I need food ideas for my father with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)? My 76 year old father was recently diagnosed with CHF. He is to have "no salt" (at all) in his diet going forward. He lives alone and I'm having a hard time finding things NO salt to stalk on his shelves that are appetizing ..and most importantly that he can make himself (easily). Any ideas? Those things marked "low sodium" are no good - as they still have some level of salt in them. It's VERY hard finding anything for him with no salt at all. All suggestions would be most welcome!
Earmour - I'm not sure exactly what post you are referring to - I've had some probs with someone impersonating me...that happens a lot around here with many..I've had to report your answer here I'm afraid...since it has nothing to do with either me or my question concerning my father's health.
I understand your frustration finding foods which are low sodium. Usually, the doctor understands their pts with CHF are not completely able to refuse salt, so there are salt subsitutes out there such as the on you mentioned Dash which make food more pallitable.
I would suggest he get his foods as fresh as possible to avoid the salt added to foods during processing. Stay away from pre canned soups unless they specify low salt, no chips, no fast foods because they are salt packed. However, if you go to McDonalds and specify "no salt" on your fries, they will make you a fresh batch with no sald added. Cook all of his meat instead of buying pre processed meats such as sandwich meat, hot dogs.
The trick to low salt eating is to cook everything from fresh. Nothing pre processed. I used to pre cook food for my dad and freeze it, so he could just pop it into the microwave. I still have frozen turkey dinners I made for him frozen.
Good luck to you and your dad. I lost my dad in January and tried to do as much for him as I could before he died at 81. I just decided in the last few years of his life, I wanted him to be as happy as possible and we cheated on his low sugar, low sodium, low fat diet a lot. He was much happier and food was his 1 great pleasure and all he had to look foreward to in his old age. I know when your dealing with heart failure, 1 can of campells chicken soup can spell disaster, so I dont reccomend it too much.
RN x 12 years
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I Need Diet For Congestive Heart Failure
I understand your frustration finding foods which are low sodium. Usually, the doctor understands their pts with CHF are not completely able to refuse salt, so there are salt subsitutes out there such as the on you mentioned Dash which make food more pallitable. I would suggest he get his foods as fresh as possible to avoid the salt added to foods during processing. Stay away from pre canned soups unless they specify low salt, no chips, no fast foods because they are salt packed. However, if you go to McDonalds and specify no salt on your fries, they will make you a fresh batch with no sald added. Cook all of his meat instead of buying pre processed meats such as sandwich meat, hot dogs. The trick to low salt eating is to cook everything from fresh. Nothing pre processed. I used to pre cook food for my dad and freeze it, so he could just pop it into the microwave. I still have frozen turkey dinners I made for him frozen. Good luck to you and your dad. I lost my dad in January and tried to do as much for him as I could before he died at 81. I just decided in the last few years of his life, I wanted him to be as happy as possible and we cheated on his low sugar, low sodium, low fat diet a lot. He was much happier and food was his 1 great pleasure and all he had to look foreward to in his old age. I know when your dealing with heart failure, 1 can of campells chicken soup can spell disaster, so I dont reccomend it too much. RN x 12 years