Food Preferences & Restrictions Worksheet
Keep the foods a person likes, avoids, cannot eat, and has been instructed to limit or modify in one clear reference sheet.
When several people help with meals, important food information can get reduced to vague instructions such as “she doesn’t eat that” or “he’s on a special diet.” A clear worksheet separates personal preferences from allergies, intolerances, texture needs, and professionally directed restrictions.
This makes meal planning and caregiver handoffs easier while reducing the chance that a personal dislike is mistaken for a medical restriction — or vice versa.
Preferences
Favorite meals, disliked foods, usual breakfast, preferred snacks, cultural or family foods.
Restrictions
Documented allergies, intolerances, texture instructions, or other professionally directed limitations.
Routines
Meal times, portion preferences, seating, assistance, packaging, or preparation details that matter.
Start with what the person enjoys
Preferences help caregivers plan meals the person is more likely to accept.
- Favorite breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and beverages.
- Foods the person dislikes or regularly refuses.
- Preferred brands, flavors, temperatures, or textures.
- Cultural, religious, family, or comfort-food preferences.
Separate medical information from preferences
Use clear labels so a substitute caregiver knows what is optional and what is not.
- Document known food allergies separately.
- Record intolerances or reactions as they have been described or documented.
- Write texture or swallowing-related instructions exactly as provided by the appropriate professional.
- List other medically directed restrictions without changing the wording.
Make the worksheet useful in real life
The best reference sheet answers the questions that come up at mealtime.
- Does the person need help opening containers or cutting food?
- Are certain utensils, cups, or seating arrangements easier?
- Are there foods that work well on low-appetite days?
- Where are current professional diet instructions kept?
Preferences & restrictions
Use this space to capture the details another caregiver would need without having to reconstruct the whole story from memory.
| Category | Food / item | Preference / restriction | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
Email me the Food Preferences & Restrictions Worksheet
The guide above is yours to use now. The printable gives you structured space to work through the details, make notes, and keep the information handy for the people helping with care.
Keep meals, routines, and caregiver handoffs from scattering
The Caregiving Concierge™ helps families keep nutrition notes, tasks, appointments, providers, medications, documents, and other care information together in one shared care workspace.
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