I know that she doesn't remember eating and thinks she's hungry because within 15 minutes of a meal she will say she is starving and hasn't eaten all day. I've had to take all the readily edibles out of the pantry and lock the refrigerator, else food migrates to her bedroom closet, is hidden and spoils - and she's still on the prowl for more food. Her Dr. says that many who suffer Dementia crave more intense tastes and that is true of her. She will use a sweet tea mix meant to make 1/2 gallon in 1/2 glass of water (if I don't catch it first). She loves peanut butter and a hugely sugared drink called Bolthouse which I provide to her in moderation - as in, some each day, but not free use. If I left out the peanut butter jar, it would be gone in two hours. If she has access to a case of canned drinks, she will drink all 24 in one day. So there is NO self moderation. Her Doctor says let her have what she wants (craves) and I agree, but I just can't imagine that a jar of peanut butter and 24 Cokes is good for her. She gets 3 square meals a day which she enjoys. Weight is not a problem at this point (her metabolism must be very high). I just need something tasty that I can give her a LOT of when ever she says she's hungry. Any ideas?
I'd also explore if her meals provide enough healthy fat. I've read that fats help you feel more satisfied and not as prone to snack or feel hungry.
Also, you could try freezing calories free flavored waters and serve as popsicles. You can also buy low sugar popsicles. They only have a few calories, but, offer not much in nutritional value. The same goes for sugar free jellos.
Sam's Club sells a low cost Orange Aid that is sugar and caffeine free that has a little tart flavor. It's more tasty than regular water, but, does have Aspartame, if that matters to you.
celery sticks or carrots with a good dip, popcorn (watch the salt content), watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, honey nut cheerios (eaten dry), animal crackers, popsicles, pudding and fruit cups (like for kids' lunches), peanut butter to-go cups, cheddar cheese cubes, butter round crackers
Since you have secured the main refrigerator, consider getting a small refrigerator for her room where you can place dips or anything else you prepare for her snacking.
When someone has dementia, I seriously wonder if trying to lengthen life is necessarily a good thing. The doctor says to let her have what she wants. I think maybe you should listen to what he's telling you.
The diabetes angle seems a good one to me, though I might wonder why the doctor has not, apparently, thought of it and yet advises free range eating. Maybe it's a case of wearing blinders b/c of "she" being, in no particular order: older, demented, female, w/o adequate insurance, POC?, possibly diabetic.
Has she been checked for internal parasites?
I do recognize the financial load on you.
Affordable food is often harmful to the body.
She is lucky to have you for a friend.
I can understand your concern. Perhaps next time you take her to the doctor, take along a days worth of snacks, so the doctor can physically see how much she is consuming in snacks. Or pile it up on the table and take a photo to show him. That may open his eyes to the scale of the issue.
In the meantime, I guess you purchase sugar and salt free peanut butter, cheap bread and dole out how many slices a day, (my former mil used to eat peanut butter off a spoon).
Is she still capable of seeing an empty pop can and would that help to show her that she has just had a drink? Could you refill a can with water?
Apples, pears, oranges he would eat several a day.
The sweets he liked I kept locked and I would put one out in them morning and one out in the evening for him to "find" if he found it great, if not he wold find it the next day.
I was lucky that he really did not go through the cupboards or the refrigerator looking for stuff.
He loved Crystal Light (after I got him off the soda) or one of the other flavored drinks and I kept that on the counter all the time. He did not like his drinks real cold (dental problems but that is another post) so when he was mobile he would get his drinks and snacks when he wanted them. I am not a fan of the artificial sweeteners so I drastically cut the products with the artificial sweeteners with water to the point that he was drinking almost all water.