I’ve so often found, as Esther apparently has, that many of the conclusions or speculations about Alzheimer’s don’t apply to my mother or aunt.  Then others seem to have some bearing. 

In this case, my mom didn’t drink much milk and developed Alzheimer’s.  My dad drank a great deal of milk as long as I can remember.  His mind was still very alert when he died at age 92, although physically he had deteriorated.  I don’t think my aunt drank much milk, although all three grew up on farms, so  milk was a beverage in their youth.

Researchers often will draw conclusions or speculate about various foods, ways of living, and medications as they relate to Alzheimer’s.  Many of these won’t apply in my mom’s case.  Then occasionally some will.

So I’ve had to realize that no conclusion has yet proven 100% valid.  Perhaps in future research they will.

Post from: Blisstree

Alzheimer’s & Milk – Any Connection?

Lead researcher, Prof. David Smith, states that just two glasses of milk a day might be enough to slow cognitive decrease and memory loss.  (Read the complete article for additional details in the article.)

Post from: Blisstree

Can Two Glasses of Milk a Day Chase Alzheimer’s Away?

Do you scurry around making school lunches

I’ve written about this topic at my Mary Emma’s Country Kitchen blog, under School Lunch Variations, covering lunches from my mom’s day to the present when my grandchildren take lunch and snacks to school.  There certainly have been changes over the years. 

Perhaps your Alzheimer’s patient will relate and have memories similar to those of my mom’s or mine in a one-room schoolhouse.

You’ll also find a recipe for Mayonnaise Cake, something we made often during my childhood for dessert at home and a lunch box special.

What do you do so lunch box time isn’t so mundane and a frantic rush? 

(Ghirardelli Chocolate image at Amazon)

Post from: Blisstree

Lunch Time for Tots, Caregivers, & Alzheimer’s Patients

Alphabet Cake Pan
Personalize your birthday cake with an alphabet cake pan. Make their initials, or their age in cake! 

Busy Family Meals
Vindaloo sauce can be used to flavor meats, but we like it best as a vegetarian delight!

Chocolate Covered Buttercrunch Bars                                                                                                       Chocolate and buttercrunch treats made with a surprise ingredient.

Cooking Gadgets
Space saving genius: collapsible colanders!

Horehound Drops
A herbal home remedy for a sore throat or cough.

Old Woodenware Stirs Memories
Mary Emma, at Country Kitchen, finds that old kitchen woodenware brings back memories of cooking in the farmhouse kitchen of childhood.

Super Bowl Snack: Edamame “Hummus”
A delicious thick dip made with edamame, tofu and avocado

The Experts’ Suggestions to Curb Nighttime Noshing
Most of the registered dieticians and diet websites Jean found as she tries to curb her nightly noshing habit have pretty specific suggestions to help.

Post from: Blisstree

Creating Interesting Meals in the Alzheimer’s Household with the Help of the Food Bloggers

We have a guest post from Dee, who has some great ideas for finger foods for Alzheimer’s patients.  Dee is a health care seminar trainer and dementia practitioner.  Most of these ideas/recipes are very simple to prepare and easy for the patient to eat. 

Finger Foods are great for continuing independence at meal time. If you choose to use a utensil – only put one choice. Ideas for fingerfoods are only limited by your imagination. Have a child help you with ideas – they LOVE helping, and can come up with some super ideas for solving many problems.

Finger food ideas:
* French toast – made with egg, ensure, cinnamon, and protein powder.
* Jelled delight – jello crystals, 1 small pack unflavored gelatin, 3/4 c-BOILING water to dissolve. Add vanilla ensure for the rest of the liquid the directions on the box call for. Mix thoroughly. When gelled – cut into squares. Can be picked up with fingers OR fork – and it’s nutritious.
* Crackers with cream cheese spread. Spread is cream cheese and one or two of the following: ground ham, ground spinach, ground onion and cucumber, or any food taste that your loved one enjoys.
* Puree meats and add to gelled broth cubes (made with unflavored gelatin). You can gel fresh mashed potatoes so they can be picked up. Experiment.
* Ham or beef chunks
*Puree beans and put into a muffin
*Carrot bran muffins (lower the sugar, use unsweetened apple juice for the liquid or milk and protein powder – and you have something nutritious AND tasty. Make 1/2 muffins – they are not as high and easier to handle.
*Cook carrot sticks until ALMOST soft – where they are easy to chew and still stay together.
*Long cucumber wedges. Try lemon juice and a ‘little’ chili pepper on them – tasty and will tingle the taste buds.
*Egg sandwiches in hot dog buns
*Graham crackers with fruit flavored cream cheese- or for a treat-marshmallow spread and tiny chocolate chips
*Wraps – TRY these: fresh fruit wraps (bananas lengthwise, berries, thin apples), lunchmeat and cheese, meat and cucumber sliced thinly lengthwise, and cooked (cooled) celery and carrots wrapped up with lettuce and meat. Wow – the choices are unlimited. Enjoy

(Amazon image)

Post from: Blisstree

Alzheimer’s Finger Foods Suggestions

Cheryl has a question, after reading my post, Finger Foods for Alzheimer’s Patients:

My father is also in the same stage, he no longer uses utensils while eating. In order to give him his dignity we are starting finger foods; I should say the home he is residing in suggested this. He loves to eat!! I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for some hot meal fingerfoods.

