The hospital and V are in a stand-off.
He's losing weight.
A lot of weight, actually.
Because he's not eating.
No, he's not on a hunger strike.
He's still taking the super-strong antibiotics for the infection in his bone which started with the toe which led to the discovery of the diabetes which led to the removal of his pancreas. Whew!!!!
The point being that the antibiotics make food taste like, well, like shit!
So he's not eating.
Everyday they come in; the doctors, the dietitians, the nurses, and they say "You must eat".
He tells him that he will:
2. Eat lots if they would let him go home.
3. Eat lots if they would give him the food he asks for.
They tell him:
2. He can't go home until he starts eating and gains some weight back.
3. They know what he's supposed to eat; they don't have the food he asks for; but they'll try.
Part of it is a cultural thing; part of it is the limitation of the hospital kitchen.
Today I took him some soft, whole grain "American" sandwich bread and a jar of peanut butter. The bread they give him is normally cold, rock hard, dry, bare toast. (Yeah, I know, this is France - what the hell is wrong with this picture???)
We have yet to find out if the dietitian will let him have it.
Which makes no sense at all as he will be in control of his diet for the rest of his life; not her.
I realize that they can't cater to the tastes of one person in a large hospital.... Which is why I don't understand the determination to keep him.
Sharp flavors, like mustard and vinegar, taste good to him. It's the plain rice, baked chicken, pasta with no sauce, that taste so horrid.
If he were home.... I'd feed him salads like this.... I'd get some weight back on him....
Avocado and White Bean Salad
3/4 cup white beans (cannellini)
1/2 cup sliced celery
2 eggs
1 avocado
1 tbs white balsamic
1 tbs Dijon-style mustard
3 tbs olive oil
Hard cook the eggs.
Slice the celery on a diagonal. Cut the avocado into cubes. Peel the eggs and cut into large chunks. Combine avocado, celery, white beans and egg in a bowl.
In another bowl whisk together the vinegar and mustard. Slowly drizzle in oil and whisk until thickened.
Add to salad and stir gently to combine.
This has protein (eggs) heart healthy fat (avocado) and carbohydrate (beans). Everything he should eat in one meal.
And he would eat it!
See how simple it can be?
I think I'll show this to them tomorrow....
