Very briefly, Mom and Dad, live next door to us.  They are both needing assistance for basic functions.  Dad takes care of her needs most of the time yet he is nearly crippled with his own bad knees and hip.

Mark or I take them to the doctor or pick up medicine of groceries.  I crush her meds into apple sauce.  We all get the opportunity to look for ways to make their life more comfortable.  The children get an opportunity to serve (I will discuss this in the future much more).  Yes, it is not easy but who said life would be easy?!

I provide special food for her as she cannot manage food that is more coarse than applesauce.  That gives me the opportunity to be somewhat creative.  Ever thought of making a beef stew in a food processor?  It’s her favorite!  I make it up in a casserole dish for a week’s worth of lunches.  I make mashed potatoes and layer them in the dish and then spoon the gravy-like consistency “stew” over it.  Dad or I will then cut a chunk everyday and heat it up on the stove.

I got ideas for no-chew foods from the The I-Can’t-Chew Cookbook: Delicious Soft Diet Recipes for People with Chewing, Swallowing, and Dry Mouth Disorders, if you’re interested.  All the recipes in it are standard favorites with the one main requirement that they are smooth in consistency.  This is useful for not only when one cannot swallow but for those times when teeth hurt or after a throat surgery.  Frankly, I was fresh out of ideas to make good tasting meals that were soft.  Borrow it from the library or read about it at Amazon.

Speaking of making a casserole, I must be off to make her weekly dish!