High-Calorie/High-Protein Diet

The dietary outline is intended for people seeking to boost or maintain both body weight and the intake of required nutrients, and may be especially useful to those experiencing a decrease in appetite or frequent nausea. The foods listed may also aid in the healing process by bolstering the immune system.

Grains: 6-11 servings daily

You can supply your body with many essential nutrients, including fiber, iron, niacin, thiamin, and zinc, by eating the following foods from the grain group:

• Bagels, crescent rolls, croissants, muffins, pancakes, pita bread, tortillas, waffles, whole-grain breads

• Ready-to-eat cereals (granola, shredded wheat) and cooked cereals (farina, grits, oatmeal)

• Couscous, enriched rice, pastas (in all shapes and colors)

Vegetables: 3-5 servings daily

You can supply your body with folic acid, potassium, vitamins A and C, and other essential nutrients by consuming the following foods and drinks from the vegetable group:

• All fresh, frozen, and canned vegetables, such as artichokes, asparagus, avocados, beets, bell peppers (red and green), bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chard, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, green beans, jicama, kale, mushrooms, okra, peas, snow peas, potatoes, spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, winter squash, and zucchini

• Vegetable juices, such as tomato juice and V8 Juice

Fruit: 2-4 servings daily

You can supply your body with many essential nutrients, including folic acid, potassium, soluble and insoluble fiber, and vitamins A and C, by consuming the following foods and drinks from the fruit group:

• All fresh, frozen, dried, and canned fruits (including those canned in heavy syrup), such as apples, apricots, bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, grapefruit, grapes, honeydew, kiwi, mango, oranges, papayas, pears, peaches, pineapples, plums, raisins, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, and watermelon

• Fruit juices, such as orange, grapefruit, and red grape juice

Dairy: 2-3 servings daily

You can supply your body with calcium, protein, riboflavin, vitamins B12 and D, and zinc by consuming the following foods and drinks from the dairy group:

• Whole milk (fortified or regular)

• Custard, ice cream, pudding

• Yogurt (low fat or regular)

• Cheese (all kinds)

• Cheese spreads

• Whole-fat cottage cheese

Meat & Other Protein Sources: 2-3 servings daily

You can supply your body with many essential nutrients, including folic acid, iron, magnesium, niacin, protein, thiamin, vitamins B6 and B12, and zinc, by eating the following foods from the meat group:

• Beef, fish, lamb, pork, poultry, shellfish, veal

• Eggs

• Dried beans and peas, lentils

• Peanut butter

• All kinds of nuts

• Tofu (soy bean curd)

Fats & Snacks

Incorporate the following foods into your diet as needed to increase calorie intake:

• Butter, cream cheese, gravies, margarine, salad dressings

• Honey, jams, jellies, sugar (white or brown), syrup, whipped cream

• Cake, candy, cookies, custard, ice cream, ice cream bars, nuts, pie, pudding, trail mix

Guidelines for Boosting Calorie & Protein Intake

The following sections provide strategies for increasing the amount of calories and protein in your diet. A few basic guidelines may help you:

• Try to eat a substantial breakfast every morning; your appetite is likely to be at its peak in the morning hours.

• Try always to keep foods that are easy to prepare (canned foods, eggs, frozen dinners) on hand.

• Instead of eating three large meals daily, try smaller, more-frequent meals, adding a new food to your diet each day.

• Make efforts to prepare meals ahead of time, fixing small portions -- high in protein and calories -- and storing them in the refrigerator or freezer for later serving.

Note: If you are experiencing a decrease in your appetite or difficulty with eating, nutritionally complete products may help you to meet your daily dietary needs. Nutritionally complete products are available in a variety of flavors and forms (bars, beverages, puddings, soups), and most provide the calories, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals that you normally obtain through a balanced diet of natural foods. You can find nutritionally complete products in your local grocery stores and pharmacies.

Strategies for Boosting Calorie Intake

Calories are your body's basic fuel, and the need for fuel (or energy) never stops. You eat calories, store them in your body, and burn them; this process is what keeps you alive and active.

If your diet fails to provide sufficient calories, your body will turn to using its own energy stores without adequately replenishing them. (With some chronic illnesses, such as AIDS/HIV and cancer, and some emotional disturbances, protein stores may be used up first, putting a person at risk of wasting.)

The easiest -- and tastiest -- way to add calories to your diet is to increase your consumption of foods that are high in fat and/or high in sugar. Such foods, however, should not replace the more nutritious sources of calories in your daily eating.

