ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Finger food is a type of meal that can be eaten without cutlery, and may, therefore, be easier to consume for patients with cognitive disorders. The objective of this study was to assess whether finger food increased the quantity of food ingested among older nursing home residents. The secondary objectives were to evaluate satisfaction after meals and costs associated with the meals. METHODS: This was a single-center prospective study conducted on paired observations, comparing food intake observed during three finger food meals vs. three "control" meals (standard meals), for the same residents, in a public nursing home, from 21 April to 18 June 2021. RESULTS: A total of 266 meals were evaluated for 50 residents. The mean intake (simple evaluation of food intake) score was 40.7 ± 1.7 out of 50 with finger food, and 39.0 ± 1.5 for standard meals. Finger food was associated with a higher probability of an intake score ≥ 40 (odds ratio [OR] 1.91 (95% CI 1.15-3.18; p = 0.01). The difference in satisfaction scores following the meals did not reach statistical significance: 3.86 (SD 1.19) vs. 3.69 (SD 1.11) for the finger food and standard meals, respectively; p = 0.2. Finger foods had an excess cost of 49% compared to a standard meal. CONCLUSION: The occasional or seasonal (rather than systematic) use of these meals seems to be a valid option to reintroduce novelty and pleasure into the residents' diet. However, potential adopters should be aware that the finger food meals were 49% more expensive than standard meals.