Eating and Drinking - Wellbeing for Life

For most people eating and drinking is as much a pleasurable experience as it is a necessity for sustaining life.

There is a lot of information available to help everyone to make healthy choices about a balanced diet – please see the resources section of this module.

Staff should be aware that as a person gets older their tastes can change, as can their ability to eat certain foods and to maintain a balanced diet.

A person can also develop problems with their weight (either putting on weight or losing weight) or difficulties ensuring an adequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals. Side-effects from increasing numbers of medications that can affect their appetite.

Developing dementia, and other health conditions like diabetes, can also impact upon a person’s eating and drinking.

Contents of this mini book:

• Diet and ageing
• The Eatwell Guide
• Using the Eatwell Guide
• Fruits and Vegetables - 5 a day / 10 a day
• Fuelling the body
• The protein on the plate
• Foods and drinks to avoid
• Keeping hydrated
• How staff can support a healthy diet
• Weight management
• Absorbing and retaining nutrients
• Age related dietary changes
• Eating, drinking and Dementia
• Medication and diet
• A holistic viewpoint
• References and resources