Dementia & Diet: When They Eat EVERYTHING… or Nothing at All! Managing food with a loved one who has dementia is an adventure. Ben has a fantastic appetite—possibly enhanced by his hemp-based products—which means I’m on a guaranteed weight-loss plan. If I set food down, it’s gone in minutes! I’m grateful he enjoys eating, but I have to guard my plate like a hawk. But the opposite can be heartbreaking—when they won’t eat at all. Getting them to take even a few bites can feel like a full-time job.