ideas please. No effort to eat foods

[BecauseIlovehim]

DH doing fairly well in the new hospital. Lots of new treatments and another chemo but he’s knackered and mostly asleep, he’s not got the energy to eat meals, find chewing difficult, yogurt and creme caramel are about all I’ve got into him, he says porridge too much to chew.

the hospital are going to try him on puréed foods tomorrow but I wondered if baby foods would be a good idea. He’s desperate to eat as he knows it’s an important part of surviving.

any ideas dear mnsneters? Literally got to be no effort, nutrious and just slide down the throat (he doesn’t want to drink the ensure type replacement meals).

Pureed apple, shredded pineapple, ice-lollies? Soup might be nice?

Has he got a dietitian involved? Is he trying supplement drinks?

I'm not a dietitian but I am a SALT. The info I have is that baby food isn't a good idea for adults as it's not nutritious enough, but see what his team says. I'd try thick yogurts, ice cream, cream soups; does he drink milk ever?

Not as an every meal type thing, but if you want to get some calories in him, how about a shakeaway with some of his favourite treats in it?

I think the problem with a lot of baby food is that it went be as calorie dense as you like.

My daughter needs feeding up and hates the ensure stuff, but has strawberry Altrajuice that we add blackcurrant squash to and it adds a few hundred calories to her intake through just drinking. Only if he has a sweet tooth though as it's very sweet.

The hospital gave my mum complan shakes you can also buy protein yogurts and shakes now from supermarkets.

Homemade soups using a blender, maybe smoothies, mashed potato as long as well mashed, poached salmon, fruit juices, soft cheeses

Any homemade soup, thickened with potatoes, cream, cheese
Ice cream
Pureed meat and veg ..very tasty
Pureed fruit/ custard

The nurse mentioned SALT, I’m not sure what that means.

I’ve been zizzing a few things and taking my food flask but they are really cautious so although I can feed my foods to him I can’t leave it. So when he’s slept all day and not eaten it I’ve had to take it away.

I was thinking something is some sort of packaging that they will allow me to leave. He’s got a fridge in his room.

Protein shakes made with milk or almond milk, can whizz some fruit or avocado in it as well? If you put ice in it, think it would keep in a flask.

SALT is speech and language therapy / therapist. They can advise him on the mechanics of chewing/swallowing, and about what types of food will be suitable for him. Does he like custard?

Do you live near a Costco?

Panecota

Creme brûlée.

Cheese traingles

Refreshing lemon mousse

If not Costco supermarket Bonne Maman do these deserts too.

Homemade polenta, can stuff it full of butter and cheese to keep calories up and make it as loose or thick as you like. It kept me happy in the days after my wisdom tooth when all I could eat otherwise was jelly and Custard, and I craved real food. Only thing is that it's best right off the hob. But there may be workarounds.

Get his dietician onboard….ask them

Chinese noodle soups with minced pork whizzed up in a blender. Really tasty, can be sipped off a chinese spoon or through a wide metal straw. I lived off these after jaw surgery following nasty dislocation. Any other kind of soup blended, yogurt and berries smoothies.

He needs to be seen by SALT team (speech and language therapist) who will assess his swallowing ability and advise which food is best for him.

If he doesn't like the ensure milkshakes it also comes as juice.

He definitely needs the dietitian. Maybe the SALT too but start by asking for a dietetics review.

Has he said why he doesn't want to try the ensures? For sure they can be horrible but there's a big range of flavours including a neutral one and a vanilla which are OK. They do a good job when things are this difficult.

For pure calorie intake, double cream is your friend. Something like a lemon/raspberry possett would be really easy to slip down and you can pack about 500 calories into a serving.

Could he tolerate a 'cream of' mushroom/chicken/tomato soup?

I agree that you really need a dietician to give you a balanced dietary plan, though.

When DH was ill they put a tube down his nose into his stomach and fed him high calorie liquids (Fortisip, ensure etc) through that.
Would that be an option? Or a peg tube?

Baby foods are not very tasty due to low salt etc. Probably not the best to encourage him to eat as not that enjoyable.
Prescribed supplements can be good but also can be sickly so sometimes people can be reluctant. Encourage foods which he enjoys.
Like others have said, look for low volume, high calorie foods of a smooth consistency, added double cream can bump up the calories. Adding cheese and butter to mash.
Thick & creamy yogurts, chocolate mousse, custards, smooth soups with extra cream. Smoothies made with soft fruit, ice cream, thick yoghurt.
Lots of foods can be blended as long as you have some moisture such as stews, curries, bolognaise etc. Smoked salmon blended with cream cheese to make a mousse. That kind of thing.
Wishing him well.

I'm not sure how practical this would be if you're not at home, but when DH was ill I bought a Velvetiser. It was like having a special treat instead of yet more invalid stuff. You can add extra cream, skim milk powder, or even one of those tiny pots of food substitute (sorry I forget the name) without them being obvious.

Homemade leek and potato soup was also a big favourite, you can get lots of cream into that and also make it with real chicken stock.

Pannacotta has much the same texture as cream caramel and you can flavour it with whatever you like, basil is particularly nice. It's just cream and sugar so very calorie dense.

What kind of things did he like before his illness?

If he could manage it, real Greek yoghurt (not Greek style) is rich in protein.

Would he manage gazpacho, the cartons of Alvalle are very tasty, though get Original flavour as the gourmet flavour with almonds is a much thicker consistency and might be too difficult to swallow.
Also the mixed vegetable juice by Biona might tempt him.

Fruit fool, beaten double cream with added fruit purée, or 50/50 cream and custard might work for him.
Consommé would be worth trying too, or any bone broth.

Sending you kindest thoughts @BecauseIlovehim .

Ready Brek as an alternative to porridge.

Complan made with whole milk.

Protein Works do a wide selection of protein shakes, juices and meal replacements.

Angel Delight.

Alpro chocolate pudding pots don’t need to be refrigerated.

A homemade Yop made with vanilla protein powder, Greek yoghurt, frozen raspberries and water to loosen to a drinking consistency. Blitz it all together and strain through a sieve to get rid of the pips.

Mango lassi

Custard

Rice pudding

Cartons of fruit juice often don’t need to be refrigerated so can be left on his bedside table. Not food as such but they can be quite high calorie which will help.

Hipp organic apple and pear are delicious and very smooth. Would also suggest Longley farm yoghurts.

Sending love to you both.

Complan or Ensure would be best, most are milkshakes but I know Complan does soups as well I think.

(For additional nutrition, whisk an egg yolk or two into the apple and pear puree as you heat gently in a saucepan , makes a lovely, fruity custard)