Nutrition Tips

Increasing Calories and Protein

Aim for 6 mini-meals or snacks every day.

• Eat smaller amounts at one time. • Include a good protein source (see below) every time you eat. • Make smaller amounts of food or freeze the extra. • Be flexible and patient with yourself or loved ones.

Eat when it is time to eat, rather than waiting until you feel hungry or thirsty. • You may not feel the usual signs of hunger or thirst. • A timer or alarm can help remind you to eat or drink. • Try 1 cup of fluid every hour and a snack every 2-3 hours. • Schedule meals and snacks like you schedule your medications.

Choose high-calorie drinks. • Try nutritional supplement drinks like Boost Plus, Ensure Plus, etc. • Make snacks like milk shakes, smoothies, and hot chocolate. • Water is great. Other options with calories are juice, milk, or even soda with sugar.

Modify the foods/ beverages you eat/ drink. • Substitute “Super” recipes for milk, pudding, milkshakes, cream soups and cereal. • Add extra butter, gravy, mayonnaise, salad dressing, catsup, syrup and sauces to

foods.

Choose high-protein foods. • Meat, fish, chicken, turkey, eggs, milk, cheese, peanut butter, nuts, hummus or beans. • Use the “Super” versions for recipes. • Add whey protein powder to foods/beverages. • Meal replacement bars and shakes.

Drink at least 8 cups of fluid per day (12 cups if you are having chemo). • Keep a beverage handy at all times to encourage drinking. • Use a straw to increase fluid intake.

Nutrition Tips

Super Milk

Ingredients:

• 1 quart (4 cups) whole milk • I cup nonfat instant dry milk

Directions: • Pour liquid milk into a deep bowl or pitcher. • Add dry milk powder. Beat until dissolved. • Chill and serve cold.

Yields: 1 quart (4 cups). Serving size: 1 cup Calories per serving: 210 + flavoring calories (if used). Protein per serving: 16 grams Tips:

• Substitute this in any recipe that calls for milk. • Great in pudding, cereal, milkshakes, cream soups, mashed potatoes,

and casseroles. • Mix with “Instant Breakfast” for total of 340 calories and 21 grams of protein. • See “Super Milk Flavoring Ideas”.

Nutrition Tips

Super Milk Flavoring Ideas

• Chocolate or strawberry drink mix (Ovaltine, Quik, etc.) • Maple syrup or honey (pasteurized) • Ice cream toppings • Liquid baking extracts & flavorings: vanilla, almond, banana, orange, root beer etc. • Flavored water enhancer (MiO): orange, sweet tea, orange vanilla, berry flavors, etc. • Flavored syrups (like for snow cones or coffee) • Flavored gelatin powder or instant pudding mixes • Fresh fruits

Tips for flavoring success: • Begin with only small amounts of flavoring. Too much flavoring will taste bitter. • Most of these products are available in larger grocery stores or year round online. • Extracts and flavorings will need to be sweetened. The sweetness in these products

can be adjusted for taste. • Other flavorings listed above are already sweetened. • Many cancer treatments alter taste perception and affect flavor preferences.

Nutrition Tips

Super Cereal.

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces (larger can) evaporated milk • 1 cup Super Milk or whole milk • 2 Tbsp. butter • 1/2 cup cream of wheat, malt-o-meal, Coco Wheats or dry oatmeal (not instant) • 1/3 cup brown sugar • 1/3 cup white sugar

Directions: • Combine milks and butter in saucepan over medium heat. • Bring to a boil; stirring occasionally. • Add sugars and cereal slowly; continue stirring until well mixed. • Bring to a boil; stir occasionally. • Cool slightly and serve. Freezes well.

Yield: 5 servings Serving size: ½ cup Calories per serving: 350 calories Protein per serving: 10 grams

*Recipe courtesy of Virginia Gay Hospital, Vinton Iowa.    

Nutrition Tips

Super Milkshake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Super Milk • ¾ cup ice cream (or frozen Greek yogurt) • Optional add-ins (see below)

Directions:

Blend or beat well and serve.

Yield: 1 serving Calories per serving: 485 Protein per serving: 24 grams

Optional add-ins:

Fresh or frozen: banana, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, orange juice concentrate, crushed pineapple, raspberries or a combination of fruits

Dessert toppings i.e. chocolate syrup or caramel

Cookie chunks

Candy Bar chunks or candy pieces

Peanut butter or Nutella

Instant pudding mix or flavored gelatin powder (2-4 tsp works well)

Nutrition Tips

Slushees, Smoothies, and Freezes

Hawaiian Slushee

• ¾ cup Hawaiian Punch (or fruit juice) • 1/3 cup dry nonfat instant dry milk • ½ cup lemon or orange sherbet • 1 Tbsp sugar • 3 ice cubes • Combine & blenderize about 10 seconds. • (415 calories and 16 grams protein per serving)

Fruit Smoothie

• 1 container (4-5 oz) flavored Greek yogurt (not light) • ¾ cup sweetened frozen fruit • ½ cup fruit juice • ¼-1/2 cup ice cubes • Blenderize until smooth. • (342 calories and 12 grams protein per serving)

Sherbet Freeze

• 1 cup sherbet • ½ cup Super Milk • ½ tsp vanilla (or other flavor) extract • Combine and freeze to a slushy consistency. • (320 calories & 10 grams protein per serving)

Nutrition Tips

Cheesy Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed

• 2 cups chicken broth

• 2 stalks celery, chopped

• ½ small onion, peeled and chopped

• 2 Tbsp. butter

• 1 Tbsp. flour

• 2 cups Super Milk or whole milk

• 3 eggs, hard-cooked, peeled, chopped and pushed through a sieve

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• In a heavy saucepan, cook the potatoes in chicken broth with celery and onion until the potatoes are tender.

• Blend the mixture in a blender or processor.

• In the same pan over low heat, melt the butter and stir in flour to make a paste.

• Slowly add the milk, stirring or whisking continuously until the mixture is thoroughly blended and heated through.

• Add the pureed potato mixture, eggs and cheese.

• Mix well and season with salt and pepper as desired.

Yields: 4 servings Serving size: 1 ½ cup Calories per serving: 463 Protein per serving: 22 grams when prepared with

Super Milk

Nutrition Tips

Macaroni, Ham and Cheese Casserole

Ingredients:

• 2 cups dry elbow macaroni

• 6 Tbsp. butter, divided

• ¼ cup flour

• 2 cups Super Milk or whole milk

• 2 cups cooked, smoked ham, cut into 1/4 inch chunks

• 2 cups grated cheddar cheese, divided

• 1 tsp. onion powder

• 4 Tbsp. dry bread crumbs

Directions:

• Cook macaroni until tender and drain thoroughly.

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

• Heat 4 tbsp. of butter in a large soup pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until melted.

• Add flour and cook, stirring with a wire whisk, until the mixture froths and foams.

• Add milk, whisking 3-4 minutes or until the sauce thickens and is smooth.

• Stir in the macaroni, diced ham, 1 ½ cups of the cheese and the onion powder.

• Butter a large casserole dish and spoon in the macaroni mixture.

• Melt the remaining 2 Tbsp. butter, mix with the remaining ½ cup cheese and bread crumbs.

• Spread the bread crumb mixture evenly over the top.

• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes at 375 degrees.

Yields: 6 cups Serving size: 1 cup Calories per serving: 42 Protein per serving: 18 grams