• Intimacy and Relationships

• Communication in Parkinson's disease

• Healthy eating in Parkinson's disease

  • Parkinson's disease and diet
  • Eating difficulties in Parkinson's disease
  • Create a balanced diet for Parkinson's disease

• Travel and leisure with Parkinson's disease

Eating difficulties in Parkinson's disease

One reason why people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk having a poor diet is that they can have practical difficulties with eating their food. For example, tremor and slowness may make it harder than usual to move food from the plate to the mouth.

However, there are many simple ways in which meal times can be made easier.

Tips for eating

Listed below are some tips for overcoming the problems of slow eating and swallowing difficulties that may be experienced by a person with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

• If eating is slow and tiring, then it may be easier to cope with several small meals a day, rather than three main meals.
• If it is a hot meal, serve the food on a warming mat, in an insulated bowl, or microwave the food during the meal – this stops the food getting cold if eating is a slow process.
• If the throat tenses up while eating, try yawning several times before a meal to relax the throat.
• If swallowing is difficult, then keeping the chin tucked down to the chest may make things easier. Taking regular sips of water will also help.
• Good posture and a comfortable position while eating will also aid swallowing.
• Only put a small amount of food on the fork or spoon – this prevents spills and helps with swallowing.
• If a semi-solid or puréed diet is required due to swallowing difficulties, then you should ask to be referred to a speech and language therapist and a dietician. Not all swallowing problems are due to PD and the cause of the problem should be confirmed before changing the diet.

Practical aids

There are many practical ways in which a person with Parkinson’s disease (PD) can overcome difficulties at mealtimes. Some examples of relevant practical aids and tips are listed below.

• Hot drinks can be served in an insulated cup to stop them getting cold. Sometimes these cups have a lid and spout, which can stop spillages and help with drinking.
• Don’t overfill cups, and consider the use of a straw.
• Using weighted cups can help to prevent tremor when drinking.
• Serve the meal on a raised level, e.g., put the plate on a small box or stand, so that the food is nearer the mouth. This helps with transferring the food from the plate to the mouth.
• It may help to place the elbows on the table to steady the hands/arms when eating.
• If spillage is a problem, use an apron/bib with a plastic or easy-clean cloth for the table.
• A plate can be placed on a rubber mat to prevent it slipping, and a clip-on ring can be added around the edge, to stop any food being accidentally pushed off the edge.
• Other eating aids that are available include a combined fork/knife, a ‘rocking’ knife that cuts one-handed, and cutlery that is easier to hold.
• Contact your local or national PD association for specific information about the practical aids that are available to you, and how they can be obtained.