-
Eating and Preparing Food for PWP
Hey All,
I hope you and your loved ones are safe!I have been a carer for my partner with Parkinson’s for just over 2 years now. He has been diagnosed with early onset parkinsons 6 years ago.
One of the issues we are facing is with keeping his weight up! Naturally with nausea and apathy he finds it hard to eat in the mornings, and often doesn’t eat anything until I make him a big dinner (I do pack him lunches for work).
He always eats a big healthy meal when I am cooking in the evenings, however some nights of the week I am at work or working late, and he simply forgets to feed himself or doesn’t have the energy to do so.
I was wondering if anyone else has faced these issues, and have ideas they’ve used to help, or have any high calorie nutrient dense snacks that your PWP loves!
-
14 Replies
-
Hi Emma,
Thanks for your post. This is an interesting topic. My dad was experiencing the same rapid weight loss early on. I think part of it was that he was having more difficulty eating, so adding Parkinson’s friendly cutlery helped. But we really noticed a difference in his weight after he had Deep Brain Stimulation. I think he put on about 20 pounds, getting him back to a healthy weight. Does he seem to be eating the same amount as he used to eat?
-
Mary Beth, I am fascinated with your dad gaining 20 pounds after DBS! After I had it, I lost 20 pounds- and I didn’t have it to lose.
-
Wow, that’s really wild, Barbara! I had no idea that it could vary so much between people. Have you been able to find ways to stabilize your weight since DBS?
-
-
-
Yes I’m having the same problems with eating.
-
My guy is the same way about eating. I’m suspecting that he doesn’t want me to know he’s having trouble feeding himself! I too worry about his food intake. Someone suggested that I try boost, the protein drink. He loves the chocolate one and has it every morning! Try it!
-
Sorry for the late reply! Firstly, sending good vibes to you and your partner. It’s evident you’re doing an amazing job caring for him. As for the eating challenge, have you tried smoothies? They can be a tasty and nutrient-packed option for mornings, and you can sneak in some high-calorie ingredients.
-
They can be a tasty and nutrient-packed option for mornings, and you can sneak in some high-calorie ingredients. Also, you might want to check out the heritage chicken bone broths from https://healofoods.com/products/heritage-chicken-bone-broth They’ve been really helpful for my father facing similar challenges – convenient, tasty, and packed with nutritional goodness. Worth a try on those nights when you’re not around. Hope it brings a positive change for your partner too!
healofoods.com
Healo Foods Heritage Chicken Bone Broth (Above Organic)
Order Above Organic Natural Chicken Bone Broth (6 jars), made with tradition and tradition. Our broth normalizes digestion, a source of collagen and contains amino acids.
-
-
Hey there,I completely understand what you’re going through. It can be tough to see our loved ones struggle with eating, especially with conditions like Parkinson’s. Have you considered incorporating high-calorie, nutrient-dense snacks like nuts, cheese, or protein bars? They’re convenient and can help boost his calorie intake. Also, check out this resource on achieving ideal ketosis levels for weight loss—it might offer some helpful insights: https://betterme.world/articles/ideal-ketosis-level-for-weight-loss/.Hang in there, and remember, you’re doing a fantastic job caring for your partner.Take care.
-
Be careful with protein. Nutritionists who work with PD suggest a 7 to 1 ratio of carbs to protein. Protein can interfere with PD meds. I like nuts, whole wheat crackers and English muffins with honey. I’m also trying a high dopamine diet. Best of luck to you and your husband.
-
Thank you for the info)
-
I totally relate to your struggles. It can be tough to manage meals, especially with Parkinson’s. As for meal prep, I’ve found that having high-calorie smoothies or protein shakes handy works well. Also, I’ve read great Hexclad reviews, people say they make cooking easier and faster with their non-stick, easy-to-clean cookware. I’m going to try it.
-
Type this into ChatGPT or whatever AI source you use. The answer is very interesting, and has a lot of substance to understand weight loss and not eating in the am. The AI response was too long to put here..but if you have a hard time with getting an AI response, I will try it here later.
Question to ask AI- “Can you advise the reason for Parkinson’s people often losing weight, and not desiring to eat in the morning, but desiring a full meal in the evening?”
-
My husband lost 70 pounds in his first several years with PD. Since he stopped taking Azilect, his appetite has returned and he’s regained 20 pounds.
-
I hope you have had some success finding a way to help with putting and keeping weight on. My husband lost 20lbs before his diagnosis 2021 – for no apparent reason. Now, of course, we know that weight loss is symptom. We have found a product through Arbonne, that we use to make a protein shake that we supplement his diet with- not a meal replacement. It has 30 grams vegan protein, fiber, and pre- and Probiotics , all helpful with Parkinson’s. He likes the chocolate.
Log in to reply.