Topic: Food

Forum: For Caregivers, Family, Friends and Supporters — Here is a place to share your struggles on supporting and caring for a person you love, whether just diagnosed, or in end stage. It is never easy, but you are not alone.

Posted on: May 31, 2006 12:55 AM

Joined: May 2006 Posts: 1

tashy wrote:

My mum is about to start chemo. I work away from home and am only down her way 5 days a fortnight. My father also works away half the month. Mum is home with my 21 year old sister and 14 year old brother. They are both pretty much useless and I know mum is worried about what both they and her will eat when she is sick. I want to make up some frozen meals that they can reheat but is there anything in paticular mum should/shouldn't be eating to help her recover?? Log in to post a reply

Posts 1 - 13 (13 total)

drummer-200… Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 148

May 31, 2006 01:08 AM drummer-2006Apr17 wrote:

tashy,

I cant help you but soon others will strat posting and they will be able to.

Good luck to all.

crystal12-2… Joined: May 2006 Posts: 85

May 31, 2006 02:54 AM crystal12-2006May12 wrote:

Dear,

Your mother will probably be faced with changing taste buds. Advanced food preperation for your mother will be rather difficult.

csp Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 4,005

May 31, 2006 04:03 AM csp wrote:

Tashy,
My sister's taste buds were very effected by the chemo
so it was if it sounded good we would try it. But the things that seemed to work were bland foods like broth,
chicken noodle soup, mashed potatoes , no spicy foods,
toast, tea things she could pop in the microwave fast and easy as the smell of food cooking made her sick.

hugs to you and Mom hope this helps a little~
Carrie

cowgirl Tx Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,140

May 31, 2006 08:21 AM cowgirl wrote:

You have really good advice, and remember what tastes good today will not next week!

lauri San Francisco Bay Area, CA Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 525

May 31, 2006 12:47 PM lauri wrote:

How about sending your sister and brother a simple-cooking cookbook ? They can certainly microwave canned soup and make sandwiches on the days Mum doesn't feel up to even smelling food. (That may be all I get from my 25-year-old daughter when I start chemo, although she can be very good cook, largely from the Rachel Ray 30-minute-meals cookbooks)

ladydi WI Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 666

Jun 1, 2006 03:03 PM ladydi wrote:

I myself enjoyed having the prepared ahead frozen meals. I didn't have the energy to cook. But most days I ate well. I would avoid spicy foods. I also enjoyed cold sandwiches alot. I would also tell your mom not to worry about the kids, it is time to worry about herself. I would tell the kids the same. Time to grow up and pitch in!

cowgirl Tx Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 3,140

Jun 4, 2006 01:49 PM cowgirl wrote:

Yep her kids will grow up, and the kids will be better than before. Life can give great lessons, like the world is not about them only. My oldest still does all the laundry to this day, he took it over when I started my surgeries.

He is the best dressed 15 yr old I know, never a wrinkle!

didda566 Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 175

Jun 4, 2006 05:11 PM didda566 wrote:

I agree with Cowgirl. My sister and brother did things around the house (when Mom got sick) that I never would have thought they would do. They are doing better than I would have ever given them credit!!
As for food, mom finds heartburn comes faster than ever, but she enjoys most foods still.
Good luck.

lizqueen Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 67

Jun 4, 2006 05:42 PM lizqueen wrote:

My 3 brothers (31, 27 and 20) were as useful as a second navel until my mom was dx in January. As of then, the MUTATED into responsible, active men. Something I thought I would not live to see. My mom was in awe to see how they could eat and dress without her asisting. Anyway, when it comes to food... it is a hard question. A couple days after chemo (had third AC on 05/24), my mom can only swallow soft things like Ensure, porridge and oatmeal, not that she craves anything, but at least they don´t upset her stomach even more. After that she gobbles down EVERYTHING, deepfried, sweet, greasy, spicy, VERY spicy and whatever can be still for long enough to be put on a plate. I´d say get some of her favorite foods to be frozen, some sliced bread to toast (helps with the nausea), cans of Ensure and order pizza,chinese or anyother nice treat whenever she craves for it. That´s what we do with mom.

Hattie in the redwoods Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,424

Jun 4, 2006 08:20 PM Hattie wrote:

She'll appreciate frozen anything--it takes a lot of energy to cook when you do chemo. Nice of you to help out, and the kids can do the heating or even more cooking.
Take care,
--Hattie

nowheregirl… Japan Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 798

Jun 4, 2006 10:34 PM nowheregirl wrote:

For me, frozen food didn't work because I wasn't able to eat anything warm or hot. I could only eat something that was served cold, like cool pasta, noodles or salad. Anything that was warm or hot would tend to smell and I couldn't stand it. Although it was only when I was on EC (almost the same as AC), my taste buds didn't change when I was on Taxol.

lizqueen Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 67

Jun 9, 2006 09:14 PM lizqueen wrote:

I forgot jello. My mom used to hate it but it tasted well a couple days after chemo.

rhymeee Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,494

Jun 9, 2006 11:57 PM rhymeee wrote:

Although I have not had chemo a lot of my friends have and so here is something to think about.

They tell me sometimes they are unable to tolerate the taste of things cooked in or eaten with metal. Some use glass cookware and eat with plastic utensels.

Doesn't effect everyone that way but a lot have been.

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Topic: Food

Forum: For Caregivers, Family, Friends and Supporters — Here is a place to share your struggles on supporting and caring for a person you love, whether just diagnosed, or in end stage. It is never easy, but you are not alone.