Fats & Oils

Fats and oils, including butter, gravies, margarine, and mayonnaise, provide large numbers of calories in small servings. By adding fats and oils to the foods you regularly prepare you can increase your overall calorie intake. Try the following strategies:

• Use extra margarine on bread, extra mayonnaise in tuna salad, generous amounts of gravies on meats, sour cream on potatoes, cream sauces on vegetables.

• Butter your toast when it is hot (the butter will melt into the bread, and more can then easily be added).

• Use mayonnaise in place of salad dressing (mayonnaise has more calories).

• Use sour cream as a dip for vegetables or on French fries.

• Add avocado slices or guacamole to salads and sandwiches.

• Prepare vegetables au gratin, buttered, or creamed.

• Add frosting or whipped cream to desserts.

• Blend or whip cream or ice cream with canned fruit, including the syrup from the can.

Carbohydrates

Foods that are high in carbohydrates, including sugar, jam, honey, syrup, and marmalade, offer additional simple ways to boost calorie intake. Most of these foods are easy to keep on hand, and many require little or no preparation. Try the following strategies:

• Sweeten fruit with honey or sugar.

• Keep cakes, candy, cookies, dried fruit, nuts, and pies available for snacking.

• Top breads, pancakes, and waffles with dried fruit, jam, nuts, or syrup (and, to increase your intake of fat, cream cheese or extra margarine).

• Spread frosting, honey, jam, or syrup on graham crackers.

Liquids

In addition to drinking liquids with high calorie counts (eggnog, milkshakes, nutritional supplements like Ensure, Sustacal, and Nestle's Carnation Instant Breakfast) instead of coffee, diet soda, tea, and water, try the following strategies:

• Substitute heavy cream for milk in recipes.

• Use half-and-half instead of milk on breakfast cereals.

• Use creamer powders in coffee, hot cereals, hot cocoa, gravies, milkshakes, and soups (they add calories without adding volume).

Strategies for Boosting Protein Intake

Foods that are rich in protein supply your body with amino acids, which help to build, repair, and maintain cells and muscle tissue, to heal wounds, and to support the immune system.

The best sources of protein are in the dairy group (including cheeses and yogurts) and in the meat group (including beans, eggs, and nuts).

In general, try to limit your intake of bulky, high-fiber foods, such as carrots, cauliflower, and celery, which may satisfy your hunger but will supply your body with comparatively little protein and few calories.

For this reason it is also a good idea to leave your dinner salad for the end of the meal.

Dairy Sources

The following food-preparation strategies, which involve incorporating foods from the dairy group into your diet, may help you to boost your overall intake of protein (some strategies may help to boost your calorie intake as well):

• Replace broth and vegetable soups in your diet with cream soups.

• Add non-fat dry milk to casseroles, cream soups and sauces, custards, gravies, hot and cold cereals, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, meatballs, meatloaf, milkshakes, puddings, scrambled eggs, and whole milk (fortified whole milk).

• Use evaporated milk, half-and-half, whole milk, or fortified whole milk instead of water when preparing canned soups, cream sauces and gravies, instant cocoa, and puddings from mixes.

• Add cottage cheese, grated cheese, or tofu to burritos, casseroles, cooked vegetables, pastas, rice, salads, soups, and toast.

• Stuff fruits and vegetables with cottage or ricotta cheese.

• Top pancakes or waffles with a generous scoop of ice cream.

Meat and Other Protein Sources

The following food-preparation strategies, which involve incorporating meats and other protein sources into your diet, may help you to boost your overall intake of protein (some strategies may help to boost your calorie intake as well):

• Blend finely chopped hard-boiled egg whites into gravies and sauces.  Caution: Do not eat raw eggs -- they may be contaminated with salmonella bacteria.

• Add hard-boiled eggs or egg substitute to chicken salad, cooked seafood, diced meat, pastas, potato salad, rice, tuna, turkey salad, and vegetables.

• Prepare deviled eggs, or try egg salad on bread or crackers.

• If you avoid eating meat, try adding other sources of protein -- tofu, or cooked or canned beans (black and kidney) -- to casseroles, pastas, rice dishes, and salads.

• Try adding tofu to cheesecake and soups.

• Add your favorite cheese or chopped meat to omelet's, salads, scrambled eggs, and soups.

• Prepare fish, poultry, and meats by coating with bread crumbs and then frying. (Breading and frying provides more calories than does broiling or roasting.)

• Try peanut butter on apples, bananas, bread, celery, French toast, graham crackers, pears, vanilla wafers, and waffles.

• Instead of carrots and celery sticks as a snack, try cheese and crackers, chips and dip, granola bars, Pop Tarts, pudding pops, and nuts.

The above opinionated views and information serves to educated and informed consumer .  The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. .It should not replaced professional advise and consultation.A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions