.
These suggestions are for guidance only and there are of course other
options and alternatives available. For further meal ideas and detailed
information on food groups and portion sizes please see EPDA’s Guide to Healthy Eating.
Breakfast
Fruit or fruit juice; cereal (wholewheat if constipation is a problem) with
milk; bread or toast with butter or margarine and jam or other spread; bacon,
sausage, egg, cheese, cold meats etc
Midday meal
Meat, fish, eggs, cheese, pulses, lentils or other protein; potato, rice,
pasta, noodles, bread or other carbohydrate; vegetables or salad; yoghurt, milk
pudding or fruit drink
Evening meal
As midday meal
Snacks between meals
Fruit, cakes, biscuits, sandwiches, cereals.
Drinks
You should drink with meals and between them too, for example tea, coffee,
fruit juice, water, milk, soup. Beware of drinking too many carbonated drinks
as they may make you feel bloated and unable to eat your snack or meal.
