Managing Nutrition and Meals Questions

1. FAQ: Does Sugar Feed Cancer Cells?

   The short answer is no -- with a big qualifying "but." Glucose (sugar) is the primary fuel for most of the cells in the body, including the brain, muscles, and -- yes -- even cancer cells. It's the preferred fuel because it's easily taken up by most cells throughout the body to use as an energy source...
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 7 Community Answers

2. My father needs thickened foods - where can I find recipes?

   1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

3. How can I deal with changing eating habits?

   What a shame -- eating and mealtime should be a source of sensory and social pleasure for your dad and a break for your mother from daily frustrations of care. Perhaps your mother is trying to control his nutrition because she believes it is something she can control in an otherwise uncontrollable disease process...
   1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

4. How do I help my mother eat better?

   Although I share your concerns about your mother's diet--she's lucky to have you to help her--what's immediately more important is helping her recover her function and mobility. In particular, I’m wondering about her being on bedrest. Unless the pelvis is very unstable (in which case the surgeons ususually...
   1 Expert Answer, 5 Community Answers

5. What can I cook for my diabetic husband?

   Cook a variety of fresh foods, mostly plants, and serve them in moderation. One easy way to think about how such a diet might look is to imagine a plate (9 inches round). On half of the plate pile veggies, on a quarter of the plate serve protein, and on the other quarter put carbohydrates or starches...
   1 Expert Answer

6. What can I get for my husband to drink , when nothing stays down?

   This is a tough question. To really answer accurately, I'd need you to clarify what you mean by "nothing stays down for him," and more background on your husband. Are you saying he throws everything up; food and liquids? If this is the case there are numerous possible explanations. Is he receiving chemotherapy...
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7. How can I get my father to eat more?

   The first thing you need to do is take your dad to his doctor for an evaluation. There could be medical reasons for why he isn't eating. Lack of appetite is a symptom of some conditions. He might also have swallowing or chewing problems, which make eating painful or difficult. He may be too embarrassed to mention this...
   1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

8. What's the best diet for my diabetic father?

   You're not the first person -- and you won't be the last to ask about what kind of food a family member with type 2 diabetes should eat. In brief, a healthy diet for a person with diabetes is the same as for those of us without the disease: lots of fresh fruit and vegetables along with some lean protein and wholegrain carbohydrates...
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

9. How can my mother handle my father's poor nutrition and eating habits?

   If your parents are dining alone, then your mother could simply pull the crackers away then he'd be hungry for the meal. If need be, she can explain to others, and staff, why she's doing this. When dining with others and he is more apt to fill up on crackers than finish his meal, I think a good start would be asking the dining server for small portions...
   1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers