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I Mr the standard response is going to be chicken fingers,which would be great if mom liked chicken fingers. She doesn't. She also doesn't like cold cuts, meatloaf, soup, pork chops,ground turkey. I think she's getting to the point where I'm going to have to feed her because she's having a harder and harder time. Any suggestions.

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Why is she having a hard time eating?
Can't get the food to her mouth? teeth don't work? Painful ulcers in mouth? Difficulty swallowing? Nausia? Vomiting? constipation? Indigestion? neurological problems?
Stroke?
Are there foods she actually likes?
Can she swallow liquids?
Have you seen a Dr? Dietition?
Have any investigations been done?
Is she close to the end of life?
Is she using it for control purposes?
if you leave foods within reach will she nibble on them?
I am thinking not necessarily healthy snacks. i guarentee she won't touch the carrot sticks but would candy, nuts or potatoe ships tempt her?
If she is not using it as a weapon then off to the Dr you must go, depending on her age and other conditions there will be lots of tests. If she is up to it will she agree and are they worth doing?
best of luck
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Snakes aren't healthy to eat? Dang!

Just pulling your leg Michelle :) You're absolutely right, of course.
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The most important thing is to make sure that she is getting the proper nutrition, so watch out for the prepared meals and snakes the have a lot of carbs and salt in them. Make what she does eat count, try the protien shakes, they also make different snakes as well. If she is not eating much you have to make sure that she get vitamins that she needs.
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Ruby2014, have you talked to her doctor about this? There are meds that can stimulate the appetite, but a doc might like to investigate the cause.
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My mom is 87 and just doesn't want to eat. She plays with the food. I have now started mashing everything and feeding her. If I give her finger foods, she just doesn't sits with it and doesn't eat. She always says she is not hungry. Any suggestions?
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Is this mostly a matter of dexterity and her limited range of preferred foods? Does she have any problems chewing or swallowing once she gets the food in her mouth?

Milkshakes or smoothies might appeal to her. Can she hold a glass and such on a straw? One my husband liked was ice cream, a chocolate Carnation instant breakfast packet, a banana, a scoop of peanut butter, and some chocolate syrup -- with enough milk to make it blend. A pear and butterscotch syrup with vanilla Carnation and ice cream was another favorite. My husband liked yogurt blended with almost any kind of fruit. V8 juice with a straw was also popular. I found buying a few insulated tall glasses with a wide sturdy straw was a good investment. (I liked the Thermos brand.)

Does it help to stick a "handle" in the small pieces of finger foods, like a pretzel in a hot dog chunk, or does that make picking it up even harder?

Can she handle a finger food like cheerios with M&Ms or peanuts?

You may need to go to hand feeding her, but I hope you can delay that or minimize it.

If you come up with a few things that work well, please come back and tell us. We learn from each other!
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Wish I could edit: I would not hand feed her. If she doesn't want to eat when food is presented that she CAN eat? There's something else going on.
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Raw or blanched veggies with a yogurt onion-flavored dip. Grilled cheese sandwiches made with mozzarella cut into strips. Hard-boiled eggs. Peanut butter on a low-salt cracker. Fried chicken legs, thighs. Pizza made from scratch with tortilla flats. Fruit pieces (melon, strawberries, blueberries). Ice cream sandwiches.

Almost any food she likes can be prepared as finger food. Encourage mom to eat sans utensils. If it's food she likes? She'll MAKE it finger food..
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hi Steviegirl, i have the same problem. My father (who has gotten more particular with age) has very little appetite. The appetite loss started last year even before he landed in a rehab facility after a fall. I know the food is not horrible because I actually used to work there as a waitress in the dining room. We have tried everything - frosties from Wendy's etc. I would however check and make sure a medical condition is not interfering with her appetite. the day before his fall dad had a ct scan which came back "suspicious' for colon cancer. he has not been able to have a colonoscopy with biopsy because he's been too ill. but I am very nervous that is the reason for his lack of appetite. he is finally ready for colonoscopy which is scheduled October 29. Good luck to you!!!!
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Pam she does like cheese and I do give that in moderation -- constipation with PD. She's balking on Apple's. Getting to be not crazy about carrots either and she turns up her nose at anything Chinese. Not crazy about meatballs either or shrimp. . Burt she'll tell you she's not picky. LOL The finger foods that she won't refuse are becoming problematic because she's lost dexterity in her hands. Cutting up a hamburger in fours isn't even working. I am going to have to start spoon feeding.
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Dainty sandwiches. Then you can sneak all kinds of good stuff in there and she'll never know heh-heh-heh...
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You find out what she DOES like and serve it in small attractive pieces. Cheese N Crackers? Apples and dip? Baby carrots? mini-tarts? mini beef kabobs? won tons? scallops? shrimp? tiny meatballs?
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I started giving my MIL food for babies/ toddlers. I remove them from the packaging and arrange them like normal. They are specifically made with extra vitamins and minerals AND to make sure babies don't choke eating them. The banana and apple puffs are actually really good! They also make pre packaged meals all you have to do is warm up.

I've been told this was weird or wrong but her doctor said it was great. It also gave her back some control / independence.
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I hate auto correct. First 2 words should read "I know"
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