foods. This was the first time away from her home. While we did our best to make her comfortable, it was a struggle. She had her neighbor check on the workmen daily. From those reports Mom felt that they were a lazy bunch. They were not moving fast enough for her.

Her intake of these comfort foods increased. She ate upside down cakes, sweet breads, her favorite sugar cookies, chocolates and

My husband and I were talking to his mother recently about empty foods. She had never heard the term before. His mother is living with us for a short time while her home is being renovated. Admittedly, I have stopped by her home to scout out the progress. You can smile. It has not been that bad though.

His mother’s preference for sweets is what sparked the conversation. One of her church friends gave her a few home made sugar cookies. At seventy five years old she hardly needs to be eating home made sugar cookies.

As Mom began to tuck into a cookie, my husband firmly advised, “Mom, please stop. Those empty foods are bad for you. They are full of sugar and white flour.”

Up went her defensive shield and she responded, “I have been eating these cookies all my life. They have not hurt me yet.”

My husband gently responded, “Are you forgetting your friend Arthur?” He meant arthritis.

Not having any of that, Mom raised the decibels one octave, “My doctor never said that my arthritis came from eating these cookies. You think you know it all. These cookies are not empty, they are good.”

My husband calmly explained to his mom the meaning of empty foods. He told his Mom about the cookie sugar buzz she would feel and then the sugar crash. In addition, his mother is a lover of drink. Mom mixes water, root beer, a slice of fresh lemon and sugar to taste. According to mom, she will wash down the cookie with the root beer drink.

Later in the day I asked my husband to cut his mother some slack. I felt that the cookies and drink were her comfort foods. This was the first time away from her home. While we did our best to make her comfortable, it was a struggle. She had her neighbor check on the workmen daily. From those reports Mom felt that they were a lazy bunch. They were not moving fast enough for her.

Her intake of these comfort foods increased. She ate upside down cakes, sweet breads, her favorite sugar cookies, chocolates and

iends gave her a few home made sugar cookies. At seventy five years old she hardly needs to be eating home made sugar cookies.

As Mom began to tuck into a cookie, my husband firmly advised, “Mom, please stop. Those empty foods are bad for you. They are full of sugar and white flour.”

Up went her defensive shield and she responded, “I have been eating these cookies all my life. They have not hurt me yet.”

My husband gently responded, “Are you forgetting your friend Arthur?” He meant arthritis.

Not having any of that, Mom raised the decibels one octave, “My doctor never said that my arthritis came from eating these cookies. You think you know it all. These cookies are not empty, they are good.”

My husband calmly explained to his mom the meaning of empty foods. He told his Mom about the cookie sugar buzz she would feel and then the sugar crash. In addition, his mother is a lover of drink. Mom mixes water, root beer, a slice of fresh lemon and sugar to taste. According to mom, she will wash down the cookie with the root beer drink.

Later in the day I asked my husband to cut his mother some slack. I felt that the cookies and drink were her comfort foods. This was the first time away from her home. While we did our best to make her comfortable, it was a struggle. She had her neighbor check on the workmen daily. From those reports Mom felt that they were a lazy bunch. They were not moving fast enough for her.

Her intake of these comfort foods increased. She ate upside down cakes, sweet breads, her favorite sugar cookies, chocolates and

ve not hurt me yet.”

My husband gently responded, “Are you forgetting your friend Arthur?” He meant arthritis.

Not having any of that, Mom raised the decibels one octave, “My doctor never said that my arthritis came from eating these cookies. You think you know it all. These cookies are not empty, they are good.”

My husband calmly explained to his mom the meaning of empty foods. He told his Mom about the cookie sugar buzz she would feel and then the sugar crash. In addition, his mother is a lover of drink. Mom mixes water, root beer, a slice of fresh lemon and sugar to taste. According to mom, she will wash down the cookie with the root beer drink.

Later in the day I asked my husband to cut his mother some slack. I felt that the cookies and drink were her comfort foods. This was the first time away from her home. While we did our best to make her comfortable, it was a struggle. She had her neighbor check on the workmen daily. From those reports Mom felt that they were a lazy bunch. They were not moving fast enough for her.

Her intake of these comfort foods increased. She ate upside down cakes, sweet breads, her favorite sugar cookies, chocolates and

He told his Mom about the cookie sugar buzz she would feel and then the sugar crash. In addition, his mother is a lover of drink. Mom mixes water, root beer, a slice of fresh lemon and sugar to taste. According to mom, she will wash down the cookie with the root beer drink.

Later in the day I asked my husband to cut his mother some slack. I felt that the cookies and drink were her comfort foods. This was the first time away from her home. While we did our best to make her comfortable, it was a struggle. She had her neighbor check on the workmen daily. From those reports Mom felt that they were a lazy bunch. They were not moving fast enough for her.

Her intake of these comfort foods increased. She ate upside down cakes, sweet breads, her favorite sugar cookies, chocolates and

foods. This was the first time away from her home. While we did our best to make her comfortable, it was a struggle. She had her neighbor check on the workmen daily. From those reports Mom felt that they were a lazy bunch. They were not moving fast enough for her.

Her intake of these comfort foods increased. She ate upside down cakes, sweet breads, her favorite sugar cookies, chocolates and even candy. My husband asked me to stop buying goodies. However, the church ladies kept the goodies coming. I admit, I was enjoying them too!

The extra sugar intake threw her system off and her feet began to swell and they became painful. The doctor asked about Moms diet and my husband happily let her know everything. Mom’s doctor said that her kidneys were not firing on all cylinders. They were causing a backup of impurities. My husband had a firm word with the church crew and much to my dismay the goodie train was derailed.

The doctor told Mom that she needed to take the proper fuels on board. If she gave her body a chance, it would respond. She needed to be aware of what she ate. The doctor asked Mom to drastically cut her sugar intake and see how she felt the next week.

I am glad to say that with the encouragement of her church friends and us, the swelling has all but gone and Mom seems to be a bit more active and less moody. All my husband really did was cut out her sweets, sugars and white flour.