Home for the holidays, mom wants food suggestions?

Your mom probably won't accept this (mine had a hard time accepting it when she was alive) but I resolutely stuck to "do NOT buy anything extra/additional/special for me." Drove her batty. But as long as she was serving meat, I was good to go. Like you said, I skipped the starches and if it was a meat that might make me sick, I always brought two cheesesticks with me!

In the absence of that I'd tell her to get you lunchmeat and cheese sticks. And make it sound of the UTMOST importance. Because to me it doesn't sound like this is so much about food as it is about providing for you. Make a simple little list and then treat it like the biggest deal ever. She'll be happy. You'll be happy. Everyone will be happy. :)