HELP! Need recommendations for FATTENING foods

nxd10

I've been on MFP since May losing weight and have learned a lot about what NOT to eat to gain weight and have been pretty successful. I really need some help with the opposite problem for my father.

My Dad is, literally, slowly starving to death because he has trouble swallowing without choking and has serious difficulty getting enough calories in to maintain his weight. (For important medical reasons, a feeding tube is not an option - he used to have one.) He is working with a speech therapist and other medical professionals, but my mom and I would like some help finding calorie dense foods that taste good, aren't spicy, and have a smooth texture. If you're always eating the same things, you lose your appetite. That is deadly.

For example, he had a 900+ calorie breakfast this morning of scrambled eggs with cheese and butter, an avocado, and custard. He can eat things like very overcooked lasagna, quiche without crust, and meatloaf. He can eat things like pea or cream of broccoli soup, but not something as chunky as beef stew or a hearty vegetable soup.

Any suggestions? We have a few things but it gets very boring eating the same thing every meal. He can't drink beverages or eat cold things without choking (ice cream or shakes or smoothies don't work). Some days he can only eat one meal so we want every bite to be as fattening as possible. Most of what he eats are egg based. Other ideas would be really, really welcome.

zaph0d

Copious amounts of room temperature cheesecake? Peanut butter by the cupful?

Fats are the most calorie dense foods, so keep that in mind.

Car0lynnM

Add a nutritionist to the list of other medical professionals he sees. Sounds like too many medical things going on to get advice from a forum like this.

nxd10

Thank you. Peanut butter is too sticky and thick. Immediate choking.

ilovescarymovies

peanut butter? oatmeal with protein powder?

RedHotRunner

Can he eat any type of nuts? Nuts are very high calorie. Perhaps if you grind them up?

Also, add olive oil to his foods. Cook the eggs in olive oil, add a teaspoon into the meatloaf, soups, etc.

lizziebeth1028

Ensure or Boost drinks

nxd10

Add a nutritionist to the list of other medical professionals he sees. Sounds like too many medical things going on to get advice from a forum like this.

He has, but the advice is general. Recipes and new ideas for food types are what I'm looking for.

chivalryder

Whole milk (warmed up), macaroni and cheese (home made, of course), any other cream-based soup.

This may sound a bit more extreme, but about about supplementing with an IV?

cfregon

What about a smoothies made with whole milk, regular creamy peanut butter, and some strawberries? Any combination really but a nut butter tends to have high healthy fats and calories. Whole grain pastas are a good way to get some fat in, especially if you use white sauces (cream based, cheesy sauces). Gravies tend to be higher in fat and calories as well. So maybe some smooth mashed potatoes with country gravy, some scrambled eggs, maybe some soft bread as well.

edit: also, making a smoothie with the peanut butter dilutes it down so it isn't thick of sticky anymore- it fixes your problem and lets him get those nut butters in. Also, coconut spread/butter is what has been recommended to me to up my saturated/fats when necessary.

Chief_Rocka

Add a nutritionist to the list of other medical professionals he sees. Sounds like too many medical things going on to get advice from a forum like this.

DonniesGirl69

Avocado and peanut butter are both calorie dense and full of healthy fats. Any nut butter, really, would probably be good. Olives? Cheeses

Lady_Bane

Cook his food with lard. Literal fat.

pawheeler1

interested in the responses, my mom has similar issues.

mfpcopine

Guacamole made without spices?
Homemade cream of mushroom soup?
Ice cream or full fat frozen yogurt?

ericachristie85

When my Grandma was sick we would make full fat Alfredo Fettuccine from scratch. I was great to see her eat it all and I loved having an excuse to eat such rich food.

drmerc

contrary to popular belief, MFP forums are not a good place for medical advice

raelorien

MIlkshakes. My dad had trouble keeping weight on (cancer), and the doctors had him drinking a lot of milkshakes.

cmriverside

Start adding oil to every meal. Preferably coconut oil or olive oil or butter. You can add them in liquid form to any drink, even coffee and hot tea. Good fats are essential to life. . . and extremely high calorie. I have coconut oil in my morning coffee every day and in my afternoon green tea. You can also blend avocado into the protein shakes, with banana or other fruit. High calorie, good fat in the avocado.

kmjacobs93

Okay, so I work at a State medical center with a lot of people with the same issues. First off, talk to a professional. Sounds like he needs a swallow study. In the mean time get yourself a good food processor and make everything blended strained (Very very smooth) . Get some Thicket and some good milk and add to make your desired consistancy. You can do this with ANY food! It's a little more work, but it's worth it! P.s. I have tried the food, and blended is actually more flavorful! Good luck!

cwolfman13

Add a nutritionist to the list of other medical professionals he sees. Sounds like too many medical things going on to get advice from a forum like this.

^^^This!

I'll throw my 2 cents out there though...my wife an I make all of our own baby food (did it for our 2.5 year old and now doing it for our 5 month old)...you can make things like beef stew, etc...just run it through a food mill or puree. Maybe get yourself a baby food recipe book...we have a couple of good ones at home but unfortunately I can't remember the names of them...anyway, lots of good stuff to fatten you up when you're making your own baby food and it's obviously easy to eat...and your kitchen smells divine!