Food for ailing dad?

[Mumwithbaggage]

My dad is 93 and sadly very much on the decline - rarely eats much. I want to make him some easy to eat, not rich but more calorific meals. He likes soup and makes his own in a soup maker but it's basically vegetables. Small appetite - says he can't eat. Refuses to see his (quite frankly pretty shoddy) doctor as I know he feels if he gets sent to hospital he'll never come out.

So any ideas please of stuff i can cook he can microwave? Until a while ago he was eating most things so I didn't struggle with ideas. Now would like protein and calories without the creaminess please.

hank you very much indeed for any ideas x

Sounds like they might be a lunch box option too!

I'd speak to a dietician! If he has a stoma, is he part of a stoma group/community? They might have ideas for meal suggestions too. My brother has a stoma and some foods he just cannot tolerate at all.

I'd look into nutritional drinks such as complan:
www.boots.com/sitesearch?searchTerm=complan%20drink

Another option might be Wiltshire farmfoods. They have a vast range of meals- including minced, puree, smaller serves, larger serves etc.
www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com/ready-meals/mini-meals-extra

Parsely box is another pre-made food option, but they dont need the freezer or fridge.

Nutritional supplements would be my last choice tbh as they don't taste good. Dietitians sometimes recommend full fat milkshakes first if that's an option? Or smoothie made with full fat yogurt to keep in the fridge and he could have little "shots" of it over the day.

Agree with speak to his stoma nurse and see if there's a dietitian available for a phone call while you are there (if your dad would be happy with that).

Hairyfriend he was getting through loads of Parsleybox - taste horrible to me and I do wonder what they do to chicken that means you don't need to freeze it!!

He hates drinking anything other than tea or sherry (retired vicar :) - he rarely drinks it and at his age, if it makes him happy...) but dh has found he likes elderflower and says it makes him feel much better when he drinks it. I'll make something yummy in the nutribullet and take that over too - good shout! Thanks for all this.

He was about 87 when he got his stoma - oldest patient his doctor had done the operation on! He's had a good few years of decent health, splitting his time between the South of France where his wife lives and here. Lockdown has been so hard on them both - he insisted he wanted to be back in the UK so nearly 2 years ago, just before lockdown, dh drove down and brought him back (to prevent him getting on the Eurostar when Covid was rife), making absolutely sure his lovely wife wanted to stay there with his family. She's 96 next week and they haven't seen each other since then but talk daily on the phone. They are both struggling health wise now. He won't move in with us. We looked at flats but he wants to stay where he is now in his bungalow, 25 mins drive away.

He never joined a stoma group but always praises his nurses. Love him to bits. He's had a full life and though I'm an only child, seeing all his four grandchildren grow up has been such a highlight for him. He always seemed like he'd stay the same for ever and it's hard to see him fading.

Risotto is good, we used to buy DGM a ham hock that we would cook, made risotto with the stick and some of the meat and then just shred the rest for her to pick at.

Ground almonds are good, can make a calorific crispy coating for things or stir them into porridge etc to bulk them out without dairy.

Asda at the time has a great range of mini pork pies/picnic eggs/parties etc that she would nibble at, we would leave grazing platters out for her. As someone else said a plate of food was really too overwhelming for her

This sounds like it's a sad situation where your dad can't be with his wife. And it's hard to watch a loved one go downhill, so for you

UniversalTruth thank you.

Will he eat cheese, my mum often grazes on cheese and crackers, also I always make sure she has a dish if nuts next to her chair, so mixed fruit and nuts or cashews, she also loves chocolate raisins.

My DF liked banana custard when really very frail, and rice pudding with spoonfuls of jam. Also pancakes. Milky drinks too. Apple pies and fruit crumbles

Cheese omelette, stews, mince and mashed potatoes, sausages, pancakes

He loved fish and chips from the chippy for a treat too.

Does he like pork pie or Cornish pasties?
Spam, haslet, ham, corned beef, pickles.
Some fish and other pates can be quite calorific.
Quiches and pies
Mash with lots of butter, bubble and squeak.
Savoury mini frittata baked in a bun tin - good hot or cold.