The Fremont Street Center for Healthy Aging research staff includes Marcie Sims, whose approach to nutrition here at the Center has been effective in retarding everyone's aging, not just Mother's. Marcie is an experienced caregiver as well as being an acupressurist, Thai masseuse, gardener and cook. This summer, she has been perfecting her recipe for borscht.
We sat down with Marcie to talk about her success in returning Mother to better health, and ask how she did it.
Q: When you started this job, what were your goals, nutritionally, for Jean?
A: To introduce a well balanced diet throughout the day.
Q: Have you done this before?
A: Yes.
Q: Did you already have a plan?
A: No. I started from scratch, and used trial and error.
Q: What was your plan?
A: Besides serving well balanced meals, we started going out more. I did both things. Its hard to separate which one had the most effect.
Q: What did you find worked well for Jean, in terms of meal planning?
A: Adding more vegetables. Always having a salad.
Q: I know you are a vegetarian. What kinds of protein do you serve Jean?
A: Quinoa, beans, tempeh, tofu.
Q: Did you end up going by Jean's preferences?
A: Yes. She likes avocado and tomato salads, especially for lunch.
Q: What about portion size?
A: She eats more at lunch.
Q: Like what?
A: Apple and peanut butter. Mixed vegetables, curry, grain salads. Soups.
Q: Were you surprised to see her become more trim? (Ed. note: Mother hasn't lost alot of weight. But she has lost inches in circumference. Now she fits into her own clothes, the ones she wore before her dementia.)
A: I think it all has to do with eating right and going out.
Q: What are her favorites foods?
A: She really enjoys spaghetti. She likes vegetables.
Q: What would you like to see more of in her diet?
A: The only thing I would put more of on the menu would be spinach, kale and chard. But I can't do this because of the interactions with her blood thinner.
Q: Do you think Jean gets the 5-7 recommended fruits & vegetables every day?
A: She gets that many just in breakfast and lunch.
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