Recently I facilitated a nutrition workshop at a senior community centre about managing chronic disease symptoms. It was a diverse group of seniors and adult children of seniors, and there was no shortage of interesting questions. One daughter and mother team stated that it was hard to cook in the household, because mother does not enjoy what I cook like she used to. This comment resonated with more participants in the workshop, and therefore I like to share this topic with you.

Taste changes are common. In our infant years, the ability to recognize and enjoy flavors is developed. As we mature we develop a more sophisticated palate. When we age, the taste palate unfortunately can deteriorate. The latter can have several causes. Oral health, medication, cancer treatment, certain chronic diseases and cognitive decline all can cause taste changes.

What can you do?

*  For good oral health brush teeth and tongue frequently with a soft tooth brush, if you have dentures, gently brush the gums and tongue and clean your dentures regularly. Rinse your mouth with 1/4 tsp of baking soda to 1 cup of water before and after meals.

*  Talk to your family physician to review if your medication is causing taste changes. Your doctor may be able to make some medication adjustments if taste changes are severely impacting your intake or may refer you to a dietitian.

*   When meat is tasting metallic avoid stainless steel utensils. Use plastic utensils or chopsticks instead. Marinate, or add sauces, to mask the taste of red meat, pork or chicken. Lemon parsley sauce. sweet and sour sauce, reduced vinegar or wine sauce, teriyaki, Italian dressing, or barbecue sauce are good contenders. Dairy, fish or vegetarian meat substitutes can provide some variety.

*  Eat foods that taste good to you, record favorites to make it easier to plan for meal preparation. If you find yourself avoiding several foods though, please talk to a dietitian to make sure you are getting enough balanced nutrients to stay healthy.

Reducing stress and frustration at meal time

Cook favorite meals in larger portions, then portion and freeze the meals. This way family members can heat up their preferred meal without you having to cook several different meals at a time.

If meal preparation is too much of a task, use a meal delivery service that can cater to the preferences. Reducing the stress of meal preparation is well worth your health.

Jenneke van Hemert a registered dietitian who specializes in meal preparation for people with dementia, swallowing or chewing difficulty, and chronic disease management. Meal delivery service is available. If you like to find out more about this topic or her services, please visit www.therapeuticmeals.com

See all articles by Jenneke van Hemert