Generally, people expect to have three meals a day – breakfast, lunch(dinner), dinner(supper). The midday and evening meals are a cultural choice. For example, farmers who work hard during planting and harvesting often expect and need a hot, full meal at noon. They expend so much effort in the morning that they need to replace energy at noon so they can go back to work. Office workers usually do not need nor want more than a light lunch. They usually prefer to have their main meal in the evening in the comfort of their homes. This gives them a chance to be with their families as they all enjoy a hot meal.
Some older people find that eating the main meal in the evening makes them uncomfortable. They find that they feel better having their main meal at midday and then eating a light meal in the evening. This relieves the feeling of heaviness and discomfort when they go to bed. Meals-On-Wheels (a service that brings hot meals to shut-ins and the elderly) usually provide the food at midday for this reason.
Some people prefer to have five or six smaller meals which can be divided into a light breakfast, an early light lunch, a mid-afternoon snack, a small dinner and a late night snack. Cancer patients are often encouraged to follow this practice. The aide should also remember that persons who are ill may lose their appetite as a result of their condition.
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Tags: eating pattern
