How to eat more calories and protein when eating is a chore

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Why are calories and protein important?

Eating enough calories and protein can help you:

Keep your strength and energy
Maintain your weight and muscle mass
Cope with side effects from your treatment
Lower your risk of infection
Lower your risk of a hospital stay
Heal and get better faster

How do I know if I am getting enough calories?

Watch for changes in your weight. If you lose weight without trying, you may not be getting enough calories. See below for a list of high-calorie foods to add to your diet. Weigh yourself at least once a week and write it down. If this is too stressful, ask your health care team to weigh you at each appointment.

How do I know if I am getting enough protein?

A dietitian can help you determine how much protein you need each day. In general, people with cancer need more protein than usual. Try to eat a protein food at every meal and snack. See below for a list of high-protein foods.

Do I need to take vitamin and mineral supplements?

No, unless your doctor tells you differently. Your vitamin and mineral needs when you have cancer are the same as when you were healthy.

A regular dose multivitamin-mineral supplement may help if you cannot eat a variety of foods. Your doctor or dietitian may recommend a multivitamin-mineral supplement.

Big doses of vitamins and minerals can be harmful and are usually not recommended. Talk to your doctor, dietitian, or pharmacist about any vitamin and mineral supplements you are taking.

I am never hungry – how can I eat enough?

Choose high-calorie, high-protein foods often. See below for ideas.
Keep foods and snacks where you can see them as a reminder to eat. Stock up on snacks like muffins, crackers, cheese, trail mix, and yogurt.
Eat small meals and snacks every two to three hours. Do not wait to feel hungry.
Eat your favorite foods at any time of the day. For example, try breakfast for dinner.
Go for a walk before meals to increase your appetite.
Eat your biggest meal when you feel most hungry, not when you usually would.
Choose fluids that give you energy like milk, smoothies, soups, and 100 per cent fruit juice.
Limit fluids with no calories and no protein like water, tea, coffee, and broth. These will fill you up but do not have any protein or calories.
Drink fluids in-between meals, not during meals, so that you do not fill up as quickly. If you do drink with meals, take small sips.
Make cooking easier:
- Keep easy-to-make foods that you know you like on hand, like frozen entrées, canned foods, eggs, and prepared foods from the grocery store.
- Order take-out.
- Accept offers from friends and family to cook meals or grocery shop.
- Cook and freeze meals when you have energy, to have on hand.
Eat what tastes good, even if that means eating the same foods every day.
Try nutrition supplement drinks. Choose “plus” varieties for more calories. If these are too sweet, add plain milk or blend them in a smoothie.

High-calorie foods

♥ Heart-healthy
* Plant-based

Note: For lactose-free choose “lactose-free” cow’s milk products or plant-based options.


High-calorie foods	Tips to use them
Canola, olive, and sunflower oil ♥*	Pan-fry meats, fish, vegetables, and stir-fries Toss to coat salads, vegetables, and pasta before adding sauce Drizzle on popcorn Dip bread in olive oil and balsamic vinegar Add 1 Tbsp. of canola oil (because it is tasteless) to smoothies and soups
Avocado ♥*	Eat as a snack Blend into smoothies or milkshakes Spread on sandwiches and crackers Add to tuna, egg, chicken, or mashed chickpea salad
Olives ♥*	Eat as a snack Add to pasta, pizza, and salads
Butter, margarine	Add to vegetables, mashed potatoes, hot cereal, and rice Toss to coat pasta before adding sauce Spread on bread and muffins
Cream	Use to make hot chocolate, soups, puddings, and sauces Pour over Jell-O or fruit Top pancakes, fruit, desserts, and hot drinks with whipped cream Blend into smoothies or milkshakes
Cream cheese, mayonnaise	Spread on sandwiches and crackers Add to tuna, egg, chicken, or mashed chickpea salad
Jams, jellies, syrups * Honey, sweetened condensed milk	Spread on toast, muffins, and crackers Add to yogurt, ice cream, hot cereals, and pudding Blend into smoothies or milkshakes
Dried fruit, coconut *	Sprinkle on cereal, ice cream, and desserts Mix with cereal and nuts to make trail mix

High-protein foods

These foods are also a good source of calories.

