The world of Tzu Chi Sep-Oct 2022 (Vol.143)

TZU CHI 143 47 With adequate sun exposure, the human body can synthesize the required vitamin D. Vegetarians can also obtain vitamin D from fortified foods, such as fortified grains, fortified plant-based milk, sun-dried mushrooms and nutritional supplements. Besides calcium and vitamin D, patients suffering from bone fractures also require adequate intake of vitamin C. This is because it helps in the synthesis of collagen—an important protein in bone structure—thus helps with bone healing. Therefore, patients should ensure they consume sufficient vitamin C from fresh fruits and vegetables during this period. Moreover, eating papaya, citrus fruits, tomatoes and other fruits rich in vitamin C can improve the immune response to post-surgical infection. My mother, like many post-surgery patients, initially had no appetite. She would even spit out her favourite food after a few bites and repeatedly shake her head and remark, “I have no appetite.” During such time, many elderly people would ask for porridge from their caregivers. However, as the nutritional value of porridge cannot meet the body’s nutritional needs post-surgery, it can easily lead to malnutrition. What I had resolved to do was to cook mushrooms, and steam pumpkin, green leafy vegetables or potatoes, then blend them into a smooth texture before adding milk powder (elderly formula) and serve that to my mother. On the first night I arrived home from Singapore, my mother finished the thick mushroom and pumpkin soup I prepared for her within a few minutes. She did not complain, “I do not have appetite.” Instead, she asked, “Later, if I am hungry, can I have more soup?”As she had trouble finishing a full meal the few days after surgery, frequent small meals were the way to go. In fact, I prepared two extra servings of the thick soup so I could heat them up for her whenever she was hungry. As for snacks—avocados and bananas—I would use a spoon to scoop out thin slices of the flesh and feed her small mouthfuls. Whenever I care for my sick mother, I would have this peculiar thought as each spoonful was fed to her, that I was playing the role of a mother, bearing a mother’s love for my ‘child’. I cannot walk this ‘not-so-short’ journey on my own. In addition to taking turns with my family and relatives to care for my mother day and night, thereby allowing each other a breather, I also enlisted a physiotherapist to provide care. With adequate diet and physiotherapy, my mother has managed to stand up and walk slowly within two months. For this, I am content. Ng Hui Ling A licensed nutritionist in private practice with a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and a Master’s degree in Sports Science, she provides nutritional consultation for vegetarians in particular. Due to a love for teaching, she serves as a part- time lecturer at the Singapore Institute of Chinese Medical Studies. She is also a columnist for Singapore’s Health No.1 magazine. Her publications include Smart Foods for Tweens and Fit not Fat.