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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOh, boy. There is nothing quite like the knot that forms in your stomach when you realize a senior parent has stopped eating well. You drop by their house in Sherwood Park or close to the river valley, excited to catch up, only to find last night’s dinner barely touched, sitting in the fridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When looking at an empty plate, it is easy to assume they are just “not that hungry anymore.” But here\u2019s the rub: while a slight drop-off in appetite is a normal part of getting older, a steady decline in eating can cause a whole heap of trouble. Good nutrition is the absolute foundation of a senior’s independence, energy, and strength. When that foundation starts to crumble, everything else can slide downhill fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Sneaky Culprits Behind a Shrunk Appetite<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s be honest\u2014it is rarely just one thing that makes an older adult give up on food. Usually, it is a messy combination of physical, emotional, and practical issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the biological side, the body\u2019s internal clock slows down digestion. This means seniors often feel full for hours after eating just a tiny bit. On top of that, their senses of taste and smell start to dull. When your favorite comfort foods suddenly taste like cardboard, the motivation to spend an hour faffing about in the kitchen completely disappears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But beyond basic biology, some other major roadblocks include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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