make a layer of veggies in it too: red peppers, onions, fennel, mushrooms, then add dried tarragon to all the cheese layers.

I'll cook the meat with some aromatic vegetables (onion, garlic, carrots) and roast potatoes, carrots and other root vegetables. Then I distribute the ingredients between several different containers to freeze. The roasted vegetables hold together better and keep a more distinct flavor. Sometimes I also add a bag of frozen vegetables with the meat, green beans or mixed work well.

For the two of us I freeze about 1 quart in a container. That is enough for 2-4 meals for us.

I do a lot of cooking in large batches that are divvied up and frozen. This past weekend I slow cooked a Boston butt roast and now have three containers of shredded pork in the freezer, along with two containers of pork "broth" which is great to make rice with.

Slow cooker shredder pork
Boston butt roast, boned or boneless
your choice of rub
1 onion, chopped - size depending on your taste and size of roast
garlic, minced - amount depending on your taste and size of roast
bottle of beer

Cover roast with the rub. Put about half the onion and garlic in bottom of the slow cooker, put roast in, then rest of onion and garlic. Pour beer over top. Set slow cooker on High for one hour, then turn down a cook until pork is thoroughly done.

Cool pork and liquid - I usually leave the roast in the liquid and refrigerate overnight. Skim fat off the top, take pork out, shred and package for storage. If the meat is dry (it should not be) add some of the liquid. Package the liquid - it can be used as a broth and is great to make a flavorful rice.

Dad is hard headed.

once I took my dad on a tour of Publix and showed him the enormous variety of frozen food, some of it already portioned out into meals.

At that point, he was OK with stopping it.

Just put some Fruit Fresh on them, and they're good to go. You could do, maybe, 2 cup or 3 cup portions at a time.

Also, pumpkin bread is a nice thing to have in the freezer, if they are inclined for something sweet. There are some good recipes online that use unsweetened applesauce instead of oil, making it better nutritionally.

Seattle Sutton meals. I get those to watch my weight. I know a family in town who gets them for their grandmother to make sure she eats healthy balanced meals. There are other delivery plans, not only Seattle Sutton. See what is available in your area.

I am 77 years old and my husband is 79. I love to cook and we both love good food and we eat well. We eat two meals a day. A late breakfast and then late lunch ( around 2 or 2:30). If my husband gets hungry in the evening, he makes a peanut sandwich or has a bowl of cereal. He like bacon and eggs for breakfast, I eat plain yogurt and we both eat a lot of fruit at breakfast. I cook a full meal with all the works, 3 or 4 times a week. I make a lot soup, when I make soup, I usually at least 1/2 gallon so I can freeze some, I freeze it by 3 cup portions. Soup, Sandwich, fruit makes a good lunch. If I cook a roast, I get one big enough so I can get two meals out of it. I buy Souffers froz mac and cheese to cook along with a meat like pork chops. We go to the market two or three times a week, so we always have plenty of fresh fruit and veggies. I love to bake, so usually make a cake or pie every other week. We don't eat junk food, just potato chips when we have soup and sandwich. We have a favorite diner where we eat at least once a week and one day a week get our TEx-Mex fix at our favorite Mexican restaurant.

My next door neighbors are about our age but don't get around very well, Wife doesn't cook much, they live off Frozen TV dinners. I try to take them some home cooked food at least once a week, Soup that I have frozen and some easy to eat dish, like Swedish meatballs. If we buy a rotissire chicken at the store, I will also get them one. Also take them fresh fruit. They have a home health lady who comes once a week and she usually cooks them a meal. I worry about them a lot, They don't have any children and the husband is in very poor health, and on oxygen. They have been our neighbors for over 30 years. I know their nutrition is terrible.

{{{{hugs}}}} to you, dem in texas, for being such a good neighbor.

One problem with frozen meals from the supermarket is the high sodium content. I am astonished--some are 720 mg per serving. The mfr's put it in there because salt is a highly effective preservative. In addition, if you're a bad cook, it's the easiest way to add flavor.

But I suppose if that's all they are eating, it's better than nothing. I think the recommended serving of salt per day is something like a 1,500 mg sodium per day.


Cher

Last edited Tue Aug 23, 2016, 11:40 AM - Edit history (1)

She's had breast cancer twice and it has really wiped her out. Mom will be 78 in a few days. Every now and then someone from church will bring something by, but it's usually cake

I had breast cancer two years ago. I always had friends stress to me the importance of eating right and the cancer treatments really brought that home. The treatment just wiped me out, I became weak and fainting a lot. I was never a breakfast eater and skipped meals. That will not work if you are getting chemo and radiation. I ended up in the hospital and had to have two blood transfusions. Boy did I learn how important it is to eat right. You need regular meals and lots of protein. That was hard for me since I don't like eggs or meat. I just learned to eat it because I needed it. I couldn't stand the protein drinks like Boost, way to sweet and slimy for me.

