> wrote in message
...
>I work in a deli department at a grocery store, and we have a really
> nice guy who has been coming in for about 15 years. He is a Viet Nam
> vet, in his 70s, very eccentric, and a bit paranoid. He's a super nice
> guy who avoids hospitals and cars, won't accept social security, etc.
> He has had two heart attacks in the past and refused to go to the
> hospital.
>
> He lives in a nearby motel and buses to work downtown every day. The
> motel won't allow him to have a microwave, hot plate, etc, so he comes
> by daily for dinner and tomorrow's lunch.
>
> He's been feeling sick lately, very exhausted and breathing hard. His
> boss finally insisted and hauled him to the doctor. His lungs were
> retaining fluid. He has a water pill now, and they took several vials
> of blood. He was told he needs to cut out the salt since his diet has
> consisted of processed food every day for every meal. His legs are
> swollen, and the lung issue is a bad sign.
>
> So, I am trying to come up with some alternatives that he can eat as
> he adjusts his daily diet. He normally eats a lot of sandwiches, corn
> dogs, chicken strips, and chinese food.
>
> In the past, we have done some adjustments to his food, such as adding
> a can of veggies to some rice and an entree, and heating it up for
> him. Or adding rice to soup. Stuff like that. We normally do not heat
> non-deli food, but we make an exception for him.
>
> Today, I fixed him some rice, with unsalted butter stirred in to
> replace the gravy. And I had the cooks stir fry some veggies and
> chicken without any sauce or seasonings. I also chopped it smaller as
> I normally pick through the entrees for the smaller pieces as he only
> has 4 teeth. I'm sure it was boring but better than nothing.
>
> I am hoping for some suggestions that would keep him at a low salt
> intake, especially while he gets this under control. I would love to
> make a nice sauce that I could take and add to rice and a plain entree
> to give it some flavor.
>
> I can make something at home and heat it there if it is more
> complicated that stuff we make at work. The chinese cooks can make
> just about any entree I ask for as long as it only uses ingredients we
> have already. Something like a sauce could be made at home and added
> if it requires something else.
>
> He has a problem chewing due to the teeth, so the only meat we can
> cook for him is chicken, cut up small. Our beef and pork would be too
> chewy. I could do something with ground beef at home. He is a bit
> relunctant to accept food as a gift, but i think this is serious
> enough that he would accept me cooking it if he paid for it. He does
> not accept handouts. He protests every year about me giving him a
> Christmas dinner (but he does accept it ).
>
> Sandwich meats are out since they are so high in salt. He loves
> sandwiches though, so a good alternative would be awesome. I can make
> hot and cold sandwiches, so I am open to any suggestions. He's not
> very picky about food, other than the ability to chew it, so that's
> good. He likes most fruits and veggies. Spicy is fine.
>
> He goes back to the doctor again today and a coworker is taking him
> (so that she can help him ask the right questions and write down the
> answers). So hopefully, I will have a better idea of diet restrictions
> and what his ideal daily salt intake will be.
>
> He is a really super guy, so I am hoping to keep him around for a long
> time to come. He can cheer me up on a bad day, and he is always
> entertaining. He goes to Reno every year for Thanksgiving, and I
> really miss his daily visits. These days, I worry anytime he misses a
> day.

Oops! I think I sent a blank post!

What about some sort of egg sandwich? Either egg salad, perhaps made
without the onion or celery, or a scrambled egg on bread?