Stimulating the senses through food related activities can offer numerous benefits, especially for older adults. As we age, sensory perception in areas like taste, smell, and touch may gradually diminish, sometimes impacting appetite, mood, and overall quality of life.  

By engaging the senses through cooking, dining, and food-related activities, older adults can enjoy both physical and mental health benefits that enhance their eating experience and promote a sense of connection to food.  

Stimulating the senses is also particularly beneficial for those living with dementia and other forms of cognitive decline, as these activities can aid in memory recall, improve mood, and provide a sense of purpose.  

Benefits of stimulating the senses using food 

Improves appetite

Sensory stimulation can enhance the appeal of food, helping to overcome reduced appetite, a common challenge for many older adults.  

Promotes social connection

Food activities often create opportunities for social interaction, a vital component of mental health and wellbeing in older age.  

Stimulates memory and cognitive functions

Engaging the senses, especially smell and taste, can activate memories and provide mental stimulation, particularly beneficial for individuals with cognitive decline or dementia.  

Enhances mood and reduces anxiety

Focusing on sensory experiences can have a calming effect, helping to reduce feelings of stress or anxiety, while also promoting a sense of mindfulness and relaxation.  

Encourages physical activity and motor skills

Cooking, tasting, and handling food engage motor skills, which can benefit physical coordination and dexterity. 

What are some tips for engagement? 

Sight 

• Observe colours: Lay out ingredients and notice the vibrant colours, for example green herbs, red tomatoes, yellow peppers. Seeing these colours can be energising and inviting.  

• Encourage observation of how cooking or combining ingredients can bring out new colours, deepen tones, or soften the vibrancy.  

• Arrange items, such as cooking utensils, to create a visually pleasing arrangement which might trigger cooking memories.  

Smell

• Smell fresh ingredients: Take a moment to enjoy the scent of fresh herbs, citrus peels, or ground spices before using them.  

• Baking scents: Notice the comforting aroma of bread or pastries as they bake. These smells can bring warmth and satisfaction. 

• Guess the smell: Pass around different ingredients, like spices, herbs, or citrus fruits, and encourage participants to close their eyes, take a whiff, and guess what each item is. 

Touch 

• Feel ingredients: Gently touch different items, for example: smooth tomatoes, rough potatoes, or soft dough, enabling people to explore their textures.  

• Hands-On mixing: Use hands to mix a salad or knead dough, focusing on the sensation and connection with the ingredients.  

• Cold and warm: Use both chilled and room-temperature ingredients, like a cold cucumber vs. a warm, freshly baked potato. This contrast encourages people to notice how temperature affects the feel of food and can be refreshing or comforting depending on the ingredient.  

Taste

• Taste individually: Sample individual ingredients, like a leaf of basil or a pinch of salt, to experience their unique flavours.  

• Explore combinations: Try adding a dash of salt or squeeze of lemon to see how it changes the taste, enhancing sweetness or reducing bitterness.  

• Sweet and savoury: Explore sweet and savoury foods, like popcorn or pastries.  

Sound 

• Using a whisk, spoon, or spatula: Scrape the bottom of a bowl or whisk ingredients together. The soft scraping or fast whisking sounds are satisfying and add a layer of sensory engagement.  

• Notice natural sounds: Pay attention to simple sounds, chopping, slicing, or pouring which add rhythm to the activity.  

• Appreciate quiet moments: Enjoy quiet moments between tasks, providing calm and presence as each sound contributes to the experience.