The best I can suggest is to cut foods, like meat and vegetables, into smaller pieces he can pick up with his fingers.  For instance, you might serve steak, chicken, roast beef, carrots, green beans.  These will be a warm meal, but cut in pieces he can pick up and pop into his mouth easily.

This is something you tell a child, “No, use your fork (or spoon)!”  But in his case, using his fingers would be completely acceptable.

Does anyone else have suggestions?

(Amazon image)

Post from: Blisstree

Hot Meal Finger Foods for Alzheimer’s Patients

As autumn weather sparks appetites, you might like to try some new recipes from the Food Bloggers.  We even have a post about wedding cakes!

Pumpkin Cookies
A delicious treat for a harvest or Halloween party.

Black and White Wedding Cakes
These cakes put a beautiful spin on a classic wedding theme. 

Busy Family Meals
It’s not too late to grill! Try an onion marinade for lamb before the north winds blow!

Creole Jambalaya
Celebrate the holidays New Orleans style with this traditional Creole recipe 

Foods that Boost Your Metabolism
You can rev up your metabolism, burn more calories and even lower high cholesterol by including certain foods in your diet. Read more here.

Moroccan Beef with Bulgur
Try this dish for an exotic and hearty fall entree 

Traveling, Meeting Authors & Finding New Foods
On a recent trip to Wisconsin and Michigan I enjoyed having tea with author friends and learning about new recipes from another friend.

ENJOY!  Let us know which ones you try.  Do you have some autumn favorite recipes and food ideas you’d like to share with us and other caregivers?
(Amazon Image)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Fun Fare for Caregivers, Their Family & Alzheimer’s Patient

 I find the warmer days of summer a time when it’s often difficult to come up with tempting recipes. If this is a problem for you, too, as you search for recipes for your Alzheimer’s patient, your other family members and yourself, take some suggestions from the Food Bloggers.
Busy Family Meals - Slow down and try a delicious specialty drink from Venice!  Cyndi traveled there recently and came home with many recipes for her family and her blogs.

Grilled Veggie Tostadas - A great way to use the bounty from late summer gardens.

Mediterranean-Style Recipes: Jean’s Tuna Tamarindo – As you become accustomed to cooking in the Mediterranean (or Sonoma) way, you may find yourself creating your own recipes, as Jean has. Try Jean’s original Mediterranean-style recipe for tuna with tamarind sauce. It’s both delicious and healthy.

Watermelon Raspberry Lemonade -A refreshing beverage for summer holiday events.

Enjoy!

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Refreshing Recipes for Tempting Alzheimer’s Patients & Family

And to make people more aware of dementia, the UK Alzheimer’s Society has created a Be Head Strong website full of useful and educational information to help people understand that they can reduce their risk of developing dementia by making simple lifestyle changes.

The website offers…

Personal stories to inspire you.

Information on risk factors and how to avoid or reduce them

Exercises

Dietary suggestions

And Be head strong booklet - a guide to help you reduce your risk of developing dementia – that can be downloaded for free.

Post from: Blisstree

Dementia Awareness Week in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

 More food ideas from the Food Bloggers to spark up your meals and snacks. 

Sometimes it’s so difficult to get Alzheimer’s patients to eat that something different might appeal to them.  Also, experiment with something new for yourself that will add variety to your menus.

Ah!  Here’s something at the top of the list of the “not-so-healthy” foods.  However, it’s an easy recipe for Chocolate Drop Candy, in celebration of National Candy Month, just one of the holidays we discuss at All Holiday Cafe. 

Nicoise Salad, as made Nice, France, is a healthy, refreshing summer fish. It’s quick to make and may be adapted to suit your family’s tastes, suggested at Robust Cooking.

Quinoa (keen´-wah) is the most nutritious whole grain we know of. It has twice the protein of any other grain, fewer carbohydrates and more essential fat. Quinoa’s protein is a complete protein like that found in meat and eggs. Vegetarians take note! Read how to add quinoa to your diet at Ageless Beauty.

Strawberry season is in full swing here. One of my favorite summer desserts is strawberry rhubarb crunch, with ice cream.  Another Robust Cooking recipe.

Diabetes inevitably is food related, so caring for Alzheimer’s patients who also have this disease can be a challenge.  Check out these Seven Tips for Care of Alzheimer’s Patients with Diabetes at Alzheimer’s Notes.

Do you have any great summertime recipes?

(Amazon image; click for details)

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Healthy & Not-So-Healthy Foods from the Food Bloggers