NationStates Jolt Archive

I am looking for Generalites' favourite, easy recipes for tasty, healthy meals that take a short amount of time, and are easy to swallow, like omelettes, soups, soft pies etc.

My mum is undergoing radiation therapy on her neck and chemotherapy, and I want to cook foods that she will enjoy and that she will be able to eat so that she will hopefully want to continue eating for as long as possible.

Any ideas?

Healthy? Why do you want sometihng that's healthy?

Healthy? Why do you want sometihng that's healthy?

I consider anything that doesn't come out of a packet healthy.

If memory serves my right, chemo may very well screw up a persons sense of taste. so that's something to take into account.

here: http://www.chemocare.com/managing/taste_changes.asp

I am looking for Generalites' favourite, easy recipes for tasty, healthy meals that take a short amount of time, and are easy to swallow, like omelettes, soups, soft pies etc.

My mum is undergoing radiation therapy on her neck and chemotherapy, and I want to cook foods that she will enjoy and that she will be able to eat so that she will hopefully want to continue eating for as long as possible.

Any ideas?
When we want to cook something that's good AND easy, we usually browse through Rachael Ray's website (http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/search.do) for recipes. It's not haute cusine, but it works.

If memory serves my right, chemo may very well screw up a persons sense of taste. so that's something to take into account.

here: http://www.chemocare.com/managing/taste_changes.asp

Thanks for the link! That info has helped me start working out a menu plan. She doesn't start for about a month, so I'm trying to get some ideas together and make the meals so we know what mum will like and won't like.

When we want to cook something that's good AND easy, we usually browse through Rachael Ray's website (http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/search.do) for recipes. It's not haute cusine, but it works.

Hey, thanks. I love Rachel Ray's food.

I consider anything that doesn't come out of a packet healthy.

Ohhhh...

Okay then. Wait, a minute, there's another kind??!?!:p

I am looking for Generalites' favourite, easy recipes for tasty, healthy meals that take a short amount of time, and are easy to swallow, like omelettes, soups, soft pies etc.

My mum is undergoing radiation therapy on her neck and chemotherapy, and I want to cook foods that she will enjoy and that she will be able to eat so that she will hopefully want to continue eating for as long as possible.

Any ideas?
How's about an omlette?

Ingredients :

- Eggs
- Whatever's in the fridge

Making process :

- Crack an egg, maybe two if small (per person) into a bowl and WHISK LIKE THERE IS NO TOMORROW for a bit. Just has to be fairly airy and not have lumps tbqh
- Heat up some oil in a small frying pan, but only to a low-medium heat
- Stick whatever's at the back of the fridge in the pan (obviously if bacon and the like are involved, properly cook those first)
- After ingredients are softened by the heat, pour eggs evenly over the top
- Wait a bit
- Flip over
- Wait a bit
- Grate some cheese on top and flip again
- Wait a bit
- Serve.

I am looking for Generalites' favourite, easy recipes for tasty, healthy meals that take a short amount of time, and are easy to swallow, like omelettes, soups, soft pies etc.

My mum is undergoing radiation therapy on her neck and chemotherapy, and I want to cook foods that she will enjoy and that she will be able to eat so that she will hopefully want to continue eating for as long as possible.

Any ideas?
Cream of zucchini soup.

chop up some garlic, and sautee it until golden and slightly translucent in some olive oil at the bottom of a saucepan.

Pour in a can of chicken broth to stop the garlic from browning further (browned garlic gets bitter).

Chunk three medium zucchini, skins on, a small white onion, and carrots to taste -- salt, pepper, rosemary... simmer this all together until it starts to smell and taste good.

Very carefully use immersion blender, or pour hot soup and veggies carefully into a blender. Blend until smooth. It should be a nice, medium green color.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream and some croutons.

Healthy? Why do you want sometihng that's healthy?

Ohhhh...

Okay then. Wait, a minute, there's another kind??!?!:p

Maybe not exactly the thread in which to be cracking jokes, Mr. Sensitivity?

She'll probably feel sick at some point. Stock up on BRAT diet supplies, bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.

She'll probably feel sick at some point. Stock up on BRAT diet supplies, bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.

BRAT Diet? I'm downunder here...

BRAT Diet? I'm downunder here...

BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Those are some of the most bland and easy to digest foods widely available. If she is feeling icky from treatments but also hungry those are best bet foods for her being able to keep them down.

