These were very comforting answers, to start with. Most important, my father is improving.
When I arrived, I found that the "kitchen" was a microwave and frig. Still made heirloom tomato salad with basil from our garden (DCI makes a nice paring knife in a sheath) and brought some high density foods. Next time will check out the hotel more carefully. Sadly, the Saigon cinnamon and vanilla bean did not become rice and chocolate pudding.
My best meal was on the way back to the airport. Stopped at the Cracker Barrel and ordered a Sampler Breakfast of eggsgritssausagepattybaconstripsugarcuredhamfriedappleshashbrownsbiscuitsgravy. (It's like the picnic in the beginning of The Wind in the Willows). Didn't finish it but it was very comforting. Thank you!!

Thanks! I'll keep you posted.

Rice pudding was always what was served to my grandpa when he felt sick - minus any nuts or raisins. It's creamy, and a comfort.

Mac and cheese is also comforting when it is prepared on the creamy side.

So sorry to hear about your dad, and about the stress/difficulties for you as well. Without offering specifics, here are some principles:
1. Whatever you make should be easy to eat, as in not much effort required getting it from plate into stomach. Food that looks like work is not appealing to sick/recovering people.
2. What did his mother make that he really liked as a kid or anytime, for that matter? Adapt in accordance with Principles 1 and 4.
3. What did his mother or any other important adult make for him when he was sick as a child? Did he really like any of it? If so, adapt in accordance with Principles 1and 4.
4. Use cream when reasonable and possible in anything you make. Chocolate or vanilla pudding made with cream is so tasty, comforting and great for underweight people who like pudding. Cream makes most soups and sauces taste wonderful, too.
I have a 1943 edition of "The Joy of Cooking," which includes a whole section on feeding convalescents and invalids. (Was it WW II, or were most women in that era taking care of convalescents and invalids, even without the war?) There is so much wisdom in that book. I'll take a look at it tonight and update this.
Wishing you and your father all the best. ;o)

I think full fat Greek yogurt--no prep time, and I can usually get it down when I have that knot in my stomach and am weak but can't think of anything I want to eat. Will keep up your dad's strength, too. Also maybe those delish scrambled eggs (if the egg smell doesn't bother anyone).
I agree that for you something along the lines of the carbonara dish might be good--and if you can't cope with even chewing, go ahead and leave out the green beans (Nigella Lawson has my go-to recipe that's so easy).
If you have a high-powered blender (like a vitamix) you can get nutrition into both of you quickly without chewing (mindless substanance). Sometimes when I can't cope with another salad I just dump in some greens and such (whey powder, berries, melon) and let her rip...
I'll keep you in my thoughts. My best to both of you!

I think chicken soup. Double chicken soup, in fact: make it once, then use the broth to make it again. You make it "thin" for invalids (broth and perhaps noodles, or rice) and "thick" for the healthier ones (add cooked vegetable, more chicken meat. I also like making Greek egg-lemon soup with it: cook some rice in the broth, add hot broth to one 1 beaten egg and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, beating constantly. It thickens up and is the only thing I feel like eating when I'm sick.

So sorry you're going through this. In my opinion, times like these call for your favorite foods, comforting foods that you really like. In your profile, you said you like simple pasta dishes. If it's not too rich, maybe you could make the carbonara that Jenny featured in her column last week: http://www.food52.com/blog/1141_pasta_carbonara_with_fresh_green_beans--rich, comforting, indulgent, and a little crunch with the green beans. There are also lots of recipes on the site for vegetable soups, lentil stews, beef stew--that's what I think of comfort food...the question is, what would help you? And what does your father like? You need to keep your energy up with so much illness to deal with. When I have trouble eating, I can usually manage to eat really good ice cream--maybe that will help you? Good luck, and I hope your father has a fast and complete recovery.