While I was undergoing treatment I would eat a bedtime snack of peanut butter and crackers and Lala brand mango liquid yogurt. I was getting a lot of protein there. Malto meal cooked cereal is good and easy to make, has iron and protein and mild on the tummy.

After the cancer treatment, It took me almost a year to get my strength back. So far, no return of the cancer. It had spread to my lymph nodes when it was found, so I am getting 90 day checks ups.

Make sure your Mom is getting good nutrition and plenty of protein.

My husband and I often eat at a neighbor diner where they serve a "meat and 3" plates every day. If you can find a place like that maybe you can buy a gift card for your parents so they can eat there and get a balanced hot meal, plus it is good from them to get out and see lots of different people.

Yes, the treatment drained every bit of strength from her but she is doing well. I wish you well, too and appreciate the insight into what she maybe going through.

but what they need long term is an introduction to the freezer aisle in the supermarket. I know it was a real revelation to my father, who became fast friends with Marie Callender.

Don't sweat the evening meal if they're willing to eat their main meal at midday. A lot of us old folks have delicate digestion and anything heavy in the evening will keep us up all night. Not good.

The freezer case can supply them with breakfasts and lunches. Yes, it's not as good as home cooked, but after a point, you just want them to eat. I had the same struggle with my own parents, making sure they supplemented their diet with cans of nutritional shakes. They're not bad if you keep them really cold, sweet enough that old folks can taste them.

I know they are aware of the frozen food aisle, maybe they just never thought of it as something they could eat daily.

Mom died this past January, and my dad now (fortunately) is learning how to cook. He does grocery shopping, but my siblings and I keep an eye on what he buys/eats. We stress a balanced diet, like Mom used to. Pisses him off, but he gets the point. One cannot eat portuguese sausage and scrambled eggs for every meal.

My sister and I live in states different than my dad, but my brother only lives 10 miles away. He invites Dad over for dinner a couple of times a week, so that helps. It's hard for me, because I live 3000 miles way. All I can do is nag on the phone.

He is getting better (his recipe screw-ups are hilarious, even he has a good sense of humor about it). I'm glad he's trying, and he is getting better. He's down to eating "out" only once or twice a week now.

Frozen dinners are OK in a pinch, but like what Cher said, they are loaded in salt. My dad's biggest difficulty is learning how to cook for one, he said. So, I try to give him pointers (I live alone too).

Ideas: Make meatballs, cook and freeze. They freeze very well. Buy bags of frozen veggies and veggie combos. Great when you can't get to the store for fresh stuff. Soups freeze well, too. Make soups!

my 2 cents...

to the point that they are now underweight. This happened with my dad. He was eating some fast food for supper, maybe some soup, Micky Ds for breakfast a few days, and Saturday breakfast with a sibling. I lived too far to see him everyday. I didn't find out he was 20 lbs underweight until he had a stroke.
It's hard to give up privacy, but you might want to ask if they want you to go to the doctor with them as an "extra set of ears".

I bought a food saver to give him portion sized variety.

to dump into the crock pot meals, freeze them and they can cook them as needed- if they still want to feel like they are making dinner.

My grandpa refused Meals on Wheels as well, but would go to a community senior dinner to socialize and have a good meal.


I do like the idea of prepared meal delivery service like Seattle Sutton because you get multiple meals for a day and it sounds like they need to catch up on some healthy meals.

Sheesh, and make sure they see a doctor (like someone already mentioned malnourished) in case they need vitamin supplements or something too. My grandpa was only eating pizza and burgers when my uncle was "caring" for him and needed to up his vitamins as well.

Also, just throwing this out there - any chance your parents are suffering from depression? Depression in elderly people is often missed or just chalked up to "being old". Of course if they are anything like my grandparents were, they would never see a doctor for it - but just wanted to bring it up because it really is a major issue in aging populations.

She's worn out all the time and has RA along with everything else.

Sure, she has a crock pot. I've seen websites with many ideas for putting together freezer bags of meals to make it easier. Great idea!

are quite good. We also have some places which deliver prepared healthy organic meals or good food ready to be cooked. It's not cheap but your folks might enjoy ordering one or two meals a week and probably would have enough for two days. If they eat one meal a day that has protein and snack on some vegs and fruit that will probably keep them healthy if they are not very active.

Or other products like it. They come in a variety of flavors and provide adequate nutrition and calories for the elderly. Sorry for what you are going through. My dad is 82 and in pretty poor health. It is awful seeing your parents slipping away. Peace and hugs.