Good Taste

Despite all that's going on and not feeling like eating at all, Dad is being a Champ about lunch. Whether he wants to or not, he eats at least half of whatever I serve him. He has started to be able to name things he thinks his body could handle and that would taste good to his changing senses. Yesterday, he wanted pasta salad with mayonnaise-y dressing and a white meat chicken sandwich. Today he wanted a meatball sub with baseball sized meatballs, sliced, on soft bread with melted provolone. And tomorrow he's requested ham & bean soup.

Dude has some good taste in food, even during chemo.

Today's Lunch

A quick peak at today's lunch for dad: meatloaf, green beans and mini potatoes.

More details later, including whether he likes it.

Chemo Catering

As Dad has stabilized a bit and settled into the chemo routine, Kate hasn't had a whole lot of clinical information to share. We know everyone is eager to know how Dad is doing, so she asked me to contribute to this blog from my point of view.

I was planning to cook for my family when I came to spend some time in Columbus this winter, but I could have never imagined the events that were about to happen that have brought us here. I'm still cooking for the whole family as much as I can, but my main focus has become cooking for Dad.

Naturally, he isn't a fan of hospital food, I don't think anyone is. The doctors emphasized the importance of Dad eating throughout treatment, so I immediately knew that this was where I came in. Feeding Dad, figuring out what he can and will eat, researching chemo nutrition, and learning with him as his tastes change is how I am going to (cope) help.

I have brought at least one meal to the hospital for him for the last ten days. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the comfort of his favorite chef cooking especially for him with love, but it seems to be the only food he wants to eat. Before I leave each day we decide what he wants the next day and then he looks forward to it (or at least says he does). I've got a routine down now and each morning I cook his lunch fresh (nothing reheated, nothing defrosted) and arrive at the hospital about noon to have lunch with him.

At first he asked for lox and bagels, (one of our favorite breakfasts, usually with a Bloody Mary) so we had that several times. Then I realized that smoked salmon is a bacteria-fest, and now that his system is so compromised, I have to be very careful with what I serve him. He's so far managed to avoid the nausea aspect of chemo (fingers crossed this continues!!!) but I've toned down the food to be easily digested and fairly mild tasting.

Dad's favorite chemo food so far is, without a doubt QUINOA! It's a small sprouted grain full of protein and natural flavor and he's requested it for the last five days for lunch. He isn't into vegetables these days, which is a great change from his pre-chemo taste. I've served quinoa, which I make with beef stock for extra iron and protein, with a variety of simply cooked proteins - filet mignon, pot roast, pork chop, braised chicken thighs. Tomorrow we're deviating from that and experimenting with a simple meatloaf and some butter braised mini potatoes. Calories are good, and anything he wants to eat I will make.

Chemo Catering may very well become something I pursue in the future. There is something incredibly meaningful and gratifying in providing nourishment to a body so desperately in need of nutrients. I am humbled every day to be able to cook for my father at the time in his life that he needs it the most.

I'm here indefinitely. Thank you to everyone for your love and support.