2012 Volume 13 Issue 3 Pages 139-144
Minced foods and paste foods are often served to people who are unable to eat ordinary food due to difficulty in chewing or swallowing, or who have impaired physical strength. However, such foods are not appealing to the eye and are thus not appetizing. Eating is a joy of life, and enjoying the taste of food is fundamental for QOL.
“iEat®,” a support food for recovery of eating function, was therefore developed. The appearance and flavor are the same as ordinary foods, but “iEat®” can be mashed by the tongue and readily dissolved. We supplied “iEat®” for 3 days to patients who had been ingesting conventional minced or mashed foods, and compared their appetite, impression, and amount of intake with those for the conventional foods. Cost effectiveness was also compared between “iEat®” and minced foods prepared at the hospital in terms of working hours and costs.
“iEat®” was as safely ingested as “minced foods” by patients with difficulty of mastication. Significant difference was not observed in the food intake before and after intake of “iEat®”. Mean satisfaction level of “iEat®” was significantly higher than the conventional foods. “iEat®” needed little time for preparation and working hours were shorter, but was more expensive than the conventional foods.
Although “iEat®” is more expensive, it looks delicious and allows patients the “joy of eating.” It would be worth serving since patient QOL is enhanced compared with the conventional foods.
