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:
- Cheese, cream cheese
- Whole milk, heavy cream, whipped cream
- Sour cream
- Butter, margarine, oil
- Ice cream
- Cake, cookies, chocolate
- Gravy
- Salad dressing, mayonnaise
- Avocado
- Jam, jelly, syrup
- Honey, sugar
- Dried Fruit
- Cheese, cottage cheese
- Milk, soy milk, milk powder
- Eggs
- Yogurt
- Nuts, seeds
- Peanut butter
- Tofu and other soy products
- Beans, peas, lentils
- Beef, poultry, pork, and other meats
- Fish and other seafood
Snack Suggestions
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.
- Reviewer: Dianne Scheinberg Rishikof MS, RD, LDN
- Review Date: 03/2013 -
- Update Date: 03/15/2013 -