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My grandmother doesn't fell like eating? What supplements as far as shakes and nuti bars ar ethe best to get her some nutrition? We tried ensure and boost and she doesn't like them. IS there anything else online we can try? She has loss so much weight.

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For absorption purposes, liquid vitamins are best. Eniva (Eniva.com) has a protein that has a little taste and is used in baby formulas, so that could be mixed with ice cream or other things. There are many powdered proteins, but you’ll need to find one that isn’t bitter.

One thing to consider - how is your grandmother's overall health? If she is late stage Alzheimer's or cancer, her body may not want food as her organs are shutting down. But if she is reasonably healthy, but has no appetite, certainly encouraging her to eat is good. Don't badger, though. That will make it worse.

I'd put fresh fruit around, easy to eat types like strawberries and blueberries. Light food generally goes down better than meat and potatoes. Puddings (maybe with added protein) can be good. Cancer sites often have good suggestions, including the one on this HealthCentral.com site.

Carol
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Try Ensure. It worked for my dad. Chewable children's vitamins taste good too.
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My dad loved Carnation instant breakfast. Ask the DR. if you can add a protein powder or even ice cream. Dad lost 25 lbs. in the hospital and gained it all back this way!
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Check her medications. My mother stopped eating and was losing weight. I turned out that one of her medications has side effects of "loss of weight" and "loss of appetite". We took her off that medication and she is eating again and gaining weight.
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I take a ensure just for the vitamins and a snack myself you can make milkshakes out of them and smoothies with fruit, being a chocoholic I like the chocolate the best but you can use the vanilla and fruit and yougurt mix it all together makes a nice dessert add a little whipped cream and a cherry just like the old days, bannana split leave off the nuts if they are hard for her to chew. comfort foods mac and cheese, spaghetti, How old is she, can she help prepare the foods maybe she would like that my MIL always liked to help God bless her she had alzheimers didn't know what she was doing most of the time but knowing she had always been active I would ask her to make her style something or peel the potatoes although if you wanted them to be cooked by six you had to get her started at ten in the morning, but she did it. My mother on the other time just sits and waits to be waited on no matter what you ask her to do never seen anything like it she's been this way all her life I really don't know how us kids made it to adult hood. I really don't
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My mother had a minor stroke in January which affected her speach and she also battled to drink liquids. She used to drink with a straw. Recently she fell and broke her pelvis resulting in a further stroke. She is unable to walk, feed herself and is bedridden. We have had to put her into an old age home (frail care) and she has settled in quite well, however she is strugling to eat and can only eat liquid food as she is battling to swallow. She is on liquids but does eat soft porridge and yoghurt. We also supplement with Lucozade and puddings because she does not like soups. We have noticed that she will only eat what she feels like and has become quite stubborn. We love her dearly and are starting her on shakes. Our only help comes from The Lord in who we trust.

Michelle
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We started my Dad on a prescription medication to increase his appetite, have not noticed much change yet (3 weeks). He drinks ensure based shakes, protein powder added, plus ice cream/cream or milk. He likes the chocolate best, but will drink the vanilla ensure, protein powder and fruit shakes. At night, we will leave out ice cream and heat it like hot chocolate.
Lindy Lou
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My Mom had a stroke also which affected her speech & swallowing. She WANTS all her food pureed. Luckily she has a good appetite & will eat just about anything I prepare for her - but on those days she won't eat - I can always count on her eating gelatin dessert - either plain or her favorite - mixed with whipped topping. We call it "fluff" - and she just loves it.
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Hi Lindy,
Thanks for your input. Will definitely try her on shakes (hot and cold). We live in South Africa and it is winter (freezing cold at the moment) and I am sure she will liek the vanilla and hot chocalate. Were do you live and does your dad live with you?
Michelle
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She doesn't like Ensure? Chocolate Ensure? Give her a few ounces at a time instead of the whole thing. If it's cold, and you sit down with her,she may drink it.
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