Find Senior Care (City or Zip)
Join Now Log In
M
Myshell Asked December 2017

My mom likes to eat the same thing every day. Can she become anxious if someone tries to make different food for her?

jjmummert Dec 2017
Yep...after a certain point in life's journey...eat, drink and smoke what you want.

MaryElisabeth Dec 2017
My paternal grandmother ate a cup of dry Lucky Charms for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a scoop of vanilla ice cream afterward for the last three years of her life. All family members tried to interest her in other food options now and then but she’d pleasantly decline and continue to eat her cereal. Digging out and identifying each marshmallow shape thrilled her so much EVERY time she ate, it was truly an enjoyable experience to watch her.
....I still miss her!

ADVERTISEMENT


freqflyer Dec 2017
Myshell, sounds like it is better for Mom to eat what she has always enjoyed. What she has been eating sounds really good :))

The only thing I could think maybe Mom had a major food allergy reaction. Only thing different I could see compared to what Mom has always eaten compared to what the caregiver prepared was maybe the eggs in the mayo or some other spice. My Dad use to get sick from anything that had paprika.

When it comes to food for someone who is older, think of it this way.... if they want ice cream for breakfast, let them have it.... unless there is a restrictive diet.

Tothill Dec 2017
Is what she is eating healthy or balanced? If yes, I would let her eat the same thing. My former husband's granny only ate Campbell's' Cheese soup for the last 15 years of her life. It may not have provided full nutrition, but she was eating and getting some calories.

Myshell Dec 2017
Thank you Tothill! :) My mom has a Dan's Cheesburger with a small onion ring and a large chocolate shake. She has been eating that for the 2-1/2 years. I finally broke down and hired a care taker helping her/me. She started last Wednesday, KA cooked her a hamburger patty w/rice and meatloaf and potato salad on Thursday. The reason I asked the question was that my mom was out of sorts on Friday; twitching all over her body especially the right side, problem with balance and a hard time talking. Took her to ER and she spent the night. Lab work, CT Scan and x-rays came back good. She's the picture of health minus the dementia. Also, right before she was taken to hospital she had a explosive bowel movement. I try to tell my friends and family that when she eats the same thing every day there are no issues but if it is foreign food to her we have problems. Doctor and nurses told me I am doing a great job and had no concerns with her eating the same thing every day. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

misslolita Dec 2017
My mother has been eating Pizza Hut for over 3 months. It has to be Pizza Hut. She won't eat any other pizza. For dessert, she eats anything we buy. Sometimes I have to hide the sweets because she'll eat them all and we won't get to eat any. Doctor said it was alright.

RayLinStephens Dec 2017
Myshell - I learned the hard way - give them what they want or they can quit eating.

There are ways to sneak in supplements into anything if you're concerned about nourishment. But when I tried to increase my DH's food selections, he shut down and wouldn't eat anything. Worst 3 months ever! It was a struggle to get him eating again.

We went through a spaghetti & tv dinner period. Then it was nothing but Fish Sticks. Now it's pretty much Hot Cocoa with ice cream.

Ok, this is what I do - I start his cocoa with ensure plus (strawberry) and add cocoa mix after I have heated the ensure. Topped off with a generous portion of ice cream. I'm calculating it's a minimum of 500 calories per hot cocoa. I also use Barlean's Chocolate Silk Greens in it and it tastes just like chocolate. I even use a small amount of Cacao Tigernut for the prebiotics.

3 of these daily gives him his daily requirements and he's now back on some food; an egg for breakfast and some "chicken-fried-rice" with popcorn shrimp for lunch.

It's all about getting calories in on a daily basis.

lizzy1952 Dec 2017
I say let mom eat what makes her happy. THANK GOD she is eating something. something is better than nothing. My mother and dad only ate canned soup for the past two years of me taking care of them. they wouldn't eat anything I made. I use to argue with them but after a while I figured something is better than nothing.

Tmarie9 Dec 2017
My Mom ate a small pancake for breakfast and dinner for the last 2 years of her life. She would sometimes eat an applesauce for lunch and Three Musketeers for snack until the last year. This wasn’t healthy but it was calories. She was a small woman. Surprisingly, all of her organs were in great shape until she stopped eating. Mom passed from Dementia this past August.

lbleighton Dec 2017
After my Mom passed away my father ate NOTHING except Hungry Man dinners - for 3 years, even though we had full time Home Health Aides who would have gladly cooked anything he wanted. I always joked with him that all the preservatives were keeping him alive. He loved the process of picking out which one he would have that night and microwaving it.
Let it go. If it was me I would want to eat or drink whatever the heck.
It has been 10 months since he passed and I can assure you it was NOT because of his diet.

See All Answers

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a Question

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter