Hey Guys

[jglass]

The older man who lives in the back apartment here had a really bad heart attack last week. He is home now but not allowed to climb the stairs here for two weeks. He has a girlfriend but she works 8 hour days. I gave them our number in case they need anything but I need ideas. He is on a strict diet. I made them a roasted chicken with steamed green beans this evening. I have plenty of boneless skinless chicken breast in the freezer I was thinking of grilling him tomorrow. I need side ideas that he can eat.
Id like to take him stuff he could microwave or eat at room temp til his girlfriend gets home.
On the bright side he has to quit smoking so we shouldnt have anymore smoke from his apartment getting into ours from now on.

[Mama Mangia]

what about homemade chicken soup with plenty of veggies in it?
usually after a heart attack you are limited with sodium, fats, etc.
a nice noodle casserole with diced chicken is a tummy filler and healthy also.
BBQ is always good - usually it's low fat and very tasty
broiled or baked lemon pepper fish with oven roasted lemomn taters
pasta with sauce (tomatoes are good for you!)

[Mama Mangia]

I would steer away from gassy type foods for a while, but a pot of stew loaded with fresh taters, carrots, onions, celery - or even chili with beans added would be nutritional.

[jglass]

Thank you Mama. His girlfriend came over last night. She says he is starting to get cranky from being without smokes, caffeine & sugar. She said the first thing he said when he came back home was that his apartment stank. Since he had not been smoking in the hospital he noticed the smell as soon as he came in. She asked me about getting the smell out and I said well the first big thing is your gonna have to have all of the carpet shampooed. She asked me about going back there and checking on him when she goes back to work Tues. I said I would but I told her I have a severe allergy to cig smoke and it triggers me into an asthma attack. My worst time of the year for seasonal allergies is the Fall. The smell that is still in that apartment gives me an instant severe sinus headache. When I see her today I think Im gonna ask her for their phone number back there so I can just buzz him on the phone and make sure he is ok.
She left me a copy of his diet. He is on low carb, low sodium, low sugar. She said he used to live off of coffee, snack cakes and cigs.

[Mama Mangia]

she is going to have to clean all blinds, curtains, shampoo all upholstered furniture and wash down the walls and all the appliances in the house to get rid of the nicotine - I had to help a friend do it - they were heavy smokers - once we started cleaning we could not stop - the cleaning rags and sponges were yellow brown from the nicotine!

she had to call a rug cleaning service that also cleans furniture, draperies and blinds - we did the walls - the ceiling was a b--ch to do, then all the doors - both sides and we had to actually wash all the tables with murphy oil soap and then poish with a clean rag and that white creamy furniture polish - there were 8 of us doing it! no easy job -
and we took turns going down and washing all the bedding, linens and clothing - it was hell------ believe me

[jglass]

She doesnt strike me as being that energetic.
I have made myself a little problem here. He is getting grouchy I guess and she seems to thinks she can spend all of her time here to get away from him. If he is that freakin grouchy I would find a new boyfriend! Jon and I have several computers to fix for friends sitting in the floor and I cannot spend hours entertaining her. I cannot think of anything to talk to anyone about for that long anyway. Jon and I only knew these people in passing til this week. Jon told me it was my own fault for being nice to them but I was only trying to help ..I didnt intend to move her in with me. If my sense of smell is right he is smoking up a storm when she is gone anyway. I opened my dryer last night and the smell of cig was very strong and it was also coming into my bathroom.

[Mama Mangia]

time to cut the umbilical cord - you are just going to have to tell her that they are going to have to go for counseling - you really haven't got the time for chit chat beause you have fallen behind in your work - tell her that when things calm down for you that you will call her for a cup of coffee and let it go at that -

or have your coat on and be ready to go out the door when she shows up - eventually she will get the hint

[jglass]

Great ideas Mama and I will use them. Thank you.

[ricksrealpitbbq]

Try to tactfully tell her the truth. It may be hard but in the long run, you can rest easy knowing you handled it rightfully.

[Cook Chatty Cathy]

She said he used to live off of coffee, snack cakes and cigs.

Hum-m-m very intersting, it's amazing the amount of abuse our bodies and handle...but only for so long!