Our Family's Current Food Requirements

1 husband – no gluten, no dairy, no potatoes, no tomatoes, no broccoli/cauliflower or related veggies, no onions, garlic, or related foods (even the smell of these being chopped or cooked will cause stomach upset), no peppers or related foods, limited sugar and starches. High protein - but only chicken, turkey, some buffalo (lower fat red meat), limited tuna (gotta watch out for that mercury), a few mild white fishes, and eggs. Some fruits OK. No pork. Rice and buckwheat cereal are good, rice pasta not currently tolerated. Has “bumpers” between his teeth for new braces which do not allow his teeth to meet and can not chew his food, which means that all foods have to be mostly ground, flaked, or pureed (no salads for now, mostly pureed soups). Needs to gain weight. Everything should be organic. Special nutritional supplements taken 5 or 6 times daily (per nutritionist). Hates to shop or cook. Helps with meal preparation and dishes.

1 wife – no gluten (or very little), no dairy (or very little), no tomatoes, low (only healthy) fats, limited sugar and starches. High protein with poultry, some buffalo, most any fish (only watch out for mercury levels), and some eggs. Some fruits OK. Loves onion and garlic (see restrictions above). No pork. Rice & rice pasta are good, and salads are good (only no commercial dressing, should be made from healthy oils and lemon juice). Needs to loose weight. Everything should be organic, and specially washed before being prepared. Special nutritional supplements taken 6 times daily (per nutritionist). Fine with shopping and cooking (most of the time), only occasionally does dishes.

1 82-year-old father-in-law – would prefer mostly beef (NO buffalo, please, and new dentures not working out so well so only ground beef for now), ham, loves shrimp, tolerates chicken (learning to like it more – but none of these new-fangled chicken or turkey sausages, please), salmon is better than white fish, loves mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, tomatoes, peas and corn. Some rice OK (but far prefers potatoes, pasta & bread). Salads are good (chicken good in these). Loves to shop and loves sweets - especially pies, donuts, pastries and anything that is a really good deal at Safeway or Costco. Eyesight not so good for reading labels to avoid partially-hydrogenated fats and high-fructose corn syrup. Basically, no problems with weight. Loves to shop for groceries, but doesn't retain good understanding of family's food needs (and doesn't like the health food store) and frequently brings home foods that can't or shouldn't be eaten by most members of the household. Does almost all the dishes.

1 13-year-old daughter – would prefer very few vegetables (mostly broccoli, green beans, carrots, peas, corn, artichokes, and lettuce tolerated), no “evil” foods (as defined mostly by father – onions, garlic, bell peppers, mushrooms, raw tomatoes), potatoes and yams good. Beef (no buffalo, please), chicken, turkey, ham, white fish OK, salads are good in moderation, likes bread, pasta, rice (is OK) and some fruits, can eat dairy, loves sweets (especially almost anything grandpa brings home). No problems with weight. Needs to learn about shopping, cooking, and doing dishes.

1 9-year-old daughter – would prefer very few vegetables (see list for older sister), no “evil” foods (as defined mostly by father – onions, garlic, bell peppers, mushrooms, raw tomatoes), potatoes and yams good. Beef (no buffalo, please), chicken, turkey, ham, salmon OK, salads are good in moderation, does like pasta, does not like bread, loves rice, does not tolerate dairy well, likes some fruits (though not the same ones as older sister), loves pickles, beets, and sweets (especially almost anything grandpa brings home). Prefers to have separate foods and does not like anything “mixed up” (learning to tolerate soups on good days). No problems with weight. Needs to learn about shopping, cooking, and doing dishes.

Upcoming post - typical afternoon of food related activities for Mom.