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Cancer: Increasing Calories and Protein HF#5276



Why is protein important to me?

 

Protein is needed to maintain your muscle and lean body mass.  Protein is also needed to enhance your immune system.  The amount of protein a person needs is about 50 – 75 grams per day.  If you have cancer, it may be helpful to increase the amount of protein you have in a day to 80 – 90 grams.

 

How will I know how much protein I am getting?

 

This chart will give you a place to start when adding up the amount of protein you are eating in a day.  Another chart will follow later in this handout that will give you ideas about how to add protein to your daily diet.

 

Serving of Food

Grams of protein

1 cup milk (whole, 2%, 1%, fat-free, skim)

8

1 ounce meat, poultry, or fish

7

½ cup lentils, dry beans, or peas

6

1 ounce cheese

6

1 slice of bread

2

½ cup of pasta or rice

2

1 ounce tofu

2

 

 

Why are calories important to me?

 

The diet that people suggest to prevent cancer, such as a low-fat, high-fiber diet, may not be the diet that is needed during certain periods of cancer treatment.  This is the time to switch gears and deal with the problems of today.  This is the time to nourish your body with all the nutrients you need to stay strong and fight this disease.  The number one nutrient needed now is calories.  A major source of concentrated calories is fats.  Calories and fats have a bad name.  In fact, you may have spent most of your life trying to limit or avoid them.  You will need to make peace with them now.  They are crucial if you have a waning appetite or you have other problems that affect your eating.

 

How will I know how many calories I am getting in a day?

 

You may find the chart that follows to be helpful in giving you a good estimate.  You can always find the exact amount of calories in an item by checking the label.

How can I increase the amount of protein and calories that I am getting each day?

 

There are many ways.  You will be able to use the chart that follows to add to what you are already eating or to try using foods in a new way.   Items that are also high in protein are noted with an *.

 

Food ideas

Calories

How to add it

Roasted nuts*

 

¼ cup

 

 

200
  • Add nuts to cookies, muffins, or breads.
  • Sprinkle on cooked vegetables.
  • Snack on nuts.

Peanut butter*

 

2 tablespoons

 

 

200
  • Spread on crackers or apple slices.
  • Spread on frozen “ice cream sandwich.”

Bottled salad dressing

 

2 tablespoons

 

 

50-200

 

(check labels)
  • Choose regular salad dressing instead of reduced/low fat dressings.
  • Spread on sandwiches and crackers.
  • Combine with meat, fish, egg, or vegetable salads.
  • Use in sauces.

Mayonnaise

 

2 tablespoons

 

 

200
  • Choose regular salad dressing instead of reduced/low fat dressings.
  • Spread on sandwiches and crackers.
  • Combine with meat, fish, egg, or vegetable salads.  Such as a tuna or egg salad.
  • Use in sauces and gelatin dishes.

Sour Cream

 

6 tablespoons

 

 

200
  • Add to cream soups, potatoes, pasta dishes, cooked vegetables, sauces, stews, cooked meats, and fish.
  • Use as a sauce on cooked meats.
  • Add to gravies.
  • Use as a topping for cakes, gelatin desserts, breads, and muffins.

Cream Cheese

 

2 ounces

6 tablespoons

 

 

200
  • Spread on breads, crackers, or muffins.
  • Roll into balls and coat with chopped dry roasted nuts or granola for snacks.
  • Whip into mashed potatoes and other cooked vegetables.

Table Cream

 

Half & Half

  10 tablespoons

 

Light Cream

  6 ½ tablespoons

 

Medium Creams

  5 ½ tablespoons

 

Heavy or Whipping Cream

  ¾ cup

 

 

 

 

200

 

 

200

 

 

200

 

 

 

200
  • Use in cream soups, sauces, egg dishes, batters, pudding, and custards.
  • Pour on hot or cold cereal.
  • Mix with pasta, rice, and mashed potatoes.
  • Pour on chicken and fish while baking.
  • Use as a binder in ground meats.
  • Use in place of part of the milk in recipes.
  • Make hot chocolate with cream and add marshmallows.

Non-Dairy Creamer

 

½ cup powder

 

¾ cup liquid

 

 

200

 

200
  • Add to soups, gravies, sauces, hot cereals, and milk shakes.
  • Use flavored creamers in coffee.
  • Add flavored creamers to warm milk and sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg.

Butter or Margarine

 

2 tablespoons

 

 

200
  • Add extra to potatoes and other cooked vegetables.
  • Add to soups.
  • Add extra to eggs, breads, pasta, rice, hot cereals, grits, and popcorn.
  • Spread on breads while they are still warm so that more butter or margarine will be melted into the bread.

Ice Cream

 

½ cup

 

 

150-350
  • Use in beverages such as milk shakes and floats.
  • Eat as a snack.
  • Top cereal and desserts with ice cream.
  • Make ice cream sandwiches with cookies.

High Calorie Powders

 

Benecalorie®

  1 ½ ounce 

 (Nestle®

 1-888-240-2713)

 

(Polycose® 

  1 tablespoon

(Aboott Nutrition

1-800-258-7677)

 

 

 

 

 

 

330

 

 

23
  • You can find these products sold in cans at drug stores or direct from the company.
  • Commercial glucose polymers can be added to foods to increase calories without adding extra sweetness.
  • Add powder or liquid form to cooked vegetables, casseroles, stews, ground meats, desserts, and beverages.

Commercial Liquid Supplements*

 

  1 cup or 1 single serving can

 

 

 

 

240-600
  • Drink high calorie nutritional supplements as needed to help maintain or improve nutritional status.
  • Boost® and Ensure® are examples
  • More ideas on the next page.

Food Preparation Hints

 
  • Bread meats and vegetables.
  • Be generous with the amount of sauces and gravies added to pasta, cooked vegetables, and meats.
  • Choose creamed, buttered, or au gratin recipes

 

There are so many supplements.  How do I choose?

 

The use of supplements can boost calories if you cannot increase the size or frequency of meals.  These products can be found at drug stores, grocery stores, or through mail order:

 

Supplements for kids

Product

Form

Amount

Calories

Duocal®

Powder

1 tablespoon

43

Carnation Instant Breakfast Junior®

Powder

With 1 cup of milk

260

Resource Breeze®

Liquid/juice base

1 cup

250

Resource Just for Kids 1.5®

Liquid

1 cup

355

Pediasure®

Liquid

1 cup

240

Kindercal®

Liquid

1 cup

240

 

Supplements for Adults

Product

Form

Amount

Calories

Carnation Instant Breakfast®

Powder

With 1 cup of whole milk

280

Boost®

Liquid

1 cup

240

Resource Breeze®

Liquid/juice base

1 cup

250

Ensure®

Liquid

1 cup

250

Ensure Plus®

Liquid

1 cup

360

Boost Plus®

Liquid

1 cup

360

*(Check for more store brands that cost less money).

 

 

Teach Back:

 

 

What is the most important thing you learned from this handout?

 

 

What changes will you make in your diet/lifestyle, based on what you learned today?


 

 

 



The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 03/22/2013

Copyright © 03/22/2013 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#5276

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