FOOD FIRSTA guide to help people who

find it difficult to gain weight.

Information for patients

NHS Calderdale

IntroductionThis information booklet is designed to help you if you have:

• lostweightorarelosingweight,unintentionally;

• apoorappetite;

• problemsgainingweight.

Improving your dietary intake can help towards keeping you as healthy as possible.

If you have diabetesIt is important to maintain good control of your blood sugars whilst trying to gain weight. The advice to include additional smallermeals,extrasnacksandfatwillhelptopreventfurther weight loss. Your intake of sugar and sugary foods may be increased cautiously however you should measure your blood sugar levels more frequently to monitor the effectofthisonyourdiabetes.Contactyourdoctor,nurseordietician if you need further advice.

Getting a lot out of a little• Eatthreesmallmealsandtwoorthreesnacksperday(see

sectiononsnackideas).Eatavarietyoffoodsthatyouenjoy.

• Keepsnackshandyandreadytoeat.

• Tryatleasttwonourishingdrinksperdaye.g.milk,milkycoffee,hotchocolateormalteddrinks(seenourishingdrinks ideas).

• Enrichedmilk:addfourtablespoonsofdriedwholemilkpowdertoonepintoffullcreammilk–usethisindrinks,cereals,puddings,saucesandformakingmilkydrinks.

Food first

• Useextrabutter/margarineonbread,chapattisandcrackers,addtopotatoesandvegetables.

• Sprinklegratedcheeseontosoups,stews,sauces,potatoes,vegetables,beansontoastandscrambledeggs.

• Adddoublecreamtosoups,desserts,mashedpotatoesand fruit.

• Choosefullfatproductswhereverpossible,ratherthan‘diet’foods,e.g.fullfatcheese,condensedorcreamysoups,‘thickandcreamy’yoghurtsandcreamypuddings.

• Usesugaryfoodse.g.jam,syrup,honeyandtreacleonporridge,milkpuddings,cakesandonbread.

• Addextrasugarindrinks,puddings,oncerealsandporridge.

Helpful hints• Ifyouhaveasmallappetite,aimforfiveorsixsmallmeals

throughouttheday,ratherthantwoorthreelargermeals.

• Don’trushyourmeals–taketimetorelaxandenjoythem,e.g. use background music or try to eat with company.

• Trynottodrinkalotoffluidjustbeforeyourmeal,asthismayreduceyourappetite,butdrinkplentyatothertimes.

• Awalkinthefreshairbeforemealscanoftenimproveappetite

• Makethemostofdayswhenyouarefeelingbetterbyeating well – try to include your favourite foods

• Ifcookingisdifficultormakesyoutired,conveniencefoodscanbeuseful.Thereisawiderangeoffrozen,chilled or packet ready meals to try.

NHS Calderdale

• Alcohol,insmallamounts,canhelpstimulateyourappetite,ifpermittedbyyourdoctor

• Smokingtendstoreduceyourappetite–cuttingbackwill help improve your appetite and health in general

If your food intake or weight has not improved within a maximum of four weeks, contact your GP or nurse.

When you reach your target weight• Slowlyreducethenumberofextrasnacksthatyouare

eating.

• Changebacktolowerfatoptionsifyoucontinuetogainweighte.g.semi-skimmedmilk,lowfatyogurt.

Snack ideas• fruitcake,currantteacakeandmaltloaf

• biscuits–cheeseorchocolate

• miniporkpie/pastry

• sausagerollorquiche

• sconesorcrumpetswithjamandcream

• cake,e.g.jamsponge,minirolls,parkin

• crackersordigestivebiscuitswithbutterandcheese

• nuts–savoury,chocolateoryoghurtcoated

Food first

• chevdaorBombaymix

• driedfruit–plain,chocolateoryoghurtcoated

• crisps,chocolateandsweets

• breakfastcerealwithenrichedmilk

• toastwithpeanutbutter

• breadsticksanddips

• bhajia,samosas,pakora.

Puddings• trifle–fruitorchocolate

• eggcustard

• crèmecaramel

• gateauxandcheesecakewithcreamoricecream

• full-fatmousse

• thickandcreamyyoghurt

• ricepuddingwithdriedfruit,jamorhoney

• spongeandcustard

• icecreamwithtinnedfruit

• instantpudding,e.g.AngelDelight

• milkyjellymadewithevaporatedmilkorfortifiedmilk

• Asianpuddingse.g.Gulabjamen,sevyiaan.

