Encourage eating. Any advice?

Thank you all for the responses. She has had several swallowing tests and found her left Vocal Cord doesn't function which creates swallowing issues however we had a working solution to that over a year ago. We just came back from her annual visit and doctor is convinced she's got mild dementia (spoke with my sister and in laws all of whom are medical professionals and concurs) It appears I wasnt very clear in my initial post: she actually DOES EAT but not very well or often. Breakfast (egg mixed with minced ham, peach and bananas) is OK but she immediately wants toothpicks before the meal even starts (there is nothing there I have flossed and cleaned them myself) I can calmly tell her in AM that to get toothpicks she has to eat-this will go on for an hour or so but she does finish meal. As day progresses meals get harder to serve and sometimes she's cussing about the items given (mostly we do boiled chicken, gravy and mashed veggies) but will let food sit, scream about toothpicks and tell us we are serving crap even when I test taste in her presence. Sometimes it works, others not so well. Just want to keep her physical ability status quo which now is OK

Many older people don’t eat a lot. They no longer have a healthy appetite. My mom didn’t even weigh a hundred pounds. She told me that she wasn’t ever hungry.

Notify her doctor to see if any recommendations can be made.

I agree with Fawnby, start looking into hospice organizations. Be prepared.

Best wishes to you and your mom.

You Mom may need a swallow test.

I agree with Fawnby. Forcing foods can lead to death when the swallow is inadequate and when the person doesn't wish to eat. Our elders end their lives with almost ZERO choices. Let what they eat, at least, be one.
As a nurse I can tell you that minimal nutrition will keep someone going a long long time.
Personal opinion: never force food beyond what another wishes to take in.

Get her a hospice evaluation.

Not sure what shape your mom is in, but often, not wanting to eat is a sign that life is winding down. Don't force it; she may have physiological reasons for not wanting to eat, and sometimes, eating can make things worse (like she might aspirate and get pneumonia, or choke, or have terrible intestinal pain). Is she hungry and asking for food? Or is she just disinterested? Ask her doctor if her condition has changed and this is a sign.

Your profile does not mention dementia but she may have the beginnings of it, based on her obsessing about needing toothpicks and taking out her dentures when she shouldn't. Also, our tastebuds lose their ability taste (or our brains don't process the stimuli in a normal way anymore) so it's not uncommon for elders to complain about how food tastes.

Before she recently passed, my 101-yr old Aunt with dementia survived on Campbell's Chicken and Rice soup. Every day for lunch (1/2 can). We would add pre-cooked, very soft carrots, some extra cooked rice, and an egg cooked in it. She ate this for many years. She was missing many teeth and lost her bridge, so wasn't able to eat many solids. Keep experimenting on things she might like, even if they don't seem "healthy". At 94 she also needs liquids that provide electrolytes (tea, sports drinks, fruit juice). It's a moving target and I wish you success in finding some foods that she at least enjoys.