Finger foods

Finger foods can provide a nutritious and enjoyable alternative to plated meals. They can also be used to provide extra Benefits of finger foods nutritious snacks to those who need • Enable people to feed themselves, them. helping maintain independence

They can be particularly useful for • Help preserve eating skills people who forget to eat or find • Can renew interest in food and co-ordination difficult, such as with stimulate appetite dementia or following a stroke. • Can improve food intake

If a person has a swallowing difficulty • Can boost confidence and self- finger foods are not usually suitable. esteem at mealtimes • Offer more choice and freedom to Finger foods can be: eat as desired • served at the table in place of a • Don’t need to be served hot plated meal • Good for people who need time to • offered as snacks between meals eat • left in different places to pick up and eat throughout the day, e.g. bedside table, in a bag, car.

Food groups

Suggestions are divided into the following food groups to help plan a balanced menu:

Especially important in older and malnourished people to High help reduce risk of falls, infections and pressure ulcers.

protein Include in all main meals.

Starchy Important for energy, fibre, vitamins and minerals. carbs Include in all main meals.

Normally these should represent a third to a half of daily diet. Fruit and But for someone who is malnourished these are less veg important because they are lower in calories and protein.

High in energy (calories) so good for weight gain, but low in High protein. fat/sugar

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High protein finger foods

cold meat pieces cooked prawns nuts chicken drumsticks scampi pieces cheese cubes

mini sausages meat/fish on skewer cream cheese rolls mini burgers sushi ice-cream cone

rolled-up ham boiled egg halved frozen yoghurt on sticks

pieces of meatloaf scotch egg chicken/meat spring rolls fish fingers/goujons mini quiche chicken/meat/lentil samosas or pakoras crab sticks nut loaf

To increase calories: To reduce calories: Add dips e.g. full fat mayonnaise, Cut off visible fat, grill/oven bake rather cream cheese, tartare sauce, Greek than frying, choose lower fat, lower yogurt. Offer as extra snacks between calorie options. meals.

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Starchy carbohydrate finger foods

toast fingers oatcakes/crackers quiche slice chips or potato wedges cereal bars digestive biscuits

new potatoes small bread rolls waffles small roast potatoes finger sandwiches mini naan slices potato or corn crisps eggy bread squares pitta slices rice cakes malt/fruit loaf small chapatti popcorn crumpets pizza slice Ideas for fillings/toppings: try meat/fish paste, cold meats, squashed tinned fish, tuna or egg mayonnaise, marmite, butter, cream cheese, cheese spread, houmous.

To increase calories: To reduce calories: Add butter, full fat mayonnaise, jam, Eat in moderation. Rice cakes and set honey, peanut butter, chocolate or popcorn (without butter/sugar) are hazelnut spread, clotted cream lower in calories.

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Fruit and vegetable finger foods

mini or sliced banana peach/nectarine/mango cherry tomatoes slices with stone removed orange segments sugar snap peas fruit kebab sliced apple/pear baby corn dried fruit grapes and berries cooked vegetables –

salad sticks (carrot, celery, broccoli spears, cauliflower melon/ pineapple chunks pepper, cucumber) florets, green beans

To increase calories: Add dip e.g. houmous, cream cheese, Greek yogurt, clotted cream. Try frying fruit slices in butter and sugar. Add cream on fruits.

High fat/sugar finger foods and dessert ideas

sausage rolls mini brioche rolls chocolate cornflake cakes

mini pork pies mini muffins funsize chocolates mini scotch eggs fun-size cake bars biscuits (remove wrapper) spring rolls ice lolly/ ice cream cone iced buns bhajis, pakoras, samosas mini fruit pie cake pieces mini croissants, pastries, jam tarts, mince pies pain au chocolate flapjacks baklava

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Example finger food menus

Adapt these menus to take into account individual likes, dislikes and dietary requirements. See tips in earlier sections for ideas to increase or decrease calories.

Example Menu 1 Example Menu 2

Breakfast Breakfast Cereal bar and 3-4 dried apricots Hard-boiled egg in quarters Orange juice Toast squares with butter/jam Tea or coffee Apple juice Tea or coffee Mid morning Eggy bread squares, fruit slices Mid morning Tea or coffee Flapjack, fruit slices Tea or coffee Lunch Mini beef burgers (90g) in mini bread Lunch buns (40g) with tomato sauce, potato Mini quiche (100g), baby potatoes wedges, baby corn, (100g), broccoli spears Malt loaf Mini fruit pie

Mid afternoon Mid afternoon Squares of toast with pate or cream Cheese cubes and grapes cheese Tea or coffee Tea or coffee Evening meal Evening meal Mini sandwiches e.g. tuna Chicken and vegetable skewers with mayonnaise, egg mayonnaise, soft yogurt dip, salad sticks, pitta slices cheese, salad sticks Slice of cake Mini chocolate cornflake cakes

Bedtime Bedtime Milky drink e.g. Horlicks, Ovaltine, hot Milky drink e.g. Horlicks, Ovaltine, hot chocolate, milkshake chocolate, milkshake

Tips when offering a finger food menu

• Menu needs to be creative and varied • Show the person what to do so they can copy • Present food attractively, e.g. attractive plate, different coloured foods • Allow time to look at the food and explore it • Use foods that are easy to hold. For people who wander choose foods that • Take time to describe the food can be eaten on the move or carried in • Some foods will lose their freshness a pouch and appeal if left out for too long, so • People’s capabilities can change, may need replacing finger foods might be better at certain • Provide wipes or hot flannels to wipe mealtimes and plated meals at others hands before/after meals

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Further information

Eating Well with a Small Appetite – ask the person who gave you this leaflet

Nourishing drinks for adults – ask the person who gave you this leaflet Eating and drinking with dementia - ask the person who gave you this leaflet High energy high protein diet shopping list ideas – ask the person who gave you this leaflet Eating well: supporting older people and older people with dementia – practical guide, published by The Caroline Walker Trust, available at cwt.org.uk/publications Alzheimer’s Society guide to catering for people with dementia, published by the Alzheimer’s Society, available at alzheimers.org.uk

Contact information

For further information contact the person who gave you this leaflet or:

Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Airedale General Hospital Skipton Road Steeton BD20 6TD Tel: 01535 294758/294857 (direct lines)

The Trust’s Patient Information Service is here to help you to find out more about health condition, local support groups and healthy living

The Patient Information Service is at Airedale General Hospital Tel: 01535 294413 Email: [email protected] Web: www.airedale-trust.nhs.uk/YourHealth

If you require this leaflet in other languages or formats please telephone the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 01535 294019

Issue Date: September 2018 Review Date: September 2020 Author: Department of Nutrition & Dietetics

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