Soups and broths are also easy and would probably be sensitive on her tummy. My grandmother was quite sick after radiation and chemo and basically lived on bananas and toast and potato soup.

They say if you get really sick then it's working properly, so positive thinking is that she'll be rather nauseas.

Other very satisfying foods might be grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, peanut butter and jelly with milk, and plain chicken breast with veggies.

I am looking for Generalites' favourite, easy recipes for tasty, healthy meals that take a short amount of time, and are easy to swallow, like omelettes, soups, soft pies etc.

My mum is undergoing radiation therapy on her neck and chemotherapy, and I want to cook foods that she will enjoy and that she will be able to eat so that she will hopefully want to continue eating for as long as possible.

Any ideas?
do y'all have "ensure" there? its a supplimental nutrition drink for sick people. its sold in grocery stories here.

the stuff is rather nasty tasting on its own but my mother used to put it in the blender with a scoop or 2 of ice cream. that makes it nutritional AND has a bucketload of calories. if she can keep it down its good for those times when there isnt anything else ready.

noticing that you have the "good books" thread too...

hitchhikers guide to the galaxy is an excellent outloud read to give your mom a bit of a laugh when she is feeling low.

Can't really get much easyer than Salmon.

Chicken Soup - aka Jewish Penicillin

1 box good quality chicken stock (or canned if you can't find it in the box)
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in bite-size chunks
1 small or 1/2 large onion, chopped
1-2 celery stalks, chopped
1-2 small potatoes, peeled and diced
1-2 carrots, peeled and diced
1/2 cup rice
1/2 cup good white wine (or to taste)(optional)
Seasonings -salt, pepper, garlic salt, bay leaf - to taste. Use the herbs that taste good to you - may need a little experimentation. Sometimes, for variety, I use soy sauce and ginger (leave out the bay leaf) or Italian herbs
water as needed to make sure it doesn't cook down too much.

My daughter likes to make bisquick based dumplings in the soup. It makes the soup a bit more stew-like. Just follow the directions on the bisquick package.

Pour entire box of chicken stock in medium saucepan. Add all other ingredients except, rice and wine. Bring to a boil. Add rice and wine, and simmer 20 minutes or until potatoes, carrots and rice are tender. Add water if needed. Serve with crackers or bread and butter. You can make this as bland or as spicy as suits you. It generally goes pretty well on a chancy stomach.

EDIT: you can add cabbage, peas, corn, squash or any vegetable that suits for added nutrition and flavor.

Grandma's Lentil Soup:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 pound lentils, picked and rinsed
1 cup peeled and chopped tomatoes
2 quarts chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground toasted cumin
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground grains of paradise

Place the olive oil into a large 6-quart Dutch oven and set over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion, carrot, celery and salt and sweat until the onions are translucent, approximately 6 to 7 minutes. Add the lentils, tomatoes, broth, coriander, cumin and grains of paradise and stir to combine. Increase the heat to high and bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook at a low simmer until the lentils are tender, approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Using a stick blender, puree to your preferred consistency. Serve immediately. Enjoy with bread.

Easy side dish: Cook rice in broth rather than water.

Mexican Tomato Soup

This recipe is contingent upon your supermarket supplying herbed stewed tomatoes in a can.

Boullion cube
3 cups water
1 can Mexican Stewed Tomatoes (400 ml)
1/3 can of cooked beans (whichever you like, but pinto are nice)
1/3 onion, chopped
1 teaspoon cumin
1 tablespoon fresh chopped or dried celantro
Parsley, dill and thyme to taste

Heat a frying pan and cook the onions with dill for about 3 minutes, until soft. In the mean time, boil water and dissolve the boullion cube in it. Stir in beans, onion, Mexican stewed tomatoes and cumin. Let boil for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Add celantro and other herbs, and cook for a few more minutes.

Also, top it with some chopped green onion, yum.

I'd recommend A Confederacy of Dunces, by James O'Toole. He was an odd man, and it's an odd book, but hilarious.

EDIT: Wrong thread. For recipes, I second Yootopia's suggestion of omelettes. They're easy to make, and versatile. If you get sick of onions, you can try bacon, or practically anything else. They also seem "mealish" enough that you can convince yourself they are a dinner food when you make one at 7 o' clock in the evening.