Patient education: High-calorie, high-protein diet (The Basics)

Why do I need a diet that is high in calories and protein? — Calories give your body energy. Protein helps build muscle and repair your tissues when you are sick or injured.

Your doctor might recommend that you eat a diet that is high in calories and protein if you have:

●Been losing weight without trying

●A poor appetite

●A serious burn

●Had surgery recently

●An infection

●A serious illness like cancer

What foods give me extra calories or protein? — Eat these foods or mix them with other foods to increase calories and protein.

●Grains – Add butter, cream cheese, or nut butter to bread, crackers, or pancakes. Mix pasta or quinoa with meats or vegetables. Sprinkle granola on yogurts and hot cereals. Choose croissants, muffins, and biscuits.

●Fruits – Mix fresh, frozen, or dried fruit into cereal or smoothies. Drink 100 percent fruit juice. Eat fresh, frozen, or canned fruit packed in its own juice.

●Vegetables – Add cheese, butter, or sauces to vegetables. Put avocado in sandwiches. Eat bean dip, guacamole, or hummus with chips.

●Dairy – Use full-fat milk or milk products. Add cheese to sandwiches and casseroles. Add Greek yogurt, heavy cream, or whipping cream to smoothies and shakes. Put sour cream or butter in other foods. Eat ice cream, custard, pudding, and cottage cheese.

●Meats, poultry, seafood, and proteins – Add meats or eggs to salads, casseroles, and vegetables. Use gravies and sauces. Snack on nuts and nut butter.

●Other foods or drinks – Drink high-protein nutritional supplement drinks (sample brand names: Ensure, Boost, Carnation Instant Breakfast).

What else should I know? — Some tips to help you increase calories and protein in your diet:

●Eat 5 to 6 small meals a day, instead of 3 large meals. You can also choose high-calorie snacks and drinks between meals.

●Keep snacks around that are easy to eat. Try to eat often, even if you don't feel hungry.

●Add butter, olive oil, pesto, nuts, sauces, gravy, powdered milk, protein powder, or cream to your foods. This gives them extra calories and protein.

●Drink 100 percent fruit juice, milkshakes, and smoothies instead of water. Try to drink at the end of meals so you don't fill up too soon.

●Add syrup, jams and jellies, honey, or brown sugar to other foods. Snack on protein bars.

More on this topic

Patient education: Diet and health (The Basics)

Patient education: Diet and health (Beyond the Basics)