From Frail to Hale and Hearty

I thought that most of us were aware that our Drs have very little training in nutrition.
On average it’s 6-8 hours over 6 years.
Not a fact that the general public want to acknowledge.

Do have a look at the leaflet, Monica.

I think far too often the NHS when writing all these help and advice sheets do not actually use experts to design their sheets so that the information when given is presented will lead people to read the bits that matter and own play other pars.

Often when I am looking up something medical, a charity will produce a really helpful leaflet because it has been well designed and presented by people who understand design and how to attractpeople's eyes to the parts that matter.

So much NHS litereaature isn't designed at all and people read the information incorrectly, then they get the blame for concentrating on the non essentials

I went through this with both my parents
They loved food and were chubby ,but very active then became ill .
Neither could face proper food and they snacked all day on very unhealthy foods.
As they were both diabetic -their blood sugar sky rocketted.
I was reprimanded by their GP .
They agreed to her diet the minute she left returned to chocolate and crisps .
Further ill health took their appetites away and they lost too much weight .
With some experiment I stocked up on ready meals from different shops and rang the changes .
To be honest ,they only looked forward to the pudding. - sponge pudding with custard was the favourite or ice cream.
But their blood sugar levels were fine .
Those replacement meals were as appetising as wallpaper paste and gave them chronic wind and diarrhoea.
I made mini meals and left on trays little soufflé dishes with cubes of cheese ,chocolate ,oranges,apples and grapes .
They'd pick at them .
I didn't worry unduly as long as they were hydrated .
I gave them liquid vitamin supplements .

I think that I'd look at the recommended list and cross off foods that you don't like and encircle ones that you do.
I'd certainly include chocolate if you like it .

I wonder if I'm going to get to the skinny stage .
I'm at the fat stage though a recent bout of ill health has reduced my appetite .

I wish you lots of luck with your diet and hope that you gain weight .
I think that boredom with food and lectures from well meaning people can be tedious .

Variety is the key .

I was joking with the consultant and was a bit surprised at his comment. I had not seen myself as malnourished.

I am quite surprised at how much interest has been generated by this thread and I am taking it all on board.

The meringue failed so I had to make it myself - he has more enthusiasm than experience.

I am trying to out a stone back on after being ill but eating a high fibre healthy diet is causing me to run to the loo too much!
Things I have tried to add calories are:

Chocolate covered raisins to snack on in the car
Fortified whole milk with skimmed milk powder
Making a mocha every day with 70% hot chocolate flakes added
Mashed potatoes with added egg, cream and butter
Sourdough crumpet with lashings of butter
Cheese and biscuits after dinner each evening
Little bowl of crisps as a snack
Nuts to snack on. Crushed walnuts added to porridge etc
Whey protein powder added to meals
Mince pie as an afternoon snack
Biscuit with early morning tea

This is not as healthy as my usual diet but little by little I am gaining a few pounds

The pork pie and scotch egg suggestion is one tiny part of the sheet under the suggestion of ready made snacks that you could keep by you, if you felt you couldn’t cook anything.

I’m concerned the OP focused on this almost insignificant part if the sheet as a reason why she couldn’t follow the specialists advice.

The specialist told her it was more important for her to put weight on than worrying about her husband putting weight on, which suggests to me she’d said something like oh I can’t do that, it wouldn’t suit my husband. Another “reason’.

Now we learn that he can make lemon roulade - but the diet sheet is too hard to follow because he can’t cook.

I’ve been involved with two relatives who suffered extreme weight loss. They both could always find ‘reasons’ why the medical advice wasn’t right for them.

Both were ultimately hospitalised because of the extreme weight loss and fed intravenously. One survived, the other didn’t.

To me, and this is just on what Tizliz is reporting, the specialist sounds very concerned. I’ve been a bit jokey on this thread I know, but I really, really think Tizliz needs to take this seriously and look at all the suggestions on this carefully thought out diet sheet, that is not all pork pies🙁🤔

Have you thought of high quality ready meals? All the things the rest of us should avoid? There are companies like Cook whose meals are delicious - but far too high fat and calories for me. They might just suit you. You can (as I sometimes do) just cook half of it and then have the rest later - little and often but with lots of calories.

My OH had PD and he lost interest in food - he was very very skinny to start with so it was a worry - but I found that the little and often but calorific worked well.

And biscuits - he loved a nice biscuit!

It would be a last resort for me to eat a pork pie!
Scotch eggs are fine but only with salad (few calories in that).

Make hearty home made soups ... very filling ... mash pots , add into the soups ..

I think that Allira has the right idea, there are plenty of ready meals that are not ultra processed and are really nice, if a little high in calories - but that is exactly what Tizliz needs. There's a very wide range and they can be kept either frozen or in the fridge so that Tizliz would have a nice selection to choose from when she or her husband don't feel like cooking. My husband is particularly fond of the more traditional meals like fish pie or liver and bacon.
It sounds as though the sheet contains a selection of more calorific foods that can be bought almost anywhere, but I'm not sure if things like pork pie are very appealing if you don't have much of an appetite.
Many traditional puddings are quite high in calories - crumble and custard, sponge puddings, bread and butter pudding etc. and a small portion can easily be added after a main course to up the calories somewhat.

I agree.
That is presicely why I am wary of not sticking with the sheet that was given by the doctor.

fancythat

We also are not aware of what other health conditions this poster has.

But no doubt the OP's doctor is fully aware of her current health status as her new diagnosis (Parkinsons) could only be arrived at from her medical history and extensive physical examination (plus her current symptoms).

As her current symptoms include weightloss and loss of appetite you can be pretty certain her bloods and urine have been tested and DR is well aware of her kidney and liver function.

This is all that's left of chocolate microwave pudding from last night.
Simple

Tizliz

AuntieE

If your husband cooks, leave it to him. You are more likely to want to eat, if you do not tire yourself cooking the food.

If he cannot cook, and cannot follow simply instructions or read a cookery book and you can afford it - have a main meal delivered to your home every day from one of the firms that cater to elderly or house-bound people.

Breakfast and a bite of supper cannot be beyond the powers of a capable adult.

You could ask for a referral to a clinical dietrician, and should do so, as there are many appetizing dishes you should be able to bear eating.

He is not bad. It is cooking day. He started with two beef joints and has made a cottage pie for friends coming to dinner and the rest is bol. sauce. Then (with a little help) he is making lemon curd roulade.

Then (with a little help) he is making lemon curd roulade
I'd say that was pretty good!

My brother had Parkinsons, he had a normal diet but ate a lot of cakes and biscuits with his tea.
At the moment my dh is trying to put weight on due to health issues which made him very frail.
I cook deserts which wasn't something we had after dinner.
This is a recipe I use. 6 minutes in the microwave...
2 eggs,
120 gr s.r flour
120 butter or marg
120 sugar
Mixed .
For chocolate pudding add 1 and a half heaped tablespoon cocoa powder .
Or put jam on treacle on the plain pudding when cooked.
All served with custard.
Easy.simple

AuntieE

If your husband cooks, leave it to him. You are more likely to want to eat, if you do not tire yourself cooking the food.

If he cannot cook, and cannot follow simply instructions or read a cookery book and you can afford it - have a main meal delivered to your home every day from one of the firms that cater to elderly or house-bound people.

Breakfast and a bite of supper cannot be beyond the powers of a capable adult.

You could ask for a referral to a clinical dietrician, and should do so, as there are many appetizing dishes you should be able to bear eating.

He is not bad. It is cooking day. He started with two beef joints and has made a cottage pie for friends coming to dinner and the rest is bol. sauce. Then (with a little help) he is making lemon curd roulade.

I have a friend with the same issue, his consultant prescribed him some kind of protein(?) drink as a supplement to gain weight with, it might be worth a chat with your doctor about trying some of these

So I was on the right diet all the time. Had a Greggs sausage roll yesterday.

Use butter, full cream milk. The best of everything. A little good stuff, is better than so called ‘healthy options’ that often have additives. Ready meals, the premium sort, M & S particularly, are fine. My Mom had renal problems, and her consultant advised her thus. She kept a healthy weight, and constitution for years. We have recently been advised by my DH’s oncologist to take a few tips from Dr William Li, his book ‘Eat to Beat disease’, is our bible at the moment. All jolly sensible, and easy. He has a lot of YouTube videos too, so you can see if you agree with his opinion. Keep everything easy and simple to do, keep a stock of ready made things, soups etc. you are much more likely to eat then. I know that a lot of the time it just seems like too much bother. Hope you feel better soon. 💐

Not only is your Dr recommending high calorie but high fat food with protein. Your weight loss will have negative actions on your physique and with Parkinsons you need to try to retain and maintain your muscle. I have a family member with disease and he eats a high high fat and protein diet with very little carbohydrate though not excluded. The diet recommended to you may not be your choice but if you have little and often hopefully you will grow to accept and like it. You should keep in mind what may be the alternative if you lose body muscle.Look after yourself.

If your husband cooks, leave it to him. You are more likely to want to eat, if you do not tire yourself cooking the food.

If he cannot cook, and cannot follow simply instructions or read a cookery book and you can afford it - have a main meal delivered to your home every day from one of the firms that cater to elderly or house-bound people.

Breakfast and a bite of supper cannot be beyond the powers of a capable adult.

You could ask for a referral to a clinical dietrician, and should do so, as there are many appetizing dishes you should be able to bear eating.

MadameP

I don’t like using UPFs so make up shakes for my husband as he struggles to put on weight due to cancer. Milk plus milk powder, banana, ground flax seeds, cacao powder and half an avocado all whizzed up. Delicious, nutritious and calorific. He starts each day with one so he can take his drugs.

Avocados are excellent, full of nutrients and high in calories too.

And cut your toenails.

I don’t like using UPFs so make up shakes for my husband as he struggles to put on weight due to cancer. Milk plus milk powder, banana, ground flax seeds, cacao powder and half an avocado all whizzed up. Delicious, nutritious and calorific. He starts each day with one so he can take his drugs.