How Finger Foods Can Help Ataxia
After a stroke or brain injury some people experience a symptom called ataxia. Ataxia affects one’s coordination, leading to difficulty with many of the things we need to do and want to do in a day. Occupational therapists help people with ataxia identify tips and tricks (strategies) to help them be able to do important tasks like getting dressed, eating, or caring for their home. It is very common for someone with ataxia to have difficulty eating. One strategy to improve someone’s ability to eat on their own is to choose finger foods. At Moxie OT we’ve identified a number of foods that are nutritious, delicious, and easily eaten with your hands. Below is our list. We bet you can think of a few more!
Snacks
- Fruit: apple, pear, banana, strawberries, grapes, orange segments, berries,
- melon, pineapple chunks, peach / nectarine / mango slices, etc.
- Vegetables: cucumber/ carrot/ celery/ pepper sticks, sugar snap peas, cherry
- tomatoes, etc
- Nuts: almonds, cashews, walnuts, etc
- Cheese slices/ cubes
- Dried Fruit
- Crackers
- Chips
- Granola bars
- Popcorn
- Toast with butter/ jam/ peanut butter/ etc
- Pita slices
- Rice cakes
- Rice Krispie treats
Breakfast Ideas
- Cereal bar
- French toast sticks
- Mini waffles
- Croissants
- Biscuits
- Sausage links
- Bacon
- Toast with butter/ jam/ peanut butter/ etc
- Hard boiled egg halves
Lunch/ Dinner Ideas
- Sandwiches
- Charcuterie (cold meats/ cheeses)
- Chicken drumsticks
- Hamburger/ Sliders
- Hot dogs/ tofu dogs/ chicken sausage
- Sushi Rolls
- Hard boiled eggs halved
- Mini quiches
- Finger sandwiches
- Pizza
- Potato wedges/ french fries/ tater tots
- Cooked vegetables (broccoli spears, cauliflower florets, green beans, etc)
- Chicken tenders