Alzheimer’s Finger Foods Suggestions

Alzheimer’s Finger Foods

We have a guest post from Dee, who has some great ideas for finger foods for Alzheimer’s patients.  Dee is a health care seminar trainer and dementia practitioner.  Most of these ideas/recipes are very simple to prepare and easy for the patient to eat. 

Finger Foods are great for continuing independence at meal time. If you choose to use a utensil – only put one choice. Ideas for fingerfoods are only limited by your imagination. Have a child help you with ideas – they LOVE helping, and can come up with some super ideas for solving many problems.

Finger food ideas:
* French toast – made with egg, ensure, cinnamon, and protein powder.
* Jelled delight – jello crystals, 1 small pack unflavored gelatin, 3/4 c-BOILING water to dissolve. Add vanilla ensure for the rest of the liquid the directions on the box call for. Mix thoroughly. When gelled – cut into squares. Can be picked up with fingers OR fork – and it’s nutritious.
* Crackers with cream cheese spread. Spread is cream cheese and one or two of the following: ground ham, ground spinach, ground onion and cucumber, or any food taste that your loved one enjoys.
* Puree meats and add to gelled broth cubes (made with unflavored gelatin). You can gel fresh mashed potatoes so they can be picked up. Experiment.
* Ham or beef chunks
*Puree beans and put into a muffin
*Carrot bran muffins (lower the sugar, use unsweetened apple juice for the liquid or milk and protein powder – and you have something nutritious AND tasty. Make 1/2 muffins – they are not as high and easier to handle.
*Cook carrot sticks until ALMOST soft – where they are easy to chew and still stay together.
*Long cucumber wedges. Try lemon juice and a ‘little’ chili pepper on them – tasty and will tingle the taste buds.
*Egg sandwiches in hot dog buns
*Graham crackers with fruit flavored cream cheese- or for a treat-marshmallow spread and tiny chocolate chips
*Wraps – TRY these: fresh fruit wraps (bananas lengthwise, berries, thin apples), lunchmeat and cheese, meat and cucumber sliced thinly lengthwise, and cooked (cooled) celery and carrots wrapped up with lettuce and meat. Wow – the choices are unlimited. Enjoy

(Amazon image)