Before you think "Oh my goodness, Anne has gone off the wagon and is eating real food again" the answer would be a resounding no. Mom continues to eat very little so I am trying to find some things she will eat that pack a few more calories and have some nutritive value. (At least more than the knock off brand of Oreo type cookies she eats daily)
Son2 and DIL2 make things to have as a snack while they are working. They both carry their lunch daily. Son2 has a set lunch time and can sit at a table and eat. I would not call his lunch time exactly restful, since he eats with all the participants of Independence Place, but it is still sitting and having some enjoyable (or funny or awkward) conversations. DIL2 is a home health care occupational therapist. Her job is a moveable feast with no time for actual feasting. She eats in her car whenever she can grab a few minutes between patients (really nice on these 100 degree days) and usually grabs some of the snacks from her thermal lunch bag later in the day. I took what they make and altered it to fit Mom's needs.
Peanut Butter Balls
1 cup natural creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
3 scoops vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup quick oats
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
Stir the peanut butter and honey until it is very smooth. Stir in the vanilla and blend well. Add the protein powder (You might need to add a few drops of water, depending on how creamy or dry your peanut butter is. It seems natural peanut butters vary in oil content) then add the oats and chocolate chips (I forgot to put them in). Mix well, adding a few drops of water as needed.
Supposedly you are supposed to cool it in the fridge until it can be shaped into balls. I did and it was too stiff to maneuver so I had to wait until it was about room temp to roll them. I made them slightly larger than the size of shooter marbles because if I made them golf ball size Mom would gripe that they are too big. Mom has diverticulitis, but if she didn't I would have rolled them in finely chopped peanuts.
I did not eat one but I did get two people to sample them for me and they said it tastes like the center of a Reese's cup. I really do want to try one myself, but I am not going to.
I think I will leave half of them here for TheHub and give the rest to Mom. I know he will like them, and I hope Mom will. The jury is still out!
*** The peanut butter balls in the above photo are of about 1/2 of the recipe***
Son2 and DIL2 make things to have as a snack while they are working. They both carry their lunch daily. Son2 has a set lunch time and can sit at a table and eat. I would not call his lunch time exactly restful, since he eats with all the participants of Independence Place, but it is still sitting and having some enjoyable (or funny or awkward) conversations. DIL2 is a home health care occupational therapist. Her job is a moveable feast with no time for actual feasting. She eats in her car whenever she can grab a few minutes between patients (really nice on these 100 degree days) and usually grabs some of the snacks from her thermal lunch bag later in the day. I took what they make and altered it to fit Mom's needs.
Peanut Butter Balls
1 cup natural creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
3 scoops vanilla protein powder
1/2 cup quick oats
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
Stir the peanut butter and honey until it is very smooth. Stir in the vanilla and blend well. Add the protein powder (You might need to add a few drops of water, depending on how creamy or dry your peanut butter is. It seems natural peanut butters vary in oil content) then add the oats and chocolate chips (I forgot to put them in). Mix well, adding a few drops of water as needed.
Supposedly you are supposed to cool it in the fridge until it can be shaped into balls. I did and it was too stiff to maneuver so I had to wait until it was about room temp to roll them. I made them slightly larger than the size of shooter marbles because if I made them golf ball size Mom would gripe that they are too big. Mom has diverticulitis, but if she didn't I would have rolled them in finely chopped peanuts.
I did not eat one but I did get two people to sample them for me and they said it tastes like the center of a Reese's cup. I really do want to try one myself, but I am not going to.
I think I will leave half of them here for TheHub and give the rest to Mom. I know he will like them, and I hope Mom will. The jury is still out!
*** The peanut butter balls in the above photo are of about 1/2 of the recipe***
I had all sorts of candy and crap out for mom and then I ate it. But I needed to get calories in her. She was so thin when she passed poor darling. By the way you went off your wagon a long time ago it has nothing to do with food my friend.
ReplyDeleteI think I came into this world riding a different wagon
DeleteThose are two very sensible young people you've got there - brown-bagging it! Well done to them!
ReplyDeleteThey are very sensible with nearly everything.
DeleteI know all too well about trying to get elderly parents to eat. Those look very good. Hope she likes them. If not, I know your husband will.
ReplyDeleteI know you know. This is just not something you understand until you live through it.
DeleteWell done you. I hope your mother and husband love them, and scoff them all, removing temptation from your path. And yes, I well remember trying to find food that my mother would eat. Or would eat more than a small teaspoon of.
ReplyDeleteI know appetites decrease, but Mom is still losing weight and there is nothing left to lose.
DeleteMemaw would eat ice cream anytime. I wonder how many people get the "shooter marble" reference.
ReplyDeleteOnly people of a certain age who grew up with no electronic temptations.
DeleteMy daughter makes a similar PB ball, but vegan so no honey. They do pack a punch when you are hungry. I hope your mom likes them. My mom tried to live on nothing but a few hand fulls of chips, maybe a cookie or two,and Boost. If anyone suggested a green or vegetable-oh no! the best we could ever do the last year was maybe a bite or two of chili or sloppy Joe's.
ReplyDeleteMom's caregiver can get her to eat occasionally, but not often. Hopefully these will work
DeleteI hope your Mom will like them and eat them. They sound quite delicious. One of my aunts is getting to a point where she doesn't have much of an appetite. Maybe I'll make some of these for her. I am assuming you add the quick cook oats raw?
ReplyDeleteI added the quick oats plain and out of the box. I think next time I might give them a really quick whirl in the food processor before adding them though. She actually liked them and ate one as soon as I gave them to her.
DeleteWow, yummy! Oats and peanut butter are so nice together.
ReplyDeleteIt was easy, good (evidently) and will keep in a ziploc bag in Mom's fridge so she can grab one whenever she wants. I hope it is a lot because I bought a big can of protein powder to make these for her on an ongoing basis.
DeleteIt really sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been good because Mom is eating them regularly
DeleteThey look delicious, Anne. I'm glad your Mom is eating them. :)
ReplyDeleteI am too, Belinda!
Delete