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Thanks!

11/25/2013

November is the time when we stop to give thanks for a lot of things. We're thankful for our family and friends, our health, and many other things, inlcuding you, our loyal readers. As a way to thank you, we would like to offer two special sales that are only available for purcahses through our website.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Digna and Linda

Black Friday, November 29
          25% off each 5 paperback copies of the book
          Must purchase in multiples of 5 books
          Sale runs 12:01 AM PST to 11:59 PM PST November 29th only

Cyber Monday, December 2
          25% off book and training package
          PDF copy of the book and training materials
          Sale runs 12:01 AM PST to 11:59 PM PST December 2nd only

See Sale tab on Home Page during each sale for details

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World Wide Pressure Ulcer Prevention Day - November 21

11/20/2013

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Pressure ulcers can be very painful for an individual. A pressure ulcer is merely an area of the body that is subject to an excessive amount of pressure. The best way to prevent a pressure ulcer is to ensure proper nutrition and repositioning. While this may be an over simplification of a very complex medical issue, the role of good nutrition is unarguably the first line of defense.

Eating enough calories and protein is necessary to maintain good skin integrity. Unfortunately, individuals experiencing illness often lose their appetite and have difficulty eating. This results in weight loss, decreased movement due to debility, and increased incidence of infections due to a compromised immune system.

The populations at higher risk for developing pressure ulcers include those with decreased ability to move by themselves. The weight loss incurred during times of illness or when confined to bed or wheelchair results in loss of muscle. Muscle is where the body stores protein and wounds need extra nutrients to heal.

Since nutrients have many roles in the body, instead of isolating single nutrients to treat wounds, providing a combination of nutrients is a best practice used by registered dietitians nutritionists (RDN). Providing food first, instead of supplements, nurtures the mind as well as the body.

The Winter 2013 issue of the Healthy Aging Dietetic Practice Group newsletter Spectrum, included an excellent article on this subject. To read Nutrition: An Intrinsic Factor of Pressure-Ulcer Healing click on the link below.

High calorie, high protein beverages and foods can be the safety net for many compromised individuals. Use the recipes in Flavorful Fortified Food - Recipes to Enrich Life to do just that - enrich the life of that individual! Check out the samples pages and order your copy today.

Sample Pages

Nutrition: An Intrinsic Factor of Pressure-Ulcer Healing

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National Peanut Butter Lover's Month

11/14/2013

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November is National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month. But, for those of us who like peanut butter, we get creative in how to use it and what items to add this ingredient into. Consider peanut butter and jelly sandwich, peanut butter and banana sandwich, peanut butter mousse, peanut butter pie, peanut butter cookies, chocolate cake with peanut butter icing, and don’t forget peanut butter cups!

Peanut butter cup therapy has been a recent topic among dietitians looking for alternatives to commercial supplements. What a great way to provide calories, protein, and fat to the diet! Who wouldn’t eat a peanut butter cup? It tastes so much better and is appropriate to be included in a Food First Program.

If you are looking for some high calorie, high protein peanut butter ideas, check out these recipes in Flavorful Fortified Food – Recipes to Enrich Life:
                * Chocolate Peanut Butter Milkshake
                * Peanut Butter and Banana Milkshake
                * Rich Choco-Nutty Shake
                * Peanut Butter Cup Pudding
                * Peanut Butter Frosting
                * High-Protein Milkshake

Order your copy of the book here

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National Hospice Palliative Care Month

11/8/2013

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It is always difficult when there is a loved one receiving hospice and palliative care. The hospice staff is specially trained to assist the family members make the client as comfortable as possible.

During my time working in hospice care, I learned to be creative in attempting to meet the nutritional needs and desires of the clients. In many cases, the interventions were not traditional. However, for the client, the interventions made them happy. Ice cream and candy bars such as peanut butter cups may not seem like the most nutritious food, but it does provide calories, protein, and fat. Often the client would drink more than eat.

This was the beginning of the beverage recipes in our book, Flavorful Fortified Food - Recipes to Enrich Life. The recipes allowed for a lot of variety for the individual who had previously been limited to a very small variety of products and flavors. While the beverage recipes did not reverse their terminal status, in some cases, intake improved enough to keep pressure areas from getting worse and helped with pain management. In other cases, the beverages kept the client better hydrated during those final months, weeks, or days of life.

Yes, there is a positive role the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist can play in hospice and palliative care. Start using the recipes in Flavorful Fortified Food - Recipes to Enrich Life with clients and family members to enrich their life.

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Thanks!

World Wide Pressure Ulcer Prevention Day - November 21

National Peanut Butter Lover's Month

National Hospice Palliative Care Month

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