* French Toast – as described above
* Hot meat sandwiches (hot ham and swiss, grilled cheese and thin beef lunch meat) Cut these lengthwise — each sandwich into thirds for big hands, fourths for little hands)
* Warm onion soup can be sipped from a cup
* Many wrap sandwiches can be heated — cheese will melt and help hold the sandwich together. OR……
Chicken with colby jack cheese — between two large tortillas. Microwave till cheese is melted, then FRY quickly in a frying pan. Cut into 6ths — easy to handle – and yummy (you can put other things in these — drained refried beans, onions or chili peppers if he likes those… etc).

Cooked carrots or other NON-watery veggies or meats can be WRAPPED AT THE TABLE – and eaten warm. The reason to wrap them at the table – is so they don’t get soggy – and fall apart.

I hope these ideas help.
All my best.

Dee Mayfield, CDP
Mayfield Health Care Semianars
dementia.seminar@yahoo.com

Finger food ideas:
* French toast – made with egg, ensure, cinnamon, and protein powder.
* Jello 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

Dee Mayfield, Certified Dementia Practitioner
Trainer Mayfield Health Care Seminars
dementia.seminars@yahoo.com

Along those lines, I bet many prepackaged hors d’oeuvres might be good, especially for the many caregivers who are sandwiched between two generations needing their attention and also holding down outside jobs.