Since Alyn started radiation, he has been having a terrible
time keeping down food. I cannot think
of anything scarier than to watch the person you love eat and throw up
everything day after day. I feel like we
have tried everything. Yesterday, out of
desperation, we met with a nutritionist.
To date, nutritionists have not been very helpful. This time was different.
I have been keeping a log of Alyn's eating habits to find a pattern. Here is what we have discovered.
First and most important positive... liquids are going down easily
and staying down. Dehydration is always
a concern. My understanding is that if
the patient is urinating regularly (just like counting a baby's wet diapers the
first couple weeks of life), dehydration is less of a concern.
Here is a trick that I used during both of my pregnancies which is
working for Alyn now. Alyn is filling up
and drinking water out of a 32 ounce insulated mug at least twice a day.
Throwing in slices of lemon or orange increases electrolytes. Another way is to drink a Gatorade or two a
day. Be careful of the sugar in
Gatorade. Both Gatorade and PowerAde
have a low calorie alternative.
Second, depending on what time of day, Alyn's response to
food is different. He is taking
medication to increase his appetite. We
are changing the time of day he takes this medication so that his appetite
corresponds with dinner.
Third, asking Alyn what he wants to eat is self-defeating. If someone has no appetite or thinks they
will throw up if they eat, then why would you ask them to choose which
poison? To get Alyn to eat, I have three
strategies. #1 I know what Alyn likes to
eat, so when it is meal time I present him with two alternatives, so he has a
choice. #2 If I think he is not in a place
to choose, I tell him what I am making.
#3 If he refuses, I go to our fall back meal. What is a fall back meal? It is a meal that he will eat no matter
what. That is unless he is physically
unable to eat. Some people call it
comfort food. What is your favorite
food? What makes you least sick? What food makes you think of curling up in
bed while mom strokes you and holds you until you feel better? Chicken noodle soup? Peanut butter and jelly? Chocolate donuts? Ice cream?
Pudding? Jello? Grilled cheese? Mac 'n cheese. Name your antidote. For Alyn, it is Super Pretzels (frozen soft
pretzels), melted American cheese and an apple.
OK. So what were the
nutritionist's magic ideas? Our
goal is to pack on the calories to stop weight loss and increase the protein to
encourage healing and strength. Body
builders used to eat/drink raw eggs.
Can't do that anymore, not even in a milk shake. Don't want to give our patient food
poising. Substitute?
•There is a product called "Just Whites." According to the nutritionist, you can add
Just Whites to everything because it does not have taste, just adds
protein. Alyn is not sick of Jell-O,
yet. I can make Jell-O with Just Whites,
and Jell-O becomes a source of protein.
•Twice or double milk is another way to get protein into his
body. When following the directions to
make non-fat powdered milk instead of making it with water, make it with
milk. This way you can make every recipe
that calls for milk with twice or double milk and double the protein. Add Just Whites, and triple the protein.
•Greek yogurt is a high source of protein. I bought some vanilla Greek yogurt and
blended it with vanilla ice cream, powdered almonds and a dash of honey for an
amazingly yummy milk shake with approx. 30 grams of protein.
•Use Quinoa instead of rice.
1 cup = 8g protein
•Throw legumes into all kinds of dishes (for example spaghetti). 1 cup = 12 - 19g protein.
•Peanut butter has 10g protein for every 2 tbsp.
•Edamame tastes great and 1/2 cup = 11g protein
•Eat many small meals a day.
If you can only eat a few bites, eat every hour. If you are making a milk shake, make extra
and freeze a couple ounces in a Dixie cup for easy access to a tired patient
that feels they can only stomach a couple bites.
Now put all this information together. Alyn is having an easier time eating softer
foods. What are his favorite softer
foods? Milkshakes, sweet potatoes, ice
cream, soup (especially matzo ball soup), bananas, Jell-O, pudding, etc.
Do you have ideas for foods? Please comment.
I am having a ball making milk shakes and plan to share my
recipes here.
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