"Jean B." > wrote in message
...
> Julie Bove wrote:
>> "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!
> Well, you have your cues then. Make her things that are fruity or
> otherwise sweet. Her gravitation toward sweetness does not exclude
> nutritious food! Be creative! And you say she has been sick and is
> refusing to eat. Don't you think getting her to eat is more important
> right now than than the standards you have set for yourself?

Well considering that she is overweight, no. However she will never eat the
way I do. And I'm not going to try to make her.