posted
I put this in off-topic, but she needs help now or I feel she will waste away or get sick and have no reserve fat on her to recover.
My Gramma is 100 and is a very healthy, energetic woman. She still lives alone and my mom has taken over cooking for her because she started eating simple, such as canned soup.
Her diet is very healthy, but I don't think she gets enough fat and/or calories and she is losing weight. Winter is coming up and I would like to see my gram put some weight on.
If there are any nutritionists out there, or anyone with some suggestions please help. It would be great if you have a menu you could email me.
I have searched the internet, but, we seem to think weight LOSS, when we say the word diet and I came up with nothing.
She has no health problems. The first time she ever went to the hospital(except birthing her children) was removing her gall bladder 2 years ago. I want to be like her when I grow up!
I know others here have weight gain problems from our disease, so hopefully this will reach them too.
I thought of a few ideas: french toast made w/ half and half. Add cheese to eggs. She does have a hard time chewing meat, so roasted chicken/veal with a broth/flour gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, baked butternut squash,biscuits.
Dipping bread into olive oil. Add a scoop of ice cream to milk. What fat/calories can I add to smoothies?
Thank you all so much. foggedup
Posts: 106 | From Texas | Registered: Jun 2005
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posted
Olive oil has about 150 calories in it per tablespoon. It's also very good for you so I would give that a try. I also need to gain weight so I use butter milk in recipes. I also drink a 16 oz glass of kefir a day with added whey protein and flaxseeds.
All together the shake is about 650 calories and tastes really good. It reminds me of a fruit smoothie. The whey protein I get is sweetened with stevia and is really good. it also covers up the nasty sour kefir taste :-).
Avacado is also high is good fats so if she lieks that it would be soemthing healthy she can add to foods. It's pretty mushy so she should be able to eat it. I have one class left and then I'll have a degree in Nutritional biochemistry!
Good luck, I wish I had those genes! Lindsay
-------------------- "One day at a time"
Current: -1.2 IM bicillin three times a week -1.25 IV Vancomycin every day -IV glutathione and IM B12 -Byron White since Jan. 2011 -ALA, Yasko protocal, Adapten-All, thyrosol, Pekano, phosphalipid exchange, probiotics, oregano... Posts: 390 | From FLORIDA | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
Does she like icecream? Make a shake or malt with chocolate or other flavored ENSURE nutritional drink.
Sometimes when seniors go to a soup like diet they are having difficulty swallowing too, just another thought. For this she needs to have a meatloaf consistency diet with finely chopped or ground meat. Carbohydrates such as pastas will help to put the pounds on and should be easy to chew. Homemade soups done right can have MANY calories and be delicious and nutritious. Can you do a seafood chowder or bisque, chili, broccoli with cheese?
Here are a few other ideas:
Try hot breakfast cereals with half and half and butter.
Pastas with ground meat sauce, mozzarella cheese melted on top (lasagne, goulash, etc)
Meatloaf, mashed potatoes (add sour cream when mixing), gravy, and green bean casserole
Tuna noodle casserole
Egg salad or tuna salad
Turkey or chicken or ham loaf (meat is ground up very fine and smooth)
Quiche with spinach and cheese added
Add melted cheese to cauliflower and broccoli for extra calories
Baked beans, rice pudding or bread pudding, cheesy hash brown casserole, stuffing
Here are some recipes I found for those that need to add calories and may have chewing or swallowing difficulty:
PINEAPPLE SMOOTHIE 1 cup canned crushed pineapple (blended and strained) 2 cups vanilla ice cream 2 drops peppermint extract Blend.
YOGURT PINEAPPLE SMOOTHIE 1 cup plain yogurt 1 cup crushed pineapple 2 tbsps. sugar 2 drops lemon extract. Blend.
Time Savers: 1. Canned liquid supplements are excellent to help maintain weight (i.e., Ensure, Ensure Plus, Nutriment, Sustacal, Isocal). Pour 4 to 6 ozs. in your blender, add a heaping tablespoon of frozen custard, add fruit and you have a delicious milkshake (bananas or any of the berries are excellent). Always mash berries through a strainer first if she has issues with choking. The tiny seeds in strawberries, raspberries, and even blueberries can cause choking.
Posts: 339 | From nowhere | Registered: May 2007
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hshbmom
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9478
posted
Hi fogged, it sounds like it's time to use a coffee grinder.
I bought a cheap grinder at WalMart...$12. It will make mincemeat of anything you're having for dinner. Add some nutritious liquid, and it will be easy to drink.
I used this instead of babyfood...it was better tasting, more nutritious, and cheaper than commercial baby food.
As someone else mentioned, avocado is great. You can add a little salt & pepper to it, and mash it lightly if needed. Avocado is recommended to help gain weight by the American Dietetic Association.
Fresh flax seed whirled in the blender is a great supplement too...provides the healthy fats. It has a nutty taste and is good sprinkled on cereal, ice cream, and salad.
You can buy flax seed at a health food store or order it online. Some grocery stores carry it with their health food items.
There's a great nutritional supplement called MCT oil...medium chain fatty acids...it is derived from coconut oil. It can be added to food or mixed in a drink for healthy fats/calories. It's found in a health food store. Flavorless is best; orange is available, but my son thought it was nasty.
You might want to consult a geriatric nutritionist.
Grandma doesn't need empty calories, but nutrient rich foods. Does she like liver?
Posts: 1672 | From AL/WV/OH | Registered: Jun 2006
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breathwork
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 567
posted
Just a thought...When making those wonderful milk shakes with real ice cream, you can add Whey protein. It's a bit easier on the digestive system than soy protein.
We need protein along with the fats, etc, in order to put on weight.. Our oncologist told my husband that whey protein would be a great way to add protein to shakes and it metabolizes into glutathione as well.....a great detoxifier and good for cell health.
Carol Ann
Posts: 1062 | From CA USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Thank you for your knowledge and great creative ideas. Time to get started on a menu and shopping list.
My gram will will love the new changes.
Thanks again! foggedup
Posts: 106 | From Texas | Registered: Jun 2005
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treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
Get her some acidophilis and other probiotics shes probably low on good gut flora? threelac?Yogurt,
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