Tag Archives: mother

5 Tips for Healthier Family Meals and Time Savers

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Mothers, caregivers of the elderly, homemakers, we all have one thing in common—feeding our families. Are you, as most of us, caught up in the fast-food trap? We want to serve healthy, nutritious meals but we feel there is not enough time to get it all done so we go through a drive-thru on the way home.

For years I purchased “healthy” frozen options for our needs. They are most appealing with their colorful photos of good vegetables and lean meats. I urge you to take time to read the contents before buying; most are filled with sodium, fats, sugars and ingredients we cannot identify.

At the end of this article are a few tips that have helped me along this path.  Someone has rightfully said that without a plan to succeed, we plan to fail. I want to help you succeed in providing great inexpensive and healthy meals everyday. This is an important part of caring and in the end, provides great benefits both to you and to your loved ones.

Also, I want to introduce you to an exciting e-book I have found helpful. Although it is called Healthy Recipes for the Elderly, I can tell you from experience, the foods  will be pleasing to your entire family and give them a real boost along the nutrition journey.
Click Here!

Learn how to create your shopping list, prepare foods for storage, and dozens of helpful hints as well as great, easy to prepare recipes that will save you time and dollars.

Now, here are those promised tips:

1. Plan ahead. One thing you can plan on, you will have meals to fix every day. Rescue yourself from the hassle of last-minute shopping or grabbing a quick-to-fix meal by having your refrigerator and pantry stocked with healthy choices.

2. Know your nutritional needs; especially sugar, salt and fats. How much is too much? What are some good options to replace sugar or salt? Did you realize a cup of cottage cheese or 1/2 cup tuna fish can often contain more than a daily allowance of sodium?

3. Purchase in bulk. We use cinnamon in our cereals and many other dishes. Look for local bulk stores near you; I save about one half to two thirds on cinnamon by purchasing at our local Amish store. Is there another family that will share large packages of produce or other perishables?

4. Try new recipes. There are some wonderful alternatives to our old, familiar recipes that incorporate more vegetables and fruits and less fats and sugars.

5. Don’t forget storage items. I have wasted too much food by not having a container, bag, or aluminum foil handy to properly store leftovers. When cooking in bulk and freezing portions to use later, it is imperative that you have ample materials on hand to wrap and label properly (and date each item).

In Recipes for the Elderly I found exciting recipes for everyone which were not only nutritious and healthy;  my family really liked them. That in itself is a real plus!

Happy cooking and eating and have a great week.

Hugs,

Click here for more information Click Here!

How Modern Technology Can Help Us Care for Others

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Many of you simply care for your spouse and children and for others who may be living in your homes. Some of you are caring for elderly parents either in your home or theirs. Many are trying to manage the needs of a large family while working a full-time job.

How do you stay in touch with all of this? Do you have all the medical papers needed for each individual should a crisis arise? Do you have easy access to medicine lists, doctors’ numbers, and other vital information? Could someone else find the information if you were unavailable?

If you have a child with specific allergies or needs, do others in your family know what their needs are?

My brother faithfully called me from out of state every single week to ask about Mother’s condition and her needs.  I did well to tell him how she was that very day. Later I would recall information he needed but I had failed to tell him.

I’ve been exploring some ideas that may be helpful for you.  In doing so, I look for inexpensive to free and programs or items that are easy to use and understand (in other words, something even I could manage easily!)

In my next letter I will be sharing one of the best products I have seen for managing information for the entire family in one place. Be thinking now of those who may need this information and be on the lookout for Caring from the Heart next week.

Hugs,

Encourage a friend to sign up for the newsletter. Help is on its way! Also,  a copy of MY MOTHER MY CHILD would make a great Mother’s Day gift for any age.

Lessons Learned on the Caregivers Floor

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Lessons Learned on the Caregivers FloorMy concerns over needing more medical equipment and keeping Mother in bed all night were verified in the early morning hours when I heard a light thud. As I rushed into her room, I found Momma on the floor with her pillow and blankets.

“Momma, whatcha doin’ down there?”

She simply stared at me as I checked her out. Finding that she had not suffered any injuries, I had to determine what to do now.

“Are you having a slumber party?” Big smile and giggles.

“Can I join you? We can sleep in the floor—I would like that.”  She quickly responded with a huge smile and a childlike twinkle in her blue eyes.

With no one available to help me until morning, I rolled her over onto some warm blankets, pillowed her head, and snuggled in beside her for the night. This was the beginning of another adjustment in the ever-changing life of a caregiver.

Now was the time to get a hospital bed moved into our home and I was not ready.

I recall a few days later when I locked her in that bed, the clang of those cold bars as they clicked in place and her stare of disapproval. It didn’t seem right to lock my own mother up!

“Oh, Mommy, you gonna really like this new bed of yours. Look at this, you got blanket holders to keep your blankets on the bed so you’ll stay warm all night long.”

It was important that I not show any frustration in my expressions as I continued:  “And you have a brand new mattress—aren’t you just somethin’ now!”

For my mother in her situation, those silly little conversations helped us survive the constant changes without a lot of stress. Mother had become so much like a child, living in and for the moment at hand. She seemed to reflect the atmosphere around her.

For you it may be different.  The reality is the same in any given situation: our attitude and approach to situations greatly influence how others will react. Whatever the ages of the persons involved, a smile and kind word will generally make difficult situations easier to manage.

Did I necessarily want to giggle or to sleep on the floor? No! I wanted to share my frustrations with someone. I wanted to complain because she was in the floor and I had no help.

This one thing I can promise: “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory.” Somehow He always gave me the strength and wisdom I needed to make it through. I hope you rely on Him for help and comfort.

Hugs,

Learn more from MY MOTHER MY CHILD available on this website. Did you sign up for the newsletter?