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Food

Why the food you eat is important when you have dementia

Get into the habit of planning nutritious meals now – it will stand you in good stead for the future

We all know that eating well is vital for staying well, but when you’re living with dementia it can be easy to forget to eat and drink and it can also be difficult to prioritise good nutrition.

Building good habits around meal planning and getting into a routine of eating well is a great idea because being dehydrated and ill-nourished can have negative effects.

That’s why it’s a good idea to put a daily and weekly routine in place and include planning for meals and reminders for when it’s time to eat and drink.

Not eating well or staying hydrated can:

  • Lead to headaches

  • Cause low blood pressure which can lead to dizziness and fainting

  • Make you feel low and anxious

  • Affect your sleep quality

  • Cause hair loss and skin problems

  • Lead to osteoporosis – weak bones mean you’re more likely to be hospitalised with a broken bone if you fall

  • Make you more likely to pick up every day viruses like coughs and colds

  • Lead to you feeling weak and lethargic

  • Cause anaemia

Tips for eating well

You can try using technology as a tool to help remind you of when you need to shop, or take something out of the freezer or pop the oven on to start heating up a meal, too. Try setting a reminder on your smart phone or tablet or asking a smart device to set reminders for you.

Get into the habit of writing down what kind of food you prefer, what time you like to eat, your favourite meals etc because this will mean you’ll be more likely to continue these habits long term. It also acts as a memory jogger – both for you and loved ones – so you can continue to enjoy the foods you love. The best way to do this is with a Meal Planner like our downloadable version available here

Take a look at our tips for eating well as well as ideas for creating a routine which will help you to start building a daily plan that includes meals.