Izzy (and Mama) Eat: The Gourmand Grows up...

Tales of Empty Nesting ...The Next Chapter

Saturday, October 4, 2008

How Much Chocolate Is Too Much?

My grandfather's penchant for sweets seems to increase with age. He has had a sweet tooth his entire life but lately it has been getting way out of hand. He seems to keep the local chocolate shop in business with his weekly orders and the last time I visited him he requested four pounds of raspberry jellies.

When he first started buying chocolates from Birnn, he bought one pound. This quickly increased to two which seemed to last more than a week. Now he goes through at least two pounds a week if it is on hand and has been known to go through four.

While visiting him a few weeks ago, he asked me to pick up four pounds for him and I refused. I figured if he had less he would eat less. Does anybody really need four pounds of chocolate a week?

Yet when I tell this story most listeners have the same reaction: He is 99 and doing well..Let him eat what he wants.

What do you think?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

as a chocolate devotee and someone who grew up a block away from birnn, i say, let him have as much as he wants. clearly, it's working for him. must be all those delicious antioxidants!

Smashley said...

I say, let him have his chocolate! My grandmother is 95, worked on a farm up until she was 90, and she still has two fried eggs (her own chickens), two slices of bacon, and two biscuits every morning. She's healthy for a 95 year old and I think older folks know what works for them and what doesn't.

I hope I go out at 99+ eating chocolates!!! mmmm.

Anonymous said...

oh, great g-pa and his raspberry jellies

Izzy's Mama said...

Cara: I know it is good but FOUR pounds?? Old people, like babies, need limits.

Smashley: I am not so sure that older folks know what is best. In fact it seems that in some ways they revert to babyhood. I know I would not let my baby eat four pounds of chocolate!

Jlyn: Do you guys buy him the four pounds?

Anonymous said...

my mom usually takes him, but I don't think so. I'm sure I would have heard about it.

TaraTot said...

My Gram is 99 years old and only eats things with chocolate syrup on them: mashed potatoes, yogurt, etc. We had to decide, put a feeding tube in or let her eat chocolate. We choose chocolate.

Although, I don't see how he eats that much without getting a tummy ache!

Anonymous said...

Amazing!

My mom is 73 and diabetic, so for a LONG time, I tried to reform her eating habits. She's a tough case, though not so much with sweets, just quantity and quality in general. (She loves tons of fried garbage.)

I am starting to realize that I can cook and stash away dozens of nutritionally sound meals when I visit, and the second they're gone, she'll be on the phone with Pizza Hut. I'm working toward a laissez-faire policy.

Izzy's Mama said...

Taratot: Now that is a riot. Yogurt makes sense but Mashed Potatoes with chocolate syrup? Now I have heard everything! That is still better than chocolate straight up!

Eileen: Your mom is still so young. She should be eating well so that she can stay around longer! My grandfather rarely touches the food I bring for him so I have given up. I only bring what he can eat while we are visiting.

InGenius Festival - Voices from the Writers' Forum said...

He's 99. Let him eat what he wants. What are you trying to save him from exactly?