Nutritional care: Food First Advice to Promote Weight Gain
Eating for Health: Older adults in care homes
All residents who are identified as malnourished or at risk should receive the following every
day in addition to a balanced menu where possible:
1 pint of fortified milk every day
2 nourishing snacks
3 fortified meals
Aim to use 1 pint of fortified/ enriched milk daily
1 pint of full fat milk
4 tablespoons
dried milk powder
(with non milk fat)
+
375 Kcals
19g protein
670mg Calcium
1
1 pint of fortified milk
=
514-576 Kcals
33g protein
990mg Calcium
Created by First Community Health & Care Dietitians. Produced 2014. Review June 2017. Version 1.0
Nourishing drinks include fortified milk (hot or cold), hot chocolate, coffee or malted drinks made with fortified milk. Fortified
milk can be used on cereals or in some of the fortified recipes. See recipes below
2. Nourishing Snacks
In addition to 3 smaller meals, offering 2-3 nourishing