Easy to eat food

[kippersmum]

Unusual question I know. My dad is in hospice and not doing well. I'm really struggling to eat anything and I very nearly keeled over in Tesco earlier today trying to get the basics. My stomach is in knots and I can't face eating anything apart from rhubarb yoghurt for some reason. I'm also vegetarian. Anyone got any ideas?

Huel?

Some nice ready made soups and smoothies? Sorry OP 🌸🌸

So sorry you are going through this.
Kefir drinks or yogurts (same aisle as the normal yogurts)
cottage cheese eat with a spoon?
sprinkle granola on your rhubarb yogurts
if you like milky drinks try full fat milk coffee or hot chocolate and dip biscuits in. (Buy from a cafe if finances allow and if it seems easier)
little cartons of juice or smoothies.
snack bars/protein bars.
bananas
tomato soup (tiny portion in bowl or mug) - drop little cubes of cheese and bread into it.

Thank you both for your kind replies. Huel is a brilliant suggestion to get me through the next few days and then I'll try soups and smoothies. Thank you both so much. I really appreciate it

(If you can’t face any of it tell yourself you’ll just have one mouthful or two - even tiny amounts better than nothing)

❤️ good thoughts for you.

Bless you OP. I was in a similar situation this time last year but was caring for mum at home with hospice help. Eating was a big problem.

I lived on scrambled egg and buttered toast. It was very comforting. I did have soups as well to get some veg in me.

Much love from a stranger 💔

I’m so sorry.

Try a simple broth. Itsu have a broth in their supermarket range - it’s chilled so it in the fridge section.

You are all so kind and lovely when I'm totally broken. Thank you all so much. I'm so grateful

I'm soooo sorry that you're going through this. Sending a handhold at this difficult time.

Ready meals (either microwave ones or oven ones) were my "go-to" for me & my children whilst DH was on end of life care.

So sorry to hear this OP. (Just been through this here :( ).

Try taking a tiny amount of something sweet (even sugar on a teaspoon) a little while before attempting to eat anything more. Sometimes your system just needs a little energy to get digestion going. ( If you've not eaten for a while you can be too hungry to have appetite! ) Our V old doctor used to suggest a glass of sherry 10-20 mins before trying to eat. (Perhaps why it so often is served at funerals.)

I'm going to try and get a bit of sleep. Thank you all. I was feeling quite lonely and desperate. I really appreciate the support. It's really meant alot. Hugs to everyone who has also been through this

Interesting to hear about the sherry, my dad isn't really eating anything but is still having tomato juice with a good dose of sherry in it! I might pinch a bit!

Hugs kippersmum, sleep well.

Any of the liquid meal replacements from Holland and Barrett, (huel or yfood etc) even slim fast - which you can make up yourself or buy ready made. They all got me through losing my dh. Slimfast is my personal favourite.
I couldn’t face shopping - Amazon is a little pricier but have a large choice.

Fruit salad is a good option

Keep going with the yoghurt and maybe add some chia seeds and oats to it for additional vitamins and minerals

Banana mashed with avocado - great for babies but also great for adults who are struggling to eat

OP I am so sorry for you . When my Mum died very unexpectedly my husband went to Sainsbury’s and got me soup from Covent Garden, chocolate and fruit. Sending you love to you and your Dad …you can do this Xx

Porridge with peanut butter stirred in. Anything that doesn’t involve chewing. Also, is there a point in the day you feel less anxious - maybe immediately after visiting? Could you stomach a mars bar and a cup of tea then?

I agree about the soups, also get a large pot of single cream and tip some in to things like soup, smoothies, milky drinks for some extra calories to help your energy levels.

As you are managing to eat yoghurt, try to eat authentic Greek yoghurt ( not Greek style yoghurt) as it has a high protein content which will be good for you.

Could you manage fingers of cheese, or hard boiled eggs? Maybe honey on bread & butter?
Porridge (cook in the microwave for convenience) or breakfast cereal with milk? Scrambled or poached eggs are quick to cook if you're feeling up to it.

As you start to feel a bit better, stock up the fridge with snacks that you will eat, don't worry too much about mealtimes, but eat through the day. While you might not feel up to cooking, if you've got some ready to eat food available you will be alright. Keep your fluid levels up with regular non alcoholic drinks.
I'm sure you'll start feeling better soon @kippersmum, you are shocked at the moment.

Since my DH died, I’ve eaten a lot of toast. I like jam on toast but I know I need something more so I’ve eaten beans on toast, cheese on toast or eggs on toast. I have salads with it and a piece of fruit. You need to tempt yourself to eat, you need to keep going.

Pasta, decent milled black pepper and sea salt, garlic powder, onion powder, fresh tomatoes, some kind of tinned beans, dash of fresh cream, delicious and done in 12 mins.

Just popping back to mention something that will slip down easily.....ready to eat rice pudding. I like Rachel's Divine Rice, eaten cold, but there are lots of brands available.
Also Bonne Maman madeleines as they are small and easy to eat, packaged individually, so it's easy to just have one.
In similar circumstances to yours, I collapsed in the street and was taken to hospital because I'd not eaten for days, so it is really important to eat and look after yourself @kippersmum.

Although I mentioned non alcoholic drinks, I do think tomato juice with sherry is an excellent idea!

Huel is actually quite nice. I use it a lot when I’m out and about.

So sorry, it’s so tough. Maybe a spoonful or so of ready made mashed potatoes, thinned down with some milk? Or those little tins of rice pudding. Possibly lentil soup when your stomach is a bit stronger

Would a tub of hummus and a bag of ready peeled carrots in the fridge be a useful addition, that you might grab even 1 dip of hummus on a carrot occasionally? I would spend the money on the pre-prepared versions at this time, even if you normally wouldn’t, just to dive in when you have an inkling that you would manage a bite and needs no effort. But also would last a few days.

Thinking of you and your dad.