NHS Calderdale

Enriched soup

Ingredients:

1 packet or soup in a sachet

1 cup enriched full fat milk

cheese(grated)

Emptythecontentsofthepacket into mug.

Addwarmmilkandmixwell.

Put grated cheese on top.

Milk shake

Ingredients:

1 cup enriched full fat milk

1 scoop ice cream

1 tablespoon milk powder

flavouringse.g.milkshakesyrup,drinking chocolate

Mixtogetherandwhiskwell.

Chill and serve.

Nourishing drinks

Chilled banana drink

Ingredients:

1banana(mashed)

1 cup enriched full fat milk

1 teaspoon honey

1 scoop ice cream

Whisk or liquidise all ingredients together.

Servecold.

Food first

Fruit yoghurt drink

Ingredients:

1 small carton of full fat yoghurt (naturalorfruit)

1 small glass fruit juice or pureed fruit

Whisk or liquidise all ingredients together.

Chill and serve with a spoon of double cream.

Spicy night cap

Ingredients:

1 cup of enriched full fat milk

1 teaspoon syrup

a pinch of ground cinnamon

apinchofmixedspice

3-4 teaspoons of whisky or brandy (ifallowed)

Warm the milk in a saucepan or microwave

Addthesyrup,groundcinnamonandmixedspices

Addwhisky/brandyandservehot.

NHS Calderdale

Breakfast:• cerealwithfortifiedmilkandsugar

• cookedbreakfast,ifdesired,e.g.bacon,sausageand tomato

• bread/toastwithbutterandjam.

Mid-morning:• glassoffortifiedmilkornourishingdrink(seelist)

• smallsnack,e.g.biscuits,cake,crisps(seelist).

Lunch:• sandwichwithmeat,fish,cheeseoregg

• creamysoupwithbreadandbutter

• toastwithbakedbeans,egg,pateorfish,e.g.sardines

• puddingse.g.creamyyoghurt,icecream(seedesserts list).

Sample meal plan

Food first

Mid-afternoon:• asmidmorning.

Evening meal:• meat,fish,cheeseoregg

• potatoes,rice,pastaorchapatti

• vegetablesorsalad(withbutterormayonnaise)dessert(seelist).

Supper:• hotmilkydrinkwithfortifiedmilk,e.g.hot

• chocolate,OvaltineorHorlicks

• smallsnack(seelist).

Aimtodrinkatleastsixtoeightcupsofnon-alcoholicfluidthroughouttheday.Twotothreeoftheseshouldbenourishingdrinks(seepreviousideas).

NHS Calderdale

Don’t forget!

The foods you keep in your kitchen will depend on your likes and dislikes.

Herearesomeideasofextrafoodstoputonyourshoppinglist.

Shopping list

In the store cupboard:

• milkpowder,tinnedmeatsa

ndfish,e.g.

cornedbeef,ham,tunaandpil

chards

• macaronicheese,tinnedspa

ghetti,baked

beans

• creamy/condensedtinnedor

packetsoups

• instantmashedpotato

• tinnedvegetablesandpotat

oes

• tinnedcream,condensed/e

vaporated

milks

• tinnedfruit

• tins/cartonsofmilkpuddin

g,custard,

mousse,jelly

• snacks,e.g.nuts,crisps,swe

etandsavoury

biscuits

• driedfruit,e.g.currants,apr

icots,raisins

• honey,syrup,treacle,jam,le

moncurd

• Horlicks,Ovaltineanddrinkin

gchocolate.

Food first

Don’t forget!

In the freezer:

• icecream

• readymeals,e.g.cottagepie

,corned

beefhash,currywithrice

• fishpie,fishfingers

• boilinthebagmeals,e.g.c

odinsauce

• frozenchipsandvegetables

.

In the fridge:

• fullfatmilk

• cheese–hardvarieties

• freshcream

• smallpotsoftrifle,fullfaty

oghurts,

custard – thick and creamy varieties

• pies,pasties,quiches.

Shopping list

AcknowledgmenttoNHSKirklees

AdaptedfromWakefieldDistrictGuidelinesfortheAssessmentandManagementofUnderNutritionintheCommunity

NHS Calderdale4th Floor F MillDean CloughHalifaxHX3 5AX

Tel: 01422 281300

Date of publication: June 2011Print ref: HH3807 Job ref: EXd43413