I use food delivery platforms. Mainly to order vegetarian meals for my mum. Convenient, yes. But, not always straightforward. Like most things, I guess.

My mum is the end user. I place the orders. She knows nothing about ordering online via a mobile phone or computer. She doesn’t want to know. She’s never been one to say what she wants or likes to eat even during our weekly restaurant visits. A long, long time ago. Lots have changed since then but not her reticence in making food calls. Hence, I identify vegetarian restaurants and menus that might interest and satiate her palate.

It’s not a big ask as it’s easy to order but it’s less easy to buy meals that are just right for my mum. Even if I like or prefer a particular dish, it might not be what she wants. It also doesn’t help that her appetite has diminished significantly. Her miniscule food portions may be influenced by the vast numbers of medicines she consumes daily. There is no yearning or desire for food. Eating is functional. Food is for sustenance.

That said, I know for sure my mum likes her rice. Always has. She is a bit of a ‘sothu-made’ or rice cow. She claims she used to have at least 2 sizeable helpings of rice when she was younger and healthier. And, the helpings increased when there were special curries and dishes. Today, she still likes rice with creamy curries that contain generous helpings of coconut or full cream milk. Vegetables – anything from aubergine to cabbage to long beans with coconut milk to give them a creamier finish. Slightly spicy. Not medium spicy. Meat, fish, crustaceans, and eggs are not part of her diet. She says they make her skin itchier. I’m not sure how true or correct that is. She is forever scratching her poor body to get some comfort, despite her palliative team’s prescribed creams and antihistamines.

In place is a dynamic weekly meal plan for my mum. Monday is vegetarian day. I cook her oatmeal with loads of milk and roasted cashew nuts. She has it for lunch and dinner. To encourage bowel movement, I add pureed fruits to the oatmeal. Tuesday to Thursday, she has Indian food from a food truck. The daily menu is displayed on the WhatsApp chatgroup, while orders and pick-up times are confirmed online. My mum’s daily fare is Indian rice with curry and three vegetables. The chef varies and seasons her vegetables well. And, there is always tofu and/or mock meat that looks and tastes like the real deal. The food truck also serves up non-vegetarian dishes like fish, mutton and chicken for the working population in my neighbourhood. A largely younger customer base with good teeth, healthy appetites and a penchant for spicy food.

Friday, half-moon, full-moon and festivals, I order online. There are so many online vegetarian restaurants to choose from. My go-to is Chinese vegetarian. She is less keen on Western meals, and Tuesday to Thursday, she already has Indian food. My mum needs change, range and surprise in her diet. Most of the restaurants have extensive menus. Set meals of rice and noodles. Simple and extravagant side dishes. Soups and snacks. Like stir fry cauliflower rice with mushrooms, tofu, carrots and mock meat, mutton potato curry with vegetables, fried ‘mee or keow teow,’ ‘nasi lemak with curry mutton,’ ‘honey spare ribs’ and claypot chicken rice. The choice is ample particularly for the general populace. 

I subscribe to 2 delivery platforms. Mostly to compare and have a back-up in case one fails to fulfil my order. Which happens now and again for a host of reasons. Anyways, both platforms have an almost similar directory of restaurants and promotional offers. The cuisines range from A-Z. And, the long list of vegetarian restaurants offers enough of a selection to choose meals and dishes from. All good but…

My mum is not the target market of truckers, online and offline restaurants or delivery platforms. Picking what my mum can eat readily is challenging.  She cannot chew stir fried or crunchy vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower or carrot. She cannot bite or eat crispy tofu or ‘papadam.’ Her dentures cannot tear into mock meat. Al dente is out. Too difficult. Spicy is also out. Not belly-happy.

What do I do? Customise. Stick blender all the meals/dishes I order in or takeout. Smaller pieces and mushy food make for easier chewing and swallowing. Adjust taste/flavour. I incorporate splashes of full cream milk and/or add dollops of honey to chilli-spicy curries and side-dishes. Jazz up rice. I mix in pieces of cheese and/or tablespoons of butter to make plain rice richer and creamier.

What can restaurants/food providers do? Offer a few elderly-friendly options like softer/chewable vegetables or creamier curries etc., on the menu/order form. Hmm…