Mama's Diet and Discipline

Mama Rhoda's Diet and Discipline - (being updated).

Mama Rhoda wakes up around 6.30 am and gets ready for the day by first of all going to the "Ladies",doing her routine wash and cleaning of dentures, then putting on her glasses and favourite wig.  She had this wig for about 18 years!  Mama Rhoda only used Oil of Olay for her face.  Her skin had a soft glow - Praise God!

Mama Rhoda's day begins with her spiritual food.  She has a number of prayers that she reads and scripture verses followed by her personal prayer and talk to Jesus.  (It is intended to prepare an e-booklet or scan the prayers and upload on Mama Rhoda's blog). 

Mama Rhoda always maintained a daily journal and the diary had to be 2 days to a page. She used to phone Della at work to emphasis that the dairy should be 2 days to a page. Here she wrote a prayer for the day and something of importance.  She always had family and friends birthdays so she would phone them to wish - sometimes it could be pretty early morning and you could receive a wake up birthday wish!

Around 7.15 am Mama Rhoda had Kellogg's Oat Bran Cereal containing Omega 3 - quarter bowl with Skim milk powder and hot water followed by a cup of Dandelion tea. She preferred warm drinks to cold drinks. For a period of time Mama Rhoda used to add some Soya Lecithin or Psyllium husk to her cereal. She discontinues after a period of time and then slightly changes it to include a few dried fruits or Blueberries.  Again, there was a time when she used to take Porridge in the mornings.  She always changed to healthy options.

Her medication was taken around 7.30 for Blood Pressure - Norton and Diabetes - Dianol (but the one for Diabetes was discontinued later and kept it under control by taking Fenugreek). She also took a blood thinner Astrix.
Multivitamin Blackmores, Ester C, 1 Omega 3 Fish Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Balanced B, (and Vitamin E for a few years).  Mama Rhoda took Garlic tablets and Kyolic garlic for many years (with breaks).  If she had ear ache she would stick a clove of garlic in each of her ears.  For any stomach upset she would semi roast a garlic and eat it.  She also took Brahmi for a period of time as well as R-Compound.  Mama Rhoda used to sometimes sprinkle a little extra cinnamon and turmeric powder in her milk or food.  Before Mama Rhoda took her medication or any meal, Mama Rhoda always whispered a prayer and put a cross on her forehead or physically blessed the medication or food with her hands making the sign of the cross.

Generally mum did not like taking too much Panadol but would use Tiger balm, Amrutanjan balm and heat plasters for any aches or pains, which was minimum anyway.  Mama Rhoda also took R Compound (from India).  If she had a little cough she used to chew a clove or have a small piece of Fishermens Friend.  She took the flu injection every year and it helped her (this was only when she was about 85+ that she started taking the flu injection).  Mama Rhoda also took Waterburys tonic for some time. In winter she took a tablespoon full of Brandy.  Very rarely has she taken a cough medication or antibiotics and the only one she agreed to take is Robertussin.  To avoid constipation she used to eat Prunes. For any external itching she used Tea tree Oil, Witch Hazel or Paw paw cream (generally herbal creams).  Praise God she generally kept good health and had a very positive outlook in life and never liked to say she was sick! She used positive affirmations such as "I am turning younger", "I am excellent", "I am well", "God is my strength" etc.

By about 7.45  Mama Rhoda would watch TV programs of her interest, Dr. Phil, Judge Judy, Deal or No Deal and sometimes God TV Christian channels. Mama Rhoda particularly liked Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer.  She always kept herself updated with the news on TV and would share the current news and her little joys and hurts with Della most evenings.

Mama Rhoda used to phone her youngest son Godfrey around 9.00 am to make sure all is well followed by some wise advice. In more recent years the phone calls to Godfrey were increasing. Being the youngest son, there was a special bond which was understandable.
Mama Rhoda also phoned all the other family members on a regular basis.  For sure a topic on health issues would be addressed to her 3rd son Tony.  Mama had occasional visitors and most of the family used to visit her on week ends, if not they kept daily contact on phone.  Through the year there were numerous family gathering through special occasions which much enjoyed very much.

For a period of time Mama Rhoda used to walk to the D'Couto's place, soon after the D'Rosario's left for work, which was her first exercise for the morning and used to return mid morning.  She opened the door at home on her return,with the set of keys she was given.  Mama Rhoda was quiet brave those days. Later she discontinued going for her morning walk due to age.  Generally around 11.00 am she used to do her exercise on the treadmill too.  She has been doing this exercise for many years.  I think she only stopped this around late 80s.  She only went on the treadmill for about 15 minutes and in later years (late 80s) for about 5 minutes.

Around 11.30 am Mama Rhoda had her shower.  She prepared oil with pepper corns in it. It had to be heated till the pepper corns split.  When she was in India, Mama Rhoda used to include Tulsi leaves when heating the oil for her head.  Mama Rhoda used a little of this on her head and then placed a cross on her forehead and had her shower.  She showered on her own until the age of 94. She generally used soap free body wash for her shower, which the D'Rosario' shared with her. It was only for about 3 months or so did she receive assistance with her shower through Della a few times and then through UCCO Care support, which again was not for long, as a couple of months later she went to be with the Lord.  Mama Rhoda was very independent and did not think she would ever need someone to shower her.  She always wanted to do things herself.

