Foods for weight gain when elder has no teeth and history of potential aspiration. Any ideas?
This is more an answer than a question. I'm in the process of getting my father to gain weight after a hospitalization and being on feeding tube last fall. Dad and I went to gastroenterologist appointment yesterday and doctor gave me a list of foods that are soft enough to be swallowed easily with minimal chewing, and are calorie dense. It's mostly common sense stuff but I thought I'd share the list in case anyone else out there has a similar situation. Gastroenterologist gave me a list.
1. Mashed potatoes with lots of butter - doc said potatoes would bulk up my father quicker than anything else.
2. Haagen Dazs brand ice cream which is about twice the fat per serving as other ice creams. Doc was right about this, I couldn't believe it when I read label today.
3. Microwave waffles with lots of butter and syrup to soak the waffles in until they are soft.
4. Sloppy Joes sandwiches, or just the meat mixture, made with high fat hamburger.
5. Any kind of potato salad, macaroni salad, egg salad, tuna salad made with lots of real mayonnaise, and chopped up small enough to eat with minimal chewing.
6. Chocolate bars, specifically the kind where a small square can be broken off and sucked on until melted.
7. Scrambled eggs with melted cheese and finely chopped bacon.
Of course, dad gets the extra calorie Ensure Plus shakes as well, 2-3 per day.
Anyone have any simple-to-make foods you want to add to this list? I personally find that this list goes against my own natural tendency to want a diet high in vegetables and low in carbs, so it was helpful for me to get these tips. I'd love to hear from anyone who has also had to put weight on your elder/family member, and what foods you used to do it.
most smoothies from commercial establishments, frappuccino's
fruit in heavy syrup
Avocado
Chopped or ground nuts on his ice cream
Personally, I would think the Eggo waffles would be too tough with no teeth, could you use microwave pancakes instead?
Does your dad need his liquids (such as whole milk) thickened? Is he OK with that? If not, would he like an occasional beer? I can tell you that thickening beer makes a fizzy mess, but according to my husband tastes OK.
My husband loved milk shakes, and even when nothing else appealed to him I could make a shake with ice cream, some milk, an envelope of Carnation Instant Breakfast (or whatever they call it now) and maybe some fruit. One combination he really liked was a banana, chocolate Carnation, either vanilla or choc ice cream, some Hershey's syrup, and a scoop of peanut butter. Another was vanilla ice cream and Carnation powder with canned peaches with their syrup and a shake of cinnamon. Obviously the combinations are endless.
When my mother "just wasn't hungry" often a root beer float appealed to her.
Yes, mom has been taking her meds crushed with applesauce for a very long time, before this increased paranoia began. The dr has now reduced the amount of her medication. So now she will be taking fewer. Her thyroid , bp, and colitis medication are so crucial at this time.
The speech therapist has evaluated mom for her meals with swallowing. At this time mom eats very little no matter what time of the day the meal is served. When she is served reg meals breakfast and lunch with supervision. And ground meal at dinner. She hasn't past the ability to chew and swallow to be on her own without supervision. And liquids are staying nectar thickened. Many of the ideas mentioned are familiar. However my mom is lactose intolerance so milk products are not a thing she consumes. Mom has refused her medication for since February 6 and inconsistently takes them when she in the mood . Today she's taken them in the am and hopefully in the evening she will cooperate. Perhaps her levels of her thyroid will get to wear it was and her hemoglobin also. I will be taking her to a GI . There was labs that came back that indicate elevation for her pancreas and another lab indicating something going on in the colon. Thank you for your response. God bless😃
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