DVBourassa Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Hi, my name is Dianna and my father-in-law (age 55) is a long time smoker and was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer that has metastasized to his liver as well as COPD and diabetes Dec. 27, 2010. He has also had a heart attack previously so that is also an issue. Since then he has moved in with us so we can help him check his sugar (so far unable to do himself) and get him to his Dr. appointments. He will be starting his first round of chemo on Tuesday. My problem is that he is now supposed to eat a low sodium (for the heart problems) and diabetic diet. The diabetic part isn't too difficult but the low sodium has been difficult. Prior to his diagnoses he lived alone and had a steady diet of tv dinners, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, and chocolate milk. It's only been a week but he is unhappy with anything but what he used to eat. We've tried low sodium alternatives to his favorites (meatloaf, ketchup, and spaghetti) and he will eat a little bit but doesn't like those either. The only things that taste good to him seem to be full of salt (fries, regular ketchup, pizza, Wendys). Sometimes I just feel like I should let him eat what he wants but we don't want him to have a heart attack or extremely high blood sugar while he is also trying to fight this cancer. Not sure what to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstdzy Posted January 9, 2011 Share Posted January 9, 2011 DV, Not sure if this will help, but does he like spicy/hot stuff? On t.v. a chef said that he used a little cheyanne pepper to help enhance the flavor of his Mom's food. You can also try all the non-sodium alternatives. I don't know how much sodium your Dad is allowed per day, but maybe let him have the ketchup, but you make the fries with a sodium substitute? I would use alot of garlic, cheyanne pepper, onion and any other spice you can think of. Good luck! Dana P.S. They are also saying that some spices are very good for fighting cancers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick C Posted January 10, 2011 Share Posted January 10, 2011 This isn't a salt substitute, BUT often red pepper flake can do a great job of bringing out flavor without adding salt...but that is more a culinary trick than a medical alternative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrea Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Maybe try to google.....I have found many great recipes by just googling, or maybe ask his drs to recommend a book?? It is not easy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joppette Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Don't have much to add. However, I use Mrs. Dash Salt Free Seasonings in everything I cook, and never add salt. You can get them in the baking aisle with the spices. There is the original blend, garlic and herb, onion and herb, lemmon/pepper and herb. They are wonderful, and all natural. Wishing you the best with this. MI Judy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
recce101 Posted January 14, 2011 Share Posted January 14, 2011 I'd just add that when your FIL starts chemo, he'll have a whole new set of taste-related issues to deal with. So stay flexible, and it's even possible that some of the new problems can cancel out some of the old ones. While I was on my first-line chemo, I had zero taste along with an irritated esophagus which made most solid food painful to swallow, so I survived mainly on drinks like Ensure, Boost, or Carnation Instant Breakfast mixed in soy milk or dairy milk. Good luck and Aloha, Ned Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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