Malnutrition rate increases as age increases. It affects 32% of the elderly over 65. Chewing difficulty is one of the most common causes of malnutrition among the elderly. Solutions such as dentures only restore a small amount of the bite force. Nutrice solves the problem from a different angle: the food itself. A special easy-chewing food pack is developed to enrich the eating experience and nutrition intake of the elderly.

Problem Definition

Loss of bite force caused by dental illnesses directly affects the elderly's food choice. Processed food and fatty food are generally preferred to fibrous ones, leading to unbalanced nutrition. Scientists have found poor nutrition and poor oral health from vicious cycles. Solutions like dentures only restore 12% of the original bite force making very little influence. To break this cycle, I decide to focus on the food.

Food Experiments

Food experiments and in-person interviews are done to understand the sensations and emotions of my users' eating experience. In this process, I see the social, emotional, and sensational qualities of food in the lives of the elderly. Besides the ease of chewing and nutritional balance, how this food will be acquired, shared, cooked, perceived, and consumed is equally important.

Elder people, especially those who live alone, have very different cooking habits, which also plays a part in their malnutrition cycle.

Food Development

Developing the actual food is the very first step. With experiments and food inspiration from various cultures, I developed a method to make food that is rich in texture, and easy to chew. A sustainable package and a toolset are developed to form a complete experience.

The food is packaged with banana lives, and recycled paper. The leaves not only adds a unique flavor, it can also elongate the shelf time of the food.