Her B&C is not allowing any homemade foods to be brought in because of tightened Covid restrictions. A month or so ago I made a batch of vegetable soup like I used to serve her at home. Froze in individual servings so they could easily heat and serve when they had a meal she didn't care for. Just found out the other day they have not been serving it to her, and now they say they won't allow it. She really does not like what they serve, and barely eats anything! Most factory prepared foods have too much salt, or are not very nutritious. We sent her there with a case of Ensure, and they have just recently started giving them to her, so we will continue with them, but would like to add other things she likes. Thanks for suggestions!
Apple sauce and all the different flavors of applesauce with fruit,
Individual cups of yogurt and Ensure-like puddings (higher in protein),
low salt crackers and chips,
individual dips like mild guacamole that has lots of good fats,
nuts and granola mixes - if she can chew them,
Ensure (high protein ones might be better for her),
individual cups of frozen fruit sorbet
NuGo Dark Variety - Chocolate Pretzel & Chocolate Chocolate Chip protein bars.
I would look for high calories and ease of consumption.
My dad loved pork and beans that had weiners in them. I think it was sweet, easy to chew and all the fiber kept him filled up longer.
You should call your ombudsman. I am pretty sure that the facility has to provide foods they will eat if you provide it. Especially if they are losing weight from not eating.
Sometimes facilities need to be reminded that they have certain obligations under their licensing.
My dads facility had a bad habit of serving al dente veggies to a room full of toothless seniors. Then complain nobody ate them. They were very red faced when it was brought to their attention that old bodies can not eat the same things as younger ones. I believe they were trying to provide the best nutrition, just the wrong crowd.
That said, see if the B&C will allow you to drop off a restaurant take out meal right before meal time. That's what I'd do for mom. Like lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs. I also used Amazon to ship over sealed individual servings of foods, mostly snacks, that she could eat. Go to Amazon and search "individual serving snacks" and a ton of things pop up. It'll give you ideas.
Good luck to you
I know she just doesn't have much appetite anymore. That's the main problem. She got turned off on the food served at the B&C because it was always variations of the same and didn't look appetizing. She loved the soup I made, even if she had it four times a week. I was so disappointed that it wasn't served to her because it would have been a great solution. Oh well. Thanks for all the suggestions, I will try as many as possible and see what works!
There are the usual bevy of shelf stable snacks like granola bars and trail mix. As long as your Mom isn’t diabetic, there are also individual sized containers of cereal.
However, the more important question is whether they would even offer it to her. Personal food has to stay and be eaten in her room, unless it is nighttime. She has to ask for it. Any other time and place, if she asks, she gets the “normal” packaged snacks that everyone else gets.
At least in my state, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are preset meals as they have to conform to nutritional guidelines. Therefore, no substitutions for meals. However snacks are not regulated.
Yogurt
Fruits
Applesauce
Pudding
There are snack pack with bits of cheese, nuts and dried fruits if she can eat those it might be a good option.
single serving hummus. She can use crackers or veggies to dip
Now that school will be starting in many areas the stores will be stocking individual servings of a lot of snack and lunch items. I am sure a lot more options will open up.