All through the day when the D'Rosario's were at work Mama Rhoda enjoyed her telephone (which was placed right next to her bedside), TV, her Home Prayer Group meeting and some visitors.  She made a number of calls to family and friends, some were well received well while a couple were were not as patient. 

If Mama Rhoda received any disturbing news within the extended families, she would phone Silent Unity or Jesus Calls.  Her dependence on God for strength and peace was very evident all through her journey on this earth. She always contributed to charity UCB, Jesus Calls, Church, other individuals and when there was a need for finances. However, she always encouraged people to work and to be wise in managing their finances.

Mama Rhoda enjoyed visitors and would spend time chatting with them in the lounge.  On Thursdays Mama Rhoda held the prayer meetings for many years, so she had the freedom to do what she enjoyed doing.  There is no doubt she loved her room and always told Della that she was so happy that God blessed her with it.  

Mama Rhoda had a table in front of her with all that she wanted from spiritual books, magazines, fly swat, back scratcher, snacks, pens, nail cutters, perfumes, lipstick, balms, Green teas, multi-vitamins, knick knacks etc!!  She would be hurt if anything was removed from there, so she was given the freedom to be happy with them!

Mama Rhoda was very amicable with the D'Rosario family with whom she lived for 18 years.  If ever there were any issues it was due to external sources contributing to it.  She was always prayerful and spoke words of wisdom to us which we will never forget.  Mama Rhoda always stood up for what is right. She was loving and forgiving but she did not hesitate to speak the truth. 

Mama Rhoda used to like to snack and had a stock in her cupboard of sugar free biscuits, sweets, chocolates, mixed nuts etc.  She also enjoyed sugar free Yogurt.

For Lunch sharp 12.30 mum would have whatever was cooked at home such as chicken curry, vegetables and rice but later she preferred bread.  She used to help herself to it from the fridge.  Mama Rhoda was not too fond of Beef.  She enjoyed fish and vegetables with bread or chapati (ready made). In recent years Della used to keep lunch for her in a bowl as it was beginning to get difficult for her to help herself to food from the fridge while the family was away at work.  This was naturally due to her old age.  

Occasionally on a Sunday Mama Rhoda would join the D'Rosario family for a meal at the Chinese Restaurant Golden Leaf.  If she does not come then we bring her a little take away and she particularly likes a small mango pudding!  Mama Rhoda loved deserts and looked forward to it, although she was not supposed to have too much sugar.  She was wise and would eat just enough to enjoy it and not too much to make her unwell.

For a change she used to have packets of fish which she could cook in the microwave or little tins of fish.  She used to enjoy the heart foundation Chicken Darshans for a period of time. Generally Mama Rhoda was particular to read labels and check the nutritional value of what she was consuming.  She preferred to buy food items with the heart foundation tick on them.
Mama Rhoda drank several cups of tea during the day, including Dandelion and Chamomile. She has also taken St. Johns Wort too and other green teas.

Mama Rhoda used to enjoy fruits both dried and fresh such as Bananas, Apples, Apricot, Nectarine, Peach, Pears, Blueberries etc.  She also enjoyed nuts such as Almonds, Peanuts and Cashewnuts. Dried fruits were sultanas, apricots, and pear.

In the evenings, on certain days, Mama Rhoda would spend some time with Celine a kind neighbour who used to be very good to mum.  Celine has now moved to Queensland.

For the last few years Mama Rhoda feared staying at home by herself while the D'Rosario's were at work so Della arranged through UCCO and Box Hill Council for home carers to spend time until they returned from work.  She had also arranged for social service workers and a lady from One Community Church to spend time with mum for a short while in the day and to pray with her.  A number of suitable arrangements were made to fill in her day with company while family were at work.  However the Lord put in Della's heart to give up her job in 2013 February and spend some quality time with Mama Rhoda and her family, as she could see that Mama Rhoda needed more support than the visiting carers.  Della is thankful to God for leading her to make this decision and all praise and thanks goes to God for He had a plan in this process.  Mama Rhoda went to be with the Lord on 17th December, 2013.

At night at about 7 pm Mama Rhoda has her dinner. Again it would be a light dinner of chicken or fish and occasionally enjoy a take away meal that the D'Rosario's would share with her on Fridays.  Now and again the D'Rosario's would receive a surprise dosa, masala dosa or some curry from the D'Couto's which mum would have a small serve.  In recent years she was enjoying eating pikelets with natural fruit jam and a hot cup of tea as she could not consume too much food, particularly curries. She did not mind egg curry if it was not too spicy. Mama Rhoda liked a boiled egg with pepper on it from time to time.   At around 7.30 she would drink a cup of skim milk daily.

Mama Rhoda used to do the crosswords and used to wait for the MX when Della return from work.  It happened that she found a mistake in the cross word and there was an apology in the MX the next day for the mistake.  Mama Rhoda was correct.  She was not only a spiritual person but very intelligent, sharp and wise.

Mama Rhoda did a lot of reading of magazines and spiritual books.  Mama Rhoda did not read anything at all.  She read books of value which developed her mentally and spiritually.  The D'Rosario's have some of her spiritual and health books if any one wishes to borrow them.

Mama Rhoda went to bed after she drank her skim milk.  She lay in bed and said her prayers and then had a good night sleep ready on time the next morning to start the day.

Mama Rhoda : A Woman of God, Spiritual, Disciplined, Self-sacrificing, Humble, Caring (unconditionally), and Generous.


God bless all families, relatives and friends who were involved in Mama Rhoda's journey.




By Della D'Rosario