High-Calorie, High-Protein Diet
Why Follow a High-Calorie, High-Protein Diet?
A high-calorie, high-protein diet may be recommended if you have recently lost weight, have a poor appetite, or have an increased need for protein, such as with a burn or infection. Eating a high-calorie, high-protein diet can help you:
- Have more energy
- Gain weight or stop losing weight
- Heal
- Resist infection
- Recover faster from surgery or illness
High-Calorie, High-Protein Diet Food Guide
Below is a list of foods that are high in calories and protein. Whenever possible, include foods from these lists in your snacks and meals:
High-Calorie Foods | High-Protein Foods |
---|---|
|
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Snack Suggestions
Snack | Directions | Calories |
---|---|---|
Fruit smoothie | Blend 8 ounces whole milk vanilla yogurt + ½ cup orange juice + 1 cup frozen berries | 360 |
Egg and cheese English muffin | 1 whole wheat English muffin + 2 teaspoons margarine spread or butter + 1 ounce cheese + 1 egg | 365 |
Peanut butter and banana sandwich | 2 slices of bread + 2 tablespoons peanut butter + 1 sliced banana | 400 |
Trail Mix | ½ cup nuts, seeds, and dried fruit | 350 |
Cereal, milk, and banana | 1 cup presweetened wheat cereal + 8 ounces whole milk + 1 banana | 360 |
Yogurt and granola | 1 cup whole milk flavored yogurt + ½ cup low-fat granola | 440 |
Ten Tips for Increasing Calorie and Protein Intake
- Eat small, frequent meals and snacks throughout the day.
- Keep prepared, ready-to-eat snacks on hand while at home, at the office, and on the road.
- Drink your calories. Choose high-calorie fluids, such as milk, blended coffee drinks, milk shakes, or juice.
- Add protein powder or powdered milk to your beverages, smoothies, and foods, such as cream soups, scrambled eggs, gravy, and mashed potatoes.
- Melt cheese onto sandwiches, bread, tortillas, eggs, meat, and vegetables.
- Use milk in place of water when cooking and when preparing foods, such as hot cereal, cocoa, or pudding.
- Load salads with hardboiled eggs, avocado, nuts, cheese, and dressing.
- Use peanut butter or creamy salad dressings as a dip for raw veggies.
- Try commercial supplements (eg, Boost, Ensure, Resource, Carnation Instant Breakfast).
- Talk to a registered dietitian. He can help you develop an individualized eating plan.
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canada's Food Guide
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/
Dietitians of Canada
http://www.dietitians.ca/
References:
High-calorie, high-protein diet. Dietitians of Canada website. Available at: http://www.dieteticsatwork.com/client_education/sample_high_calorie_high_protein_diet_final.pdf . Accessed February 15, 2006.
High-calorie/high-protein diet. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford website. Available at: http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/oncology/hchpd.html . Accessed February 15, 2006.
My Food-A-Pedia. MyPyramid.gov website. Available at: http://www.myfoodapedia.gov/Default.aspx. Accessed January 3, 2010.
Nutrition care manual. American Dietetic Association website. Available at: http://nutritioncaremanual.org/auth.cfm?p=%2Findex.cfm%3F. Accessed January 3, 2009.
Shield J, Mullen MC. Patient education materials. Supplement to the Manual of Clinical Dietetics. 3rd ed. Chicago, IL: American Dietetic Association; 2001.
Tips for increasing protein in your diet. UPMC Health System website. Available at: http://patienteducation.upmc.com/Pdf/IncreasingProtein.pdf . Accessed February 15. 2006.
Last reviewed January 2010 by Maria Adams, MS, MPH, RD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.