♥ Heart-healthy
* Plant-based


High-protein foods	Tips to use them
Meat, poultry, and fatty fish ♥ (if choosing lean meat)	Add to salads, pasta, soups, omelets, and sandwiches Eat fatty fish like salmon, trout, mackerel, herring or sardines Add tuna to macaroni and cheese
Legumes (dried beans, peas, lentils) ♥*	Add to salads, soups, stews, casseroles, and pasta sauce Mix with rice and vegetable dishes Eat hummus or bean dip with pita bread or crackers Snack on cooked edamame beans or roasted chickpeas
Tofu ♥*	Chop and add to soups, stir-fries, and salads Blend into smoothies or milkshakes Crumble onto pasta
Eggs ♥	Eat boiled eggs as a snack, on salads, or on a sandwich Make quiche, French toast, soufflés, and omelets Cook into oatmeal and soups
Cheese	Grate and add to potatoes, vegetables, soups, eggs, pasta, and meats Dip veggies or bread in cheese sauce Eat with fruit or crackers as a snack
Yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese ♥	Eat with fruit, honey, and nuts or seeds as a snack Use to top vegetables, potatoes, casseroles, and soups Use in muffins and pancakes Blend into smoothies Choose full-fat products for more calories Choose Greek or Icelandic yogurt for more protein
Milk (cow, soy, pea) ♥*	Use instead of water to make hot cereals and soups Drink instead of water and use in smoothies Choose whole 3.25% milk for more calories
Skim milk powder ♥	Add to mashed potatoes, cereals, soups, and puddings Blend into smoothies and milkshakes Use to make high-protein coffee (recipe below) Use to make high-protein milk (recipe below)
Nuts and seeds ♥*	Add to yogurt, cereal, oatmeal, ice cream, and puddings Sprinkle on salads and stir-fries Use in muffin and bread recipes Make trail mix
Nut and seed butters (like peanut butter and tahini) ♥*	Blend into smoothies or milkshakes Use as a dip Spread on bread, crackers, and fruit Swirl through ice cream, yogurt, and hot cereals Use to make salad dressing or sauce Add to mashed chickpeas or lentils to make a spread

What are nutrition supplements?

Nutrition supplements are high-calorie and/or high-protein products that can replace or supplement (add extra nutrition to) a meal or snack. Examples are:

Nutrition supplement drinks like Ensure, Boost, and generic store brands
Nutrition supplement puddings
Protein powders like whey, soy, or pea protein

Try to get as much nutrition as you can from a variety of foods. If you cannot do this, nutrition supplements are a great choice.

Samples are available for patients at the Nutrition Resource Centre, T-wing ground floor, TG-261 (across from the café).

High-calorie and high-protein meal and snack ideas

Breakfast ideas:

Oatmeal or cream of wheatcooked with milk or soy milk instead of water. Whisk in an egg while cooking or stir in peanut butter. Add cinnamon, raisins, chopped nuts, fresh fruit, and brown sugar.
Smoothie with added protein foods like Greek yogurt, nut butter, tofu, protein powder, or skim milk powder. Use milk, soy milk, or high-protein milk* as your fluid.
Scrambled eggs or tofu topped with cheese. Serve with sliced avocado or baked beans.
French toast or banana pancakes* topped with syrup, fresh fruit, ricotta cheese, yogurt, peanut butter, or whipped cream.
Omelet made with vegetables, cheese, and olives and fried in olive oil or butter.
Cereal with high-protein milk* and added chopped nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.
Greek or Icelandic yogurt or cottage cheese with honey, fruit, and chopped nuts or seeds.
Toast, bagel, or bun with peanut butter and honey, butter and cheese, or cream cheese and smoked salmon.
Fried rice with protein foods like fried eggs, chicken, pork, shrimp, or tofu. Add extra olive oil to rice for even more calories.
Congee with protein foods like eggs, chicken, tofu, shrimp, or pork. Stir in olive oil for extra calories or flavourless protein powder for more protein.

Lunch and dinner ideas

Sandwich with a high-protein filling – try egg, tuna, salmon, chicken, or chickpea salad, peanut butter, hummus, or cheese. Spread with butter, mayo, or avocado.
Soups with cream, chicken, fish, tofu, beef, eggs, or legumes (dried beans, peas, or lentils). Add flavourless protein powder or chickpea flour for more protein.
Samosas filled with meat.
Meat or fish served with gravy and high-protein mashed potatoes.*
Meat pies served with high-protein mashed potatoes.*
Quiche made with cream, ham, and cheese.
Stir-fry made with tofu or meat and served with peanut sauce.
Chili with extra beans or ground meat, topped with full-fat sour cream, grated cheese, or avocado.
Nachos or tacos topped with beans, cheese, olives, guacamole, full-fat sour cream, and/or salsa.
Dhal topped with plain Greek yogurt and served with roti or naan.
Stew made with meat or legumes (dried beans, peas, or lentils), and served over high-protein mashed potatoes.*
Pasta or lasagna with meat or lentils added to the sauce.
Pierogis or dumplings filled with meat, cheese, or beans, pan-fried, and topped with full-fat sour cream and grated cheese.
Fried rice with protein foods like fried eggs, chicken, pork, shrimp or tofu. Add extra olive oil to rice for even more calories.
Congee with protein foods like eggs, chicken, tofu, shrimp, or pork. Stir in olive oil for extra calories or flavourless protein powder for more protein.

Snack ideas

Peanut butter with apple slices, celery sticks, or crackers
Banana muffin with peanut butter or cheese
Hummus or tzatziki made with Greek yogurt spread on pita bread
Cottage cheese with chopped apple, cinnamon, and maple syrup
Cottage cheese on crackers with sliced cherry tomatoes
Egg, tuna, salmon, chicken, chickpea, or lentil salad with vegetables or crackers
Fruit smoothie with ¼ cup skim milk powder or protein powder
Handful of edamame beans or roasted chickpeas
Hardboiled egg
Bean dip with crackers, vegetables, or chips
Popcorn with butter or olive oil and parmesan cheese, mixed with nuts
Sliced cheese with fruit
Trail mix made with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and cereal
Yogurt with nuts and seeds, honey, and fruit
Avocado mashed with white beans and spread on toast

Dessert ideas

Rice pudding or coconut mango sticky rice with added skim milk powder or protein powder
Dessert tofu with fruit
Ice cream, frozen yogurt, or milkshakes
Cheesecake
Pudding/custard made with milk, soy milk, or high-protein milk*
Creamy Jell-O*

*see below for recipes

Recipes


High-protein milk	Makes 1 cup (250 ml) 1 cup (250 ml) has 244 calories, 17 g protein Ingredients: 1 cup (250 ml) 3.25% whole milk ¼ cup (60 ml) skim milk powder Directions: Blend milk and skim milk powder. Place in covered container and store in the fridge. You can make this in bigger batches and use it like regular milk in recipes and to drink.
High-protein coffee	Makes 1 cup (250 ml) 1 cup (250 ml) has 117 calories, 9 g protein Ingredients: 1 cup (250 ml) coffee 2 Tbsp. (30 ml) cream Sugar or honey to taste ¼ cup (60 ml) skim milk powder Directions: Blend coffee, cream, and sugar or honey. Stir in skim milk powder.
Oatmeal	Makes ¾ cup (175 ml) cooked oatmeal ¾ cup (175 ml) has 165 calories, 8 g protein (without toppings) Ingredients: 1 pack instant oatmeal 2 Tbsp. (30 ml) skim milk powder Directions: Make oatmeal as directed and mix skim milk powder into hot oatmeal. Top with cinnamon, raisins, chopped nuts, fresh fruit, peanut butter and/or brown sugar.
Banana pancakes	Makes 3 pancakes 3 pancakes have 380 calories, 16 g protein (without toppings) Ingredients: 1 ripe banana 2 eggs 3 Tbsp. (45 ml) pancake mix (or flour) Butter for frying Directions: In a medium bowl, mash banana. Beat in eggs. Stir in pancake mix. Fry pancakes in butter over medium heat. Top with peanut butter, butter, syrup, fresh fruit and/or whipped cream.
Smoothie	Makes 2 cups (500 ml) 1 cup (250 ml) has 242 calories, 18 g protein (if using soy milk and pea protein powder) Ingredients: 1 cup (250 ml) soy milk or 3.25% whole milk ¼ cup (60 ml) protein powder 1 frozen banana ½ avocado ½ cup (125 ml) raw spinach Directions: Place all ingredients except protein powder in a blender and blend until smooth. Add protein powder and blend for 2 seconds. Adding protein powder at the end prevents foaming.
Creamy Jell-O	Makes 2 cups (500 ml) Jell-O ½ cup (125 ml) has 124 calories, 6 g protein Ingredients: 1 package of Jell-O 1 cup (250 ml) boiling water 1 cup (250 ml) plain Greek yogurt Directions: Dissolve Jell-O powder in boiling water. Whisk in 1 cup plain Greek yogurt until smooth. Chill in fridge until firm (about 4 hours). This can also be made with 1 cup (250 ml) evaporated milk instead of Greek yogurt, for a thinner texture. ½ cup (125 ml) would then have 141 calories, 5 g protein.

Note: This is not a full list of brands or products. The Odette Cancer Centre does not recommend one brand over another and is not responsible for any products listed.