"Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
...
>I didn't make the whole dinner, just a meat dish,
> but it was the first time I made any kind of
> dinner food for her. She's really old, and I'm
> concerned she isn't eating enough. I had been
> cutting up fruit to leave with her, mostly mangos,
> papayas, and pineapple, but that's not really
> the kind of nutrition I think she needs.
>
> I noticed she's more particular about food than
> I remember. I left her some kiwi fruit, and she
> gave them to my sister instead of eating them.
>
> I know what food she likes. It's food like her
> mother made. That's Japanese food. Not so much
> sushi or other food you might get at a restaurant.
> More like everyday Japanese food. I marinated some
> pork leg in soy sauce and ginger for a couple hours
> (one hour is really enough), cut into narrow strips,
> then stir fried it. After the meat was nicely done,
> cleaned up the fond by stir frying narrow strips
> of bamboo shoot, pieces of Shiitake mushrooms,
> sliced shallots, and a few dried Thai chili peppers.
>
> It was similar to what she makes for herself. The
> dominant flavor was the marinated pork and the
> dominant textures were the pork and bamboo shoot.
> I didn't use any sugar, cornstarch, or MSG, which
> would have made it closer to what she would have
> made. I tasted it, and I thought it was better
> than what I remember of similar things she made.
> I might try cornstarch and maybe white pepper next
> time. I considered water chestnuts, but she has
> full dentures and I thought maybe that would be
> too much texture, but I'm reconsidering.
>
> I've got a book she gave me, _Kauai_Cookbook_, which
> has a chapter of Japanese-style recipes which are
> the sort of food she was raised on. As her memory
> of recent events has been diminishing, she spends
> more time reminising about Kauai. I hear the same
> stories over and over again. I can tell you about
> the roller skating rink my grandfather built, my
> great-aunt who married the head of the rich Kimata
> family (she's still alive at 104), etc. My mom
> was on Oahu during the attack on Pearl Harbor and
> heard the attack, but hardly noticed it. It wasn't
> until later her school found out what happened.
> The attack was announced on the radio, but then they
> went back to playing music.
>
> I remember I was particular about food, but as soon
> as mom found out I'd be happy eating fried rice
> every day, that's what it was. Now it's like the
> situation is reversed. At least I won't have to
> guess what to make.
>
> I am wondering about how taste changes when people
> get old. Does taste diminish, so should I compensate
> by making food spicier? Or, should I make food more
> bland?

I'm not old enough to know. But some years ago we adopted a grandma because
we didn't have any relatives here. Someone (I can't remember who) told us
that their taste buds tend to die off but they can taste sweet foods and
that is what they like. Our adopted grandma was very fond of Lime Jell-O.

My friend went through the same thing with her mom. She was refusing to eat
foods she had always liked. But she liked sweets.

And now I am going through the same problem with my mom. She has been sick
and refusing to eat. So I offered to get her some food from PCC Natural
Market. She agreed to this. I got chicken and brown rice. Her favorite
foods. Or used to be. I had thought she should have soup but she refused
all sorts of soup saying that she hated it. I also got some Falafel,
Pakoras, salad, corn muffins, canned corn and a little lemon cake. I didn't
expect everyone to eat everything. I don't like chicken so got the
vegetarian things for me. But daughter refused to eat the salad which is
why I got her the corn. Yeah, I know corn isn't a vegetable. But she can't
have wheat so the muffins were out for her.

My mom ate a bite or two of the brown rice and the corn. She said she ate
salad but I know she didn't. Refused to touch the chicken and said, "Ugh!"
Ate half of the muffin (it was big), one Pakora, one Falafel and the entire
lemon cake. If I had bought her another cake I'm pretty sure she would have
eaten that as well.

I don't know what the answer is to getting proper nutrition into them. I am
one of those people who is a vegetable pusher. I remember taking my two
nephews and one of their friends to an amusement park. I was horrified
about what they ate for lunch and snacks and insisted we go to a proper
restaurant for dinner so they could have vegetables. I got voted down on
that one. I just can not eat that way. I feel sick if I do.

My mom is a big pusher of desserts for special occasions. We have all tried
to talk her out of this because we are a family of diabetics. Not all are,
but many are. And many are overweight. We simply do not need the desserts.
She keeps insisting that everyone wants them despite the fact that we have
discussed this both in front of her and behind her back and we've come to
the conclusion that *she* is the one who wants the desserts. I think my dad
does too but he is not vocal about it.

Anyway... If we go to a buffet, my mom will take three desserts and usually
also some kind of sweet muffin. Also fried okra. In other words all things
that are not necessarily good for you nutritionwise. She did go through a
big fruit phase some years ago where she ate mainly fruit for her meals and
then of course the desserts. She also loves things like waffles, fried
cinnamon rolls with maple syrup and any kind of bakery items as a meal.
Just not good. Good luck with your mom!