As we get older, some of us may be experiencing age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, etc. It is interesting to note that I, now as a person who can no longer see the food that I am eating, use my imagination along with my other senses to locate and enjoy the food that is on my plate. The strategies I use are those I taught my students while working as a teacher of the visually impaired and can be modified according to the amount of vision deficit.
For best results, I visualize my plate as an analogue clock face: for example, mashed potatoes at 12:00, peas and carrots at 3:00, applesauce at 6:00, and biscuit at 9:00. You might want to experiment with the colors of dishes you use or place a colored mat under your dishes for more color contrast and easier identification.
It is important to know the location of beverages, by also using the clock analogy, so that unfortunate mishaps such as spills don’t occur. Cups or glasses which have more solid bases cannot be tipped over so easily. A piece of bread can be used as a guide to insure that food being eaten is not inadvertently pushed off the plate.
Cutting food seems to be easier if done one bite at a time because you don’t have to search for each piece to eat it. First of all, place the fork, front side facing you, in the section of the food needing to be cut that is closest to you. With the other hand, place the knife closely behind the fork and make the cut. With a little practice, you will be able to cut the size of the piece you desire.
Not seeing the location of different foods has also elevated my senses of touch and smell in food identification and appreciation. Foods, such as mashed potatoes, have a more adhesive quality and tend to be easier to pick up with a fork than corn or peas. It can be to your advantage to place a food with a more sticky quality next to one that is less adhesive, so they might be picked up together. Metal utensils which are thin, flat, short and light in weight seem to be easiest to manipulate: while using them it is easier to ascertain the location, weight and density of the food. Using plastic utensils decreases the sense of touch considerably. It is like putting on gloves to eat your food.
When going out to eat, you may prefer eating in a more enclosed space such as a booth or in a carpeted area with no echo, which may increase the ability to locate and enjoy your food, as well. Extraneous sounds may be rather disconcerting when one is trying to concentrate on locating food and maintaining correct body positioning at the table.
You may think that eating with decreased vision is rather a foreboding task. However, you should find that it makes sense to use your other senses more while eating while you have decreased vision.
Dianne Ferrell is active with the writing group at Seattle’s Wallingford Senior Center in Seattle.
