Problems with food. Any suggestions?

I used to cook/boil beef and chicken in savoy/seasoned broth until the meat was so tender it would fall apart, then cut it into about 1/4" sections for my father. Served it well moistened with the broth or a thin gravy. After Dad's diet became salt restricted, I used a lot of Herbox sodium free bouillons and added other ground seasonings (onion, garlic, basil, parsley, ginger, etc). Tomato sauce with a little water and the ground versions of the same seasonings you use in Parmesan chicken or spaghetti recipes gives the meat the same flavors. Most cheeses can be melted in the microwave with milk added to thin it down. Dad absolutely loved "soft parmesan chicken" made with chicken breasts boiled in a seasoned tomato sauce and covered with a thinned parmesan and mozzarella cheese sauce. Beef steaks cooked in mushroom soup becomes steak and a low fat gravy. To make a low sodium version, I cooked and pureed fresh mushrooms with some milk and corn starch to make the soup.

Sorry, I am back. I just remembered that Ensure has recipes for making such things a a pudding from the powdered form of Ensure. I tried it with Luz aand she seemed to like. Check their web site.
It might even be able to puree with fruits, etc.

The Complete Breakfast is another possibility. Usually in the cereal section. How about cream of Wheat or Grits. Those may need to be thinned some.
I wonder if breakfast cereals can be smashed up enough to be nearly liquid? Just a thought.

How are her teeth? Could she be having pain when chewing anything? Just a thought.

You can make sweet or savory smoothies to get nutrition in her if she doesn't like ensure. Tons of recipes on the internet.

My mom has become picky too. She is 91 and I do all the cooking. Seems you are a bit more limited than I am with my mom though. I do agree with the suggestion of Ensure. Seems you need the full meal replacement Ensure. My mom loves the Strawberry higher protein Ensure. She is eating more regular foods than your mom at this point. Don't discount Ensure! You really need it or what ever brand her digestive system can tolerate well. There are often coupons in the Sunday paper for it. As far as cooking goes, and depending on if she has any problems with dairy, etc. there is a "Grandma's Chicken & Vegetable Rice Bake" by Stouffers that my mom used to love before she developed some dairy issues. Its rice based, cooks in the oven and is high flavored. I would buy "Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce, 14 oz" (in a can) slice it up and serve a slice with it. You can serve this when you don't want to cook, and chances are the rest of the family will enjoy it too. Hope this helps. Interesting to read about the swallowing test. Sounds like a good idea.

Is your mother eating anything at all? Will she drink the Ensure if she's offered that?

I'm not clear as to whether she's refusing certain foods, even though they seem appropriate, or plain refusing to eat. How long has it been a problem, either way?

Do you know what options there are if the person is already getting soft foods, thickened liquids? My LO, End stage, on hospice, hand fed, has started not swallowing her saliva. Just runs out of her mouth. She's likely not swallowing food well either.

Rita, I totally agree that a speech eval is appropriate, to determine if she has a swallowing "disorder" known as dysphagia.  Our pulmonologist ordered them for my father, but he also had one while in rehab after having been intubated for several months.  He was unable to swallow safety after that long illness.

The speech eval is painless, and is done in a speech pathology lab.  The patient is given small doses of liquid and food and the speech pathologist observes whether or not the food is swallowed or aspirated into the lungs.   This is important for future care.

There's a very good, thorough and detailed menu for dysphagia food.   Depending on the level, liquids may have to be thickened, and some soft foods (such as ice cream) may be prohibited.   (Ice cream is off the menu b/c it melts so quickly, but what I did was give my father just a few tablespoons at a time, then refresh with another few Ts.)

Bread might be out unless it's slathered with butter or applesauce (what my father used).  The fact that your mother is showing  a preference for soft mushy foods and not difficult to chew meats suggests that your mother could benefit from knowing exactly what level of dysphagia she has.

It's the safest way to go to avoid aspiration and aspiration pneumonia.

Ensure is a fully balanced meal, all kinds of good stuff in those. Maybe one a day with other things she likes. Applesauce? Cottage cheese? Creamy peanut butter?

CloudyRita
its really important to get her tested. It’s a simple test. Your mom’s doctor might possibly order a speech therapist to come to her home.
They can train you on techniques to help protect her from aspiration pneumonia.

Get her evaluated by a speech therapist for swallowing difficulties.

What sorts of soft foods are you offering her?