Responding to the Mid-Autumn Festival: Special "Care Food" for Elderly with Chewing and Swallowing Difficulties

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, when families come together to celebrate, it's important to consider the dietary needs of elderly family members who may have difficulty chewing and swallowing. To ensure their safety and enjoyment, the Nutrition Department at the China Medical University Hospital in Hsinchu has recommended a solution – "care food" designed specifically for individuals with chewing and swallowing difficulties. These foods are prepared using special cooking techniques or food additives to modify the texture and form of the food while preserving its original flavor and appearance, making it easier for seniors to overcome these issues and enjoy their meals.

Chen Zhi-xian, a nutritionist, explains that "care food" originated in Japan, a country with a rapidly aging population. Japan has developed comprehensive policies and measures for elderly care due to its aging demographic. To allow seniors with diminished chewing and swallowing functions to continue enjoying their meals, Japanese food manufacturers have created soft foods that can be easily crushed by the gums and tongue, known as "care food."

According to the World Health Organization, when the population aged 65 and over constitutes 14% or more of the total population, it is considered an "aging society." Taiwan entered an aging society in 2018, prompting increased focus on the health and quality of life of its elderly citizens. According to research by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, approximately 12.8% of Taiwan's elderly population is assessed as having "chewing and swallowing abnormalities." These difficulties can lead to aspiration pneumonia, respiratory failure, sepsis, and even death. Seniors with chewing and swallowing difficulties may also become fearful of eating, resulting in reduced nutrient intake, malnutrition, weight loss, muscle loss, and psychological distress. Limited food choices can lead to reduced interest in eating, further decreasing nutrient intake and affecting mental well-being.

Nutritionist Chen Zhi-xian provides instructions for preparing "care food":

1. Start by blending the food into a paste or liquid using a juicer or blender, altering the food's particle size to eliminate the need for chewing.

2. Adjust the food's texture to a level suitable for swallowing by adding food modeling powder to increase smoothness.

3. Finally, use appropriate food molds to restore the appearance of the food, enhancing the seniors' desire to eat and allowing them to enjoy a varied diet during festive occasions.

Recipe for Care Food Mooncakes

Ingredients:
- Store-bought mooncakes: 150 grams
- Hot water: 300 grams
- Food modeling powder: 4.5 grams

Tools:
- Food processor
- Soft silicone mooncake molds

Instructions:

1. Pour mooncakes and hot water into a food processor (mooncakes to hot water ratio of 1:2).

2. Add food modeling powder and blend for 1 minute (food quantity to food modeling powder ratio of 100:1).

3. Pour the blended liquid into soft silicone mooncake molds.

4. Let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, then remove the molds and enjoy.

By following these steps, you can ensure that elderly family members with chewing and swallowing difficulties can also partake in the joy of celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival safely and deliciously.