Kelly the Caregiver



L: Shelley , R: Kelly
(pre-APL)

This weekend, Kelly, my close friend since age six, stayed with us. It was a blessing to have her helping us, given I wasn't exactly in prime shape. Katelyn took an instant liking to her, and declared Kelly "her" friend. By the end of the weekend, Rob was also referring to Kelly as "his" friend, since she was a lot more fun to hang out with than I've been.

Saturday evening, Kelly whipped up a meal from the cookbook, Eating Well Through Cancer. As we were sitting down to dinner, I asked her what section of the book her Mexican chicken casserole had come from. (The recipes are categorized by which side effects they can help alleviate.) In addition to the nutritional advantages, if there was any psychological benefit from eating a meal prescribed by a chemo cookbook, I wanted to realize it.

Kelly picked up the book, flipped through it, and said, "Oh, I didn't notice the recipes were grouped that way." She located the Mexican chicken casserole, and laughed.

"What's it supposed to help with...?" I asked with trepidation.

Book Review: Eating Well Through Cancer

 

 

Holly Clegg's "Eating Well Through Cancer" is a great aid for caregivers and patients. Not only are the recipes simple and appetizing, but the book takes a healing approach. The recipes are organized by the side effect they are intended to help mitigate. For example, there are sections for patients with Neutropenia (high fevers) and those needing high caloric meals to help them gain weight.

I am not much of a cook, even more so in my present state, but my friend, Kelly, made two of the recipes this weekend (pictured below). They were both delicious, and once I am recovered I will try some of the other recipes. I don't need chemotherapy as an excuse to test out some of these appealing meals.

Pictures of Kelly's creations: