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Kathleen[_4_] Kathleen[_4_] is offline
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Default Supplementing the Elderly (mostly for Jill)

Omelet wrote:

> In article >,
> Gloria P > wrote:
>
>
>>Omelet wrote:
>>
>>>While not everybody has to face this, some of us do.
>>>
>>>Caring for elderly parents.
>>>
>>>Cooking for them can be a rewarding chore but still difficult,
>>>especially when you are trying to make sure they get all the "things"
>>>they need in their diet and it's up to them to eat it.
>>>
>>>I just purchased 3 large containers of Vionate (Jefferspets.com) to add
>>>to dad's food as I cannot always trust him to take his supplements,

>>
>>>The only problem with it is it tends to add a slightly gritty texture
>>>due to the mineral content. I'm eating some of the crab and cheese
>>>omelet I just made for dad to test it out. It's not bad.
>>>
>>>Only time will tell...
>>>
>>>It's well hidden in scrambled eggs and meatloaf type items.

>>
>>How about in bread or muffins? Brownies? I.E. something that's
>>FUN to eat.
>>
>>gloria p

>
>
> Might work for some, but dad prefers high protein. His favorite food is
> Omelets and/or scrambled eggs. :-)


Cook them in plenty of butter and stir in a scoop of sour cream just
before they're done. It's an easy way to sneak in extra calories, and
the fat aids in vitamin absorbtion.

Also, as we age, our sense of smell weakens. And "taste" is mostly
about smell. Our tongues only process sweet, sour, salty, and bitter
(there are those who add a 5th category called ummami (sp?), aka funky,
like cheese or aged meats).

When a person's sense of smell starts to go you have to stimulate their
appetite by appealing to other senses - color, sound/sight (sizzling,
for example), texture.

An example presented to me by the dietary director of the SNF I worked
at as Controller was Cinnamon Apple Rings - peeled, cored apple slices
simmered with red hots (candy) until tender. Lovely bright color,
tender texture with just a little bite to it, sweet flavor with a little
heat which even nose-dead ex-smokers can perceive.

Comfort foods like mashed potatoes and gravy - use plenty of salt, plus
pepper for a little heat - go over well, and pumpkin pie offers a lot of
bang for the buck, as it includes yellow vegetable, eggs and dairy.