High protein and high energy diets are right for you if you've got any of the following four conditions:
1. Over recent weeks lost 5% body weight or even more due to illness
2. You're presently underweight which suggests you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 19 or less
3. Have an issue eating enough as you do not have any appetite
4. Have issues swallowing because of a neurological problem
All of the food we eat gives us energy to make it thru the day. Fat and sugar are particularly good for energy and are good if you need to put on a few pounds due to any of the above conditions.
Protein foods are also important for stopping muscle loss and aiding to recover from illness. Muscle-wasting causes osteoporosis and insulin resistance (diabetes, raised blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc). That's why we must do whatever we are able to in order to stop this taking place.
Foods that are central to our diets and loaded in protein are beef, fish, poultry, seafood, legumes, pulses, dairy, nuts, eggs and seeds. We should have 2-3 serves of these foods every day.
Here are some tips for elevating your energy and protein intake:
Have breakfast cereal with milk, nuts, dried fruit, yoghurt, honey and sugar
1. Have some crackers with cheese, pate, hommos and cold meat
2. Have some milkshakes, eggflips and iced coffee
3. Have baked potato with beans, meat sauce or cheese
4. Have soup primarily based on meat, lentils, beans or cream
5. Have pasta with creamy sauce
6. Have a sandwich with meat, cheese, avocado, tuna or salmon
Here are ways to improve the food you eat and make each mouthful count:
1. Add milk powder or eggs to cereals, soups, gravies, desserts, in baked foods and to milk drinks
2. Add cheese to omelettes, soups, pasta, sauces and veg
3. Mix meat, lentils or beans into soups and sauces
4. Add margarine, butter, mayo to veggies, rice, pasta, salad and sandwiches
5. Add honey, cream or dried fruit to milkshakes, cereals, milk desserts and fruit juices
6. Add milk or milk powder into common desserts
7. Add commercial supplements like Sustagen, Ensure, Resource, 2Cal or Enprocal into common foods like mashed potato, pumpkin, casserole, etc.
These are some simple ways of increasing energy and protein intakes in aged individuals with reduced appetite and 2kg weight reduction over a month or 5kg weight control over 6 months.
1. Over recent weeks lost 5% body weight or even more due to illness
2. You're presently underweight which suggests you have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 19 or less
3. Have an issue eating enough as you do not have any appetite
4. Have issues swallowing because of a neurological problem
All of the food we eat gives us energy to make it thru the day. Fat and sugar are particularly good for energy and are good if you need to put on a few pounds due to any of the above conditions.
Protein foods are also important for stopping muscle loss and aiding to recover from illness. Muscle-wasting causes osteoporosis and insulin resistance (diabetes, raised blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc). That's why we must do whatever we are able to in order to stop this taking place.
Foods that are central to our diets and loaded in protein are beef, fish, poultry, seafood, legumes, pulses, dairy, nuts, eggs and seeds. We should have 2-3 serves of these foods every day.
Here are some tips for elevating your energy and protein intake:
Have breakfast cereal with milk, nuts, dried fruit, yoghurt, honey and sugar
1. Have some crackers with cheese, pate, hommos and cold meat
2. Have some milkshakes, eggflips and iced coffee
3. Have baked potato with beans, meat sauce or cheese
4. Have soup primarily based on meat, lentils, beans or cream
5. Have pasta with creamy sauce
6. Have a sandwich with meat, cheese, avocado, tuna or salmon
Here are ways to improve the food you eat and make each mouthful count:
1. Add milk powder or eggs to cereals, soups, gravies, desserts, in baked foods and to milk drinks
2. Add cheese to omelettes, soups, pasta, sauces and veg
3. Mix meat, lentils or beans into soups and sauces
4. Add margarine, butter, mayo to veggies, rice, pasta, salad and sandwiches
5. Add honey, cream or dried fruit to milkshakes, cereals, milk desserts and fruit juices
6. Add milk or milk powder into common desserts
7. Add commercial supplements like Sustagen, Ensure, Resource, 2Cal or Enprocal into common foods like mashed potato, pumpkin, casserole, etc.
These are some simple ways of increasing energy and protein intakes in aged individuals with reduced appetite and 2kg weight reduction over a month or 5kg weight control over 6 months.
About the Author:
Giselle Brand is an accredited practising dietitian and director of Aged Care Nutrition Services. She provides expert services such as aged care menu review and nutrition and hydration accreditation for aged care facilities in Australia.