Summer Food Ideas for Alzheimer’s Caregivers & Patients

      Having trouble tempting the Alzheimer’s patient to eat nourishing foods during hot summer days?  Or having trouble getting them to eat at all?

Also, what about yourself? Caregivers need to care for themselves with proper nutrition.  Sometimes life seems so hectic that good eating habits for ourselves are neglected. 

Try some of the food ideas found at Jul’s Veggie Chic.  She’s hosting the Vegetarian Carnival #4 with Summer in the Kitchen. 

“….enjoy the delicious vegetarian delacacies being served up around the interwebs.  Today we have a variety of summer treats for your enjoyment”

Also, at the Science and Health Channel, you’ll find recommendations from Kendra James at Diabetes Notes that Fruit is a Welcome Choice for Diabetics.  Some Alzheimer’s patients are diabetic (like my aunt) or simply enjoy fruit (like Mother).  Kendra has some good food suggestions and mentions that each diabetic has to find what works for them.

“Fruit is often thought of as ’scary’ for dibetics when truth be told, it is a great way to get what you need in your  daily diet naturally,” says Kendra.

My mom always enjoyed fruit and vegetables throughout her life, more than meat although she wasn’t a vegetarian.  I recall once at the nursing home, when I visited at supper time, a nurse remarked, “Your mother isn’t eating well tonight.”

I inquired, “What are you feeding her?”

“Pureed roast beef.” 

(At that stage Mother couldn’t chew so they had to mash or puree her food.)

Then I asked what else they had and found pureed green beans and mashed pears on the menu.

“Try some of the beans and pears,” I said.  “Mother never was much of a meat eater.”

Sure enough, Mother willingly ate those, although she consumer more of the pears than the beans.  So find out what your Alzheimer’s patient will eat…try some new ideas and enjoy fruits and vegetables on the summer menu for yourself, too.