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Cooking for Older People: 4 Soft Taiwanese-Style Recipes
Many older people in Taiwan have trouble chewing or swallowing. Food should be soft, cut small, and not too salty. All recipes below have no pork.
If the older person has an illness (diabetes, high blood pressure, trouble swallowing), follow the advice of the doctor, nurse or dietitian. These recipes are only general examples.
Ask your employer first
| English | 中文 |
|---|---|
| What can Grandma eat? | 阿嬤可以吃什麼？ |
| Is there any food she must not eat? | 有不能吃的東西嗎？ |
| Should I cook it softer? | 要煮軟一點嗎？ |
| Should I use less salt? | 要少放鹽嗎？ |
| Can Grandpa swallow well? | 阿公吞得下去嗎？ |
1. Plain congee (清粥 qīng zhōu)
- Ingredients: 1 cup rice (米), 8 cups water
- Wash the rice and boil it with the water
- Turn the heat down and cook for 40 minutes, stirring often so it does not burn
- For older people who have trouble swallowing, cook longer until it is very soft
2. Steamed egg (蒸蛋 zhēng dàn)
- Ingredients: 2 eggs (雞蛋), warm water 1.5 times the amount of egg, a little salt
- Beat the eggs, mix in the water and salt, and strain so it is smooth
- Cover the bowl and steam on low heat for 10–12 minutes until it is soft like pudding
3. Steamed fish (清蒸魚 qīngzhēng yú)
- Ingredients: boneless fish fillet (魚片), ginger (薑), a little soy sauce (醬油)
- Put the ginger on top of the fish and steam for 8–10 minutes
- Check carefully for bones before serving, then cut the fish into small pieces
- Add only a little soy sauce
4. Pumpkin congee (南瓜粥 nánguā zhōu)
- Ingredients: pumpkin (南瓜) cut small, 1 cup rice, 8 cups water
- Cook like plain congee, and add the pumpkin for the last 20 minutes until it falls apart
- For older people with diabetes (糖尿病), ask the doctor first: congee and pumpkin can raise blood sugar
Safe eating tips
- Help the older person sit upright while eating and for 30 minutes after
- Feed small amounts and wait until each bite is fully swallowed
- If the person chokes (嗆到) and has trouble breathing, call 119 right away
- Check the temperature of the food so it is not too hot
- Write down what and how much they ate, and tell your employer if they eat very little
Official sources
This information is general and can change at any time. Always check the official sources, or call 1955 (free, 24 hours, English available).