| Boosting Intake for Weight
Gain
GMHC'S Nutrition & Wellness Program
The following suggestions may be beneficial for persons
with poor appetites who find it difficult to reach and/or maintain
a healthy weight.
FOOD TIPS
- Eat small and often - consume meals or snacks
about every 2 hours. Try nuts, granola, fresh or dried fruit,
yogurt, cheese and crackers, and pudding cups.
- Avoid high-fat foods like fried foods, high-fat
sweets (donuts), fatty meats (red meat), and full-fat dairy products.
They will promote early satiety (fullness) and may reduce your
appetite for other meals.
- Add additional foods, toppings, or condiments
to your meals to help increase your calories at each meal.
- Adequate protein is very important for persons
who are below their healthy weight and have a difficult time maintaining
lean muscle mass.
| To increase your calories... |
To pack in the protein... |
| ...ADD |
...TO |
...ADD |
...TO |
| Dried fruit, nuts, honey, jam, or sugar |
Hot or cold cereal |
Peanut butter |
Sauces, shakes, toast, crackers, pancakes, waffles, or celery
sticks |
| Avocado, olives, low-fat salad dressings |
Sandwiches, salads, or casseroles |
Extra chicken, fish, low-fat shredded cheese,
or egg substitute |
Soups, sauces, vegetables, salads, or casseroles |
| Olive oil or light butter |
Vegetables, potatoes, noodles, or rice |
Dry milk powder |
Soups, gravies, scrambled eggs, or desserts |
| Low-fat cream cheese |
Fruit, bagels, crackers, or bread |
|
|
| Low-fat milk or Lactaid milk |
Soups, fruit, or puddings |
|
|
BEVERAGES TIPS
Drink high-calorie beverages like Ensure,
Boost, Instant Breakfast, or home-made shakes.
Mix powdered supplements such as Nutrivir,
Juven and Ultimate Whey Protein Isolate with home-made
shakes or liquids like juices, milk, or Lactaid milk.
Substitute milk with liquid supplements or add
powdered supplements.
Add protein powders like Promod or soy
protein powder to shakes, applesauce, juices, and mashed potatoes
to increase their caloric and protein content.
Basic ingredients for homemade shakes include:
- Ice cream/frozen yogurt
- Low-fat milk or milk substitute*
- Yogurt
- Fruit (chilled or frozen)
- Fruit juice
Extra boosts:
- Liquid supplements
- Dry nonfat milk
- Protein powders
- Powdered supplements
- Chocolate syrup
HIGH CALORIE/HIGH PROTEIN SHAKE RECIPES
| High Protein Milkshake
1 cup milk*
1 generous scoop ice cream
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Flavoring: chocolate syrup, strawberries, banana, or peanut
butter
Blend all ingredients at low speed for 10 seconds.
Calories: 485
Protein: 22 grams |
Blueberry Blast
3/4 c. ripe blueberries
1 banana, sliced and frozen
1 T. wheat germ
1/3 c. silken tofu
2 c. vanilla soy milk
Blend all ingredients until you reach a smooth consistency.
Calories: 491
Protein: 20 grams |
Fruitie Smoothie
1/2 c. frozen strawberries (or other frozen fruit), thawed
1/2 c. plain yogurt
1/2 c. pineapple juice
2 T. wheat germ, if desired
Blend all ingredients at high speed until smooth.
Calories: 220
Protein: 11 grams
|
Black and White Milkshake
1 1/2 c. vanilla ice cream
3/4 cup milk*
1/4 cup chocolate syrup (more or less according to taste)
5 scoops NutriVir or 3 scoops NutriVir-NSA
Blend until thick and creamy
Calorie: 878
Protein: 51 grams |
Banana Coolie
1 cup milk (or chocolate)*
6 ice cubes
5 scoops NutriVir or 3 scoops NutriVir-NSA
1 banana
Blend until thick and creamy
Calories: 555
Protein: 31 grams |
Juven Julius
1 pkt Juven (orange)
2 T. dry milk
1/2 c. lemon-lime soda
2 med. scoops vanilla ice cream
1/2 c. water
5-6 ice cubes
Blend on high for 30 seconds. Stir and blend until smooth
(optional ingredients: bananas and/or strawberries)
Calories: 370
Protein: 24 grams |
*If you are lactose intolerant (unable to digest the milk sugar
"lactose"), try using Lactaid milk (lactose free milk), soy milk,
or rice milk to substitute for regular or low-fat milk.
OTHER WAYS TO STIMULATE YOUR APPETITE
- Exercise at mild to moderate intensity.
- Create pleasant environments for eating such
as candlelight, pleasant music, and joining friends.
- Smells or odors can stimulate or inhibit our
eating. Avoid unpleasant odors.
- Herbs may help to increase your appetite. Try
ginger in cooking or as a tea. Talk to your doctor or registered
dietitian before taking herbs.
- Appetite stimulants like Megace (megestrol
acetate), Marinol (dronobinol), or Periactin (cyproheptadine)
may also be prescribed by your physician.
APPETITE STIMULANTS
| MEGACE (megestrol acetate)
A semi-synthetic female hormone called progesterone can stimulate
appetite and weight gain within 6 weeks. Low doses promote
slow muscle mass gain, where high doses cause increased fat
mass.
Side Effects may include:
Altered menstrual cycle, breast development or impotence
(in males), mild water retention, chest tightness, slight
risk of deep vein blood clots, and headaches. |
MARINOL (dronobinol)*
Marinol contains TCH the active component of marijuana. It
stimulates appetite and weight gain. It may also be effective
in helping to control nausea.
Side Effects may include: sleepiness, confusion, mood changes,
depression, and paranoia. Low doses at bedtime may help minimize
these side effects.
**avoid usage with alcohol |
PERIACTIN (cyproheptadine)
An antihistamine which may increase appetite. It's well tolerated
and most weight gained is fat mass.
Side Effects may include:
Sleepiness, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, and difficulty
urinating.
**avoid usage with alcohol |
* It is not recommended for individuals with a history of substance
abuse as it is a controlled substance.
Revised 3/20
© 2003 Gay Men's Health Crisis |
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