Fruit and veg nutrition query

[Workslave]

I wasnt sure if this should go here or in recipes..

My Dad has been poorly sick recently, he has quite a few different issues
one being that his dietary requirements have changed
he has some pretty specific needs and Im wondering if anyone who is up on nutrition facts can give me some direction

He needs high fibre low sodium diet with higher levels of potassium and magnesium

Thanks for any input
Sincerely
Steve

[veggiechicken]

Sorry to hear about your Dad, Steve. x
I really think you need professional advice here, from a dietitian or your GP. There are some liquid protein meals that may help him but I believe these are on prescription.

[muckdiva]

I eat avocado, bananas and oranges for potassium (seems to help my blood pressure), and pumpkin seeds / Brazil nuts are good for magnesium.

As the others say, professional dietary advice would be advisable.

[roitelet]

Sorry to hear that your Dad isn’t well. Do ask your Doctor for advice.
Best of luck and hope your Dad improves.

[greenishfing]

Push your doctor because otherwise you will wait forever. When the nutritionalist at our local hospital rang regarding my husband I was happy to tell her she was weeks too late and he had regained his weight and was back to his normal diet. I really think that nutritionists need to get in much earlier to do any good (obviously not their fault but not being referred quickly enoigh to patients).

[Thelma Sanders]

Ensure liquid meals are very good, I used to work for the company that makes them, and I did medical trials with them - but you do need prescriptions for them in the UK - so yes you need to get him to the Dr.asap

https://ensure.com/nutrition-product...healthy-drinks

[Kirk]

High fibre but not dry would seem to imply the breakfast cereal and add milk.
Some are likely to have added components as well.
Read the labels to see if and what.

Low Sodium really means no prepared mocrowave stuff, they seem to like adding it.
Make a selection of meals and freeze.
My basic range is Meat Balls in Tomato Sauce, Meat Chilli, Bean Chilli, Pasta with Tomato and Mascapone cheese - just make the T&M sauce and freeze: Chopped onion, can of chopped tomatoes, tub of Mascapone Cheese, hand blender.

Not sure what things are high in Potassium and Magnesium - Google search for say "high potassium foods", same for Magnesium.

Suspect the big thing will be getting a change to stick. People do not really like change.

First result for "high potassium foods":
Bananas, oranges, cantaloupe, honeydew, apricots, grapefruit (some dried fruits, such as prunes, raisins, and dates, are also high in potassium)
Cooked spinach.
Cooked broccoli.
Potatoes.
Sweet potatoes.
Mushrooms.
Peas.
Cucumbers.

First result for "high magnesium foods":
Foods which contain magnesium:

Green leafy vegetables (e.g. spinach and kale)
Fruit (figs, avocado, banana and raspberries)
Nuts and seeds.
Legumes (black beans, chickpeas and kidney beans)
Vegetables (peas, broccoli, cabbage, green beans, artichokes, asparagus, brussels sprouts)
Seafood (salmon, mackerel, tuna)

Sorry, does no one use a search engine???????

So chop and fry an onion, add small amount of chilli, add can of chopped tomatoes, add some soaked beans (not canned ones), add some stock. Let cook for an hour. Serve one lot, freeze the rest. That is magnesium. Maybe a bit simple but you get the idea. How about a sausage and bean casserole - I use a 4 or 5 bean mix, great fun.

You are going to have to get used to cooking and in a given direction. But have a search. Beans seem the answer to just about everything including Vitamin B's - could be rather unfortunate in other ways I suppose - I have seen Blazing Saddles

Salmon and mashed Sweet Potato looks promising.

[Workslave]

Just to clarify, my dad has meds for all his ailments and we have been told the requirements for his diet
Thanks for the help and concern everyone but not to worry he is well cared for
just want to give him the best help going forward

edit: Just saw the blazing saddles bit and chuckled, dad mentioned it was a bit like that at meal times in the ward : )

Sincerely
Steve

[roitelet]

You will become quite an imaginative chef Steve!!

[veggiechicken]

Sounds like your taking good care of your Dad, Steve.

You mention peanuts. Does your Dad like peanut butter?
I use the Whole Earth, unsweetened peanut butter in all sorts of ways. It goes well with bananas in a wholemeal bread sandwich. Or turned into a satay sauce with some low-salt soy sauce which is great with rice and green beans.

[Can the Man]

Sorry to hear about your Dad Steve,

You could try boiled curly kale, chopped, then mixed with mash potatoes. Some people call it Colcannon, but my old man used call it Thump. Plenty of iron from the kale.

Also people recommend liver, but it can be very dry on the mouth when fried. I recommend baking it. Get a casserole dish, spray with spray oil, line it with lambs liver that has been previously soaked in milk for at least 30 mins, preferably 1 hour, discard the milk and rinse the liver, add it to the dish, then cover in a nice bread and herb stuffing, with parsley thyme onions and butter, then cover with bacon slices, if your on a low fat diet use the medallions of bacon, if not and my preference is for streaky bacon that has been stretched before being placed over the stuffing. Then make up a nice gravy but make sure it is liquid and not thick pour over the dish put a lid on it then cook in the oven for about 20 -30 mins in a medium oven circa 150’C. Serve with vegetables and mash. It’s very easy to eat because the liver will be soft if it hasn’t been over cooked.

Also bananas are suppose to be high in potassium but can be binding if you eat too much.

[Bren In Pots]

Steve sorry to read about your Dad it does sound like the specialist haven't really given out much advice but you've had some good here on the vine so hopefully this will help improve your Dads condition.

[muckdiva]

Agree with VC on the peanut butter... Aldi do a very good one, look for the one that says 100% peanut one (no palm oil). Try a peanut butter and honey sandwich - it’s a taste sensation
Also don’t underestimate the goodness in a home prepared vegetable (and bean / lentil) soup. Also creamed spinach, kale, or any leafy veg is a good side.
Re blazing saddles... I found in my vegan days, you have to let your gut get used to a pulse heavy diet, and after a while it’s no longer an issue.

[mothhawk]

I agree about peanut butter, (and the peanut butter and honey sandwich!) but be sure to get a brand without added salt. There are some out there. I use Meridian.

If your dad is having trouble eating, try making smoothies for him. You can add water to those which will increase his liquid intake. I'm not going to recommend ingredients, because some foods must not be taken with certain tablets (kale or grapefruit with warfarin, for example).

Hope your dad improves soon, Steve.