My daughter has complex needs and requires a modified diet. Every day we have appointments and programs that we are bouncing between. Because my daughter’s diet and medication are so specialized, I am always careful to make sure she gets what she needs at the right time. Often my own needs fall to the wayside. More often than not I find myself missing meals, and grabbing whatever I can find when I get hungry. Eventually I talked to my nurse practitioner who referred me to a dietitian. She was able to help me put together a list of foods that I could take on the go, but she also helped me get more support for feeding my daughter. Now I pick up pureed foods locally, and even have feeding supports a few times a week.
 

• Some stores offer online ordering and curb-side pick-up of groceries.

• Check your local hospital to see if their food and nutrition services departments sell pre-packaged pureed food.

• Ensure that vitamins/supplements are compatible with any medications that the person is also taking – pharmacists are a great resource to answer these questions.

• When I saw my Mom struggling to make meals I cooked a little extra of the things I knew she liked and dropped them off to her saying, “I cooked too much - we couldn’t eat it all”.

• Many grocery stores have an in-store registered dietitian. They can meet with you in person to discuss dietary needs. They will even walk around store to discuss food options – how to read labels, etc.

• Some Family Health Teams have a dietitian that you can speak with.