Tastebuds and Time Travel
- OSCAR Care Group
- Aug 1
- 4 min read
How to create a sense of food nostalgia in aged care and for those with dementia.
Ever wished for a time machine, or to relive that blast from the past? You’re in luck! While we can’t quite have the adventures of Marty McFly, food can transport us back…back to the future.
Have you ever tasted a familiar food and then taken a walk down memory lane? What’s so special about these foods, and how do they draw such powerful feelings from us? One might even say they allow us to ‘taste travel'.
The experience of food nostalgia
Food is more than just nourishment - it’s different flavours, aromas, cultures, and traditions. Food is the memory of your childhood, it’s picking mangoes in the summer, and Nan’s famous apple pie. It’s fairy bread on children’s birthdays, devilled eggs at a picnic, or that hint of brandy in a fruit pudding that makes you think of Christmas.
The experience of eating a familiar dish can trigger memories from childhood, family gatherings, travel or significant life moments – with no time machine needed! This phenomenon, known as food nostalgia, can bring comfort, joy, and connection.
Why seek a taste of the past?
Food nostalgia can be a powerful tool to connect with one’s past, especially for those living in aged care homes or with dementia. In a way, food nostalgia can allow you to ‘taste travel’, remembering times gone by as you enjoy a meal, snack, or drink.
Throughout the aging process, it’s normal for an individual’s sense of taste and smell to reduce and change over time. However, the emotional effect that familiar foods can bring remains unchanged.
In older populations, poor appetite is also common, making it harder to maintain a healthy weight. By creating nostalgic food experiences, a person’s desire to eat can increase, and both their emotional and physical health will benefit.
In aged care homes, meals can become a time for socialisation, helping residents to bond over shared tastes and experiences. Nostalgic food experiences can boost mood, provide a sense of belonging, and reduce feelings of isolation or disconnection.
Food and forgotten memories for people with dementia
In individuals with dementia, memory is often affected, and it can be difficult to remember recent events or recognise loved ones. However, the sensory experience of eating a familiar food – recognising the smell, texture, or taste – can transport you back to memories that are otherwise hard to reach. Food nostalgia can bring joy or clarity and allow individuals with dementia to feel a sense of comfort, identity, and social connectedness.
A guide to ‘taste travelling’
Here are some steps and ideas to create a sense of food nostalgia, especially for those with dementia or in aged care settings:
Identify familiar foods – Ask about their favourite food, childhood meals, or foods that remind them of special occasions. You could also ask family members or caregivers to identify dishes that were important to them in the past.
Encourage social dining - Share meals with family, friends, or fellow residents. Social connections during nostalgic food moments help to increase engagement and create a sense of belonging.
Share stories at the dinner table - Pair mealtime with storytelling. Encourage conversations about the memories associated with certain foods while eating together, such as family traditions, holidays, or past events.
Don’t forget aromas – It’s not all about taste, our sense of smell can be a powerful memory trigger! The scent of bread baking, a favourite dish of different herbs/spices can engage our sense of smell and create food nostalgia.
Use memory prompts - Place old family photos or memorabilia nearby or on the dining table. These can serve as conversation starters.
Create a comfortable mealtime atmosphere - Serve meals in a familiar environment, perhaps with traditional table settings, music, photos, their favourite bowl/cutlery, or décor that reflects holidays or family gatherings.
Offer cultural dishes – Include meals that reflect the person’s cultural heritage, including regional specialties. These can help a person connect to their roots and upbringing, particularly if that cuisine is different to what is offered regularly.
Recreate traditional recipes – Many families have dishes passed down through generations or brought out for special occasions. Where possible, prepare these dishes using the original recipe and try to recreate the presentation. This can help to evoke memories of family gatherings.
Engage in Cooking Together: If possible, involve the person in cooking or preparing the food. Cooking, especially with familiar ingredients, can spark memories and give a sense of accomplishment.
These ideas aim to create meaningful and comforting experiences by engaging the senses and sparking positive memories tied to food.
Time travel may not be real… but taste travel is!
Ultimately, food nostalgia can offer us more than just a taste of the past. It provides a comforting reminder of one’s personal history and the connections that continue to shape us throughout our lives. By including nostalgic foods, we can enrich the lives of aged care residents, and create positive mealtime experiences, one dish at a time.
Dietitians are qualified professionals to support you with personalised dietary advice to increase your vegetables intake and improve your overall health. With a team all over Australia, OSCAR Care Group Dietitians offer one-on-one consultation to residents in aged care homes, assist homes with menus and provide support families, and individuals with personalised advice.
