On May 19, 3:15*am, Janet > wrote:
> In article <e2bdaaf6-f45e-431b-a3fc-
> >,
> says...
>
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> > On May 19, 2:02*am, "Julie Bove" > wrote:
> > > > 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
>
> *Do you sell jars of babyfood or pkts of babyrice or cereals? They are
> usually saltfree and can be eaten by people with no teeth. He can also
> keep a stash safely in the motel room in case he doesn't feel well enough
> to go out *to eat.
>

He can still eat most things that can be done in smaller bites. He can
eat a sandwich with sliced turkey meat. He has trouble with roast
beef, but I just chop it up so that it comes apart easily. He can eat
meatloaf sandwiches although now they will be off limits. He can eat
smaller pieces of chicken. I have suggested a knife for larger pieces,
but he refuses. He is eccentric and stubborn