In need recipes for a soft diet for 84 year old mother.
 

I am in need of recipes for my mother who lives with me. She is 84 years old and she will not eat any kind of meat at all. She also does not like pasta at all. And will not drink ensure or boost. Yes I have had her to the doctor but my mom is a very stubborn person and once she makes up her mind she doesn't change it. They can't help her if she won't listen. (And getting her to go to a doctor is very hard). So I am looking for recipes that has good protein but no meat. So if anyone has a recipe that they have tried and taste good I would really appreciate them.

How about protein drinks or some of the smoothies that you make with a vitamix? Before I got mine, I used my blender and it did a good job, just had to blend longer to make it smoother.

84 years old? I bet she has a lot of great recipes. How about going thru her box or recipe books.? If she is that stubborn, i would truly get her more involved in the choices.

and maybe talk to the Cooks at nursing homes or senior centers. My husband should meet your Mother. They would get along great! good luck hon. (())

Many folks don't like the flavor of boost or ensure. Try carnation instant breakfast. There are many flavor s,and with a little ice cream,pretty good! She might likecustard( especially if put into pie form). If you combine grains with dairy or beans,you get good protein.

Is her issue with meat an ideological or religious one? Or does she just not want to chew it? I'm wondering if you can possibly sneak baby food meat into some of her dishes.

If she likes milkshakes, make them with any of the nutrition drinks. Boost, Ensure, Carnation. Even Slim Fast. Our doctor says there is nothing in Slim Fast to make you loose weight. It's just portion control, so using it as a supplement is OK. Also, don't let her SEE that it is a nutrition drink. Pour one or two in a 1/2 gallon milk jug and set it in the fridge to use when making her shakes. What she doesn't see, doesn't taste bad.

Are you aware there are new Ensures out that are like juice? The come in several fruit flavors. Each bottle which is smaller than a regular Ensure has more protein than an egg. Freeze some into ice cubes and try out a slushy on a hot day. I have also used it to make Jell-O. Just replace the cold water with an appropriate flavored one.

Will she eat beans? Lots of protein there. If so, try this.

Cook some onion and garlic in a bit of butter.
Add one drained can of white beans and one drained can of black beans and one can of tomato chunks.
(I use tomato chunks that have Italian seasonings in them, but whatever you have will be fine.)
Add two cans of chicken broth.
Toss in some basil and simmer until hot.
If she will eat spinach, add some of that at the last few minutes.
Serve with hot cheesey garlic bread if she will eat that.

This is simple and quick with lots of protein. If you have others to feed that want meat, divide the recipe in half and add browned Italian sausage to the half for the other folks.

Having worked in Food Service long term care for many years.. The "soft" diet you refer to.. is this a prescribed diet..Is it gastric soft, or dental soft ? This makes a big difference in the types of food to recommend.
If you are looking to supplement .. Ensure Plus HN ( higher calorie , higher protein than just Ensure) . Make sure to serve it ICE COLD , and the chocolate is to only flavor that seems palatable to most. Carnation Instant breakfast is a good choice , Greek yogurt has a higher protein content than regular. Eggs are a good choice , so many different omelets you can sneak in extra protein via cheese . My personal favorite is asperagus omelet with cheddar cheese. Sneak in some tofu and beans into soups.

It's frustrating when they decide they don't like, don't want, and won't. I had that with a family member and there was nothing really wrong other than a need for new teeth ("not needed at my age") so I cooked mashed potatoes, fixed ground meat of any kind, lots of jello, cottage chees, and just put it on the table. We all ate it and when one is hungery enough so will they. Just like little children.

Greek Yogurt has protein in it!

Cream of rice cereal, has no gluten. I lace mine with coarse brown sugar. It's hard to find at stores as they have lots of cream of wheat. I finally ordered it off the internet.

Soups with ground meat and beans, custards, puddings, fruit jellos, pie fillings which are like puddings (lemon, peanut butter, butterscotch, chocolate), fruit cups, cottage cheese, farmers cheese or other soft cheese, mashed potatos or bread with sausage or hamburger gravy,

Bless you. I am dealing with similar situation, but my mom will drink the Boost/Ensure. She cooks dinner and we go down to her house to eat. If she doesn't cook for us, she doesn't eat. Sorry your mom is having difficulties. Can she do the cooking? Otherwise, the not eating can be a weapon she's using for control. Maybe not, but that's what my mom is doing. Good luck. Hope you tell us how it goes in a week or two.

I can understand her not wanting to eat meat. The older I get the less I want meat. It seems to take too long to digest & if in the evening, I have a hard time getting comfortable at night. I get my meat as seasoning in soups & veggies. I do drink an ensure clone (walgreens brand) daily - the + version - about 350 calories. I really don't have any recipes - my DD does most of the cooking now, but I eat a lot of fresh fruits & veggies, homemade soups, beans & rice, etc. Also yogurt daily. We must be doing something right, because I am starting to gain back some of the weight I lost. I eat oatmeal or other hot cereal most mornings, but have an egg a couple of times a week. I do like bacon (who doesn't -lol) or a small piece of ham with my egg. Another thing I do is instead of eating 3 big meals a day, I eat small amounts several times a day. I also eat nuts of some kind every day - either in my breakfast cereal or just get a handful to snack on. DD doesn't really cook any different for me than she does for her DH & herself - just makes sure that there is a balanced meal on the table & I pick & choose what I want. I think the secret for me was to not eat too much at one time & to always have some sort of healthy snack available.

check the fitness part of your local stores there are protein for muscle building ....a friend of mine mixes that with milk and icecream all the time

You could contact a registered dietitian at your local hospital or long term care facility. They have printed handouts for many types of nutrition needs. Knowing what specific needs your mother has will help the dietitian to send the appropriate handout. Soft diets can be anything from cooked fruit and vegetables, to puree foods. You can also do a google search for "soft diets". I hope this will help

You might want to look at vegetables since many do contain protein. I have a problem digesting meat and so I researched foods that contain protein and was surprised by what I found. I agree with Misty's Mom that blending foods can make them easier to eat. I bought a Nutribullet and am very happy with the results. One of the blades will even process meats. Good luck with finding foods for your Mom. :):):)

Egg Salad.

For my grandfather, the dietician recommended making oatmeal, milk shakes, and more using Ensure.

I too, believe many vegetables contain around 20% protein. I make a lot of soups for myself. They are yummy and without meat most of the time. Butternut squash soup or garden veg. soup, onion soup, etc. The possibilities are endless with soup. If you serve a whole wheat bread with it, that also contains about 20% protein. Good luck and God bless your loved one.

greek yougart is a good source of protein

During dental issues, two of my favorites were Mother's potato soup and boiled cabbage. She made the cabbage with bacon grease seasoning, sugar, a little salt while boiling. You might try a good bean soup.

I used to put Ensure in the oatmeal then there was half and half to pour on the oatmeal. Another thing that a nurse told me (he didn't like Ensure) was to put Ensure in a glass with ice cubes and get it VERY COLD...then a bit of ice cream in it to make a milkshake.......he loved that!!! Another one was tapioca pudding or rice pudding with Ensure in it...
Good luck....not an easy thing to do!!

I use whey protein I buy in powder form at Walmart,Vanilla,Chocolate & Strawberry.I jump it up with fresh fruit or canned & mix in my blender.Some times I use ice & make slushies.I also freeze it & eat like ice cream.I wear a colostomy bag(intestines burst).I've used it for about 5-6 years now.Also call a Bariatrics clinic ,speak to a dietican,those patients can only have soft foods for 10-12 weeks after surgery.Krissy D.

If your mother will eat puddings/yogurt etc. try chopping fruit fine and mixing in them. i do this for my mom(who can be a real picky eater) I chop strawberries and put them on banana pudding, peaches on yogurt or cottage cheese etc. You have to chop them very small but it does get them in her.

If she'll eat eggs, you can do a lot with them - boiled eggs (plain or deviled), egg salad, egg over rice, egg custard, etc.

Cheese is also pretty versatile. Think outside the box and melt it over rice, instead of pasta. Add a scrambled egg to that and it becomes an even better meal.

Will she eat beans? Beans and rice is a favorite of many older people. Cook the beans a long time, to reduce unpleasant side-effects.

If she'll drink smoothies, you can add yogurt for protein. One of my favorites is vanilla or strawberry Greek yogurt, with a banana (mixed in blender).

I used my Vitmix to make my mom foods before she passed away. Some of her favorites where smoothie drinks with fresh cantaloupe, raw almonds, carrots and other fruits in seasons especially berries. You can also add yogurt. Presentation means a lot. A smoothie served in a pretty glass with a straw and maybe even an umbrella is more fun then something brown in cup. Also sitting down with them and eating the same food might help. You can also make "gravies/sauces" by blenderizing cooked meat/tomato/potato and then serving over well steamed vegetable and potatoes cubes. Does she like fish?

I personally would not be able to handle Ensure and such. I agree Carnation breakfast would be a better option.

Just an important side-note, here. Older people don't need nearly as much protein, as younger, more active people. As a matter of fact, too much protein is very hard on one's kidneys, especially if the kidneys are already compromised. What you need to strive for is "adequate" protein . . . which really isn't all that much, for an older, sedentary individual.

spinach frittata, custard,various soups like pea soup, cream of broccoli, squash soup, tomato,can always add a bit of shredded cheese to the soup for a bit of protein, cream of wheat.

Hummus is very good. Can buy it in refridgerated dips section. Or make it with garbonzo beans and tahini which is made from sesame seeds and add what every you like to season it. Most use lemon juice and if you like garlic. Some recipes in the store have pine nuts, or roasted red peppers. My family has it with either pieces of pita bread or some kind of cracker or chip. The beans make it a good source of protein. If she eats bread peanut butter on a whole grain bread or with milk would make a complete protein with all amino acids too. And lots of vegetables have some protein in them.
Tofu made from soy beans is also a complete protein and it comes in soft or firm (which isn't too much firmer than cottage cheese).

A soup with lentils and pureed would be soft and protein and nutritious.

Eggs, oatmeal, baked sweet potatoes, baked white potatoes,soups, hot cereals, milkshakes (milk and frozen fruit) yogurt... You have probably thought of all these, but I hope she will eat. Has she said what she wants?

My dad needed a soft diet because he had trouble swallowing. He never chewed his food like he should've. When I was up north a few years back I fixed him some refried beans (non-fat) out of a can, the brand with the dog. I browned up some ground beef and added it to the the refried beans. Also rice on the side if he wanted. Fixed up some toast with a little garlic butter. He cleaned it up. We had leftovers so for breakfast I asked him if he wanted oatmeal but he wanted the leftovers and some scrambled eggs with it and toast. He had everything he needed and wanted my stepmother to fix it a couple times a week. He had a little more energy and wasn't going hungry. Dad had what they called a weak epiglottis which would make him choke when he ate solids. he was getting afraid to eat more solid foods.

Does she like tuna? Salmon? Steamed or made into tuna fish salad for a sandwich, or salmon burgers? Shrimp? Whatever she will eat. Sometimes the problem is chewing, swallowing, or digesting. Ice cold supplements are stomach chilling and can be uncomfortable.. How about quiches- warm or cool? Omlets? You can get some baby foods mixed in, and minced veggies or meat. Rice, potatoes, breads, and pastas are filling but very little nutrition, so limit them. Is cheese an option? Grilled cheese sandwich? Watch for lactose intolerance- a simple treatment with lactaid or chewable generics. The taste varies on the chewable brands so try a few. I prefer the CVS. Soups can contain nutrition but use higher protein broths rather than water. Smaller more frequent meals are better. Creamed chicken? She may have many old home comfort food recipes she'd like to adapt.

I puree soups and stews for my 97 year old Mom, soft boiled or poached egg, she like puddings and ice cream, too
good luck, I know it is very challlenging and like someone here said already, it is like cooking for a baby

If you try the Greek yogurt, look for Fage 2% (pronounced Fa-yeh.) It's in the health food section of my Kroger, not with the regular yogurts like Dannon. I don't like yogurt, until my mom had me try this. She said it's the only good one. It's fabulous to me because I can't believe it's yogurt, and the blueberry one is my favorite.

Might try this: <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->

Impossible Pie

All the ingredients are mixed together and poured into a pie tin, but when it cooks it forms its own crust with filling This has a coconut vanilla taste like a coconut cream pie

Ingredients

2 cups milk
1 cup shredded coconut
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup all purpose flour
8 Tablespoon butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions
Place milk, coconut, eggs, vanilla, flour, butter and sugar in blender. Mix well.
Pour into a greased and floured pie plate. Sprinkle nutmeg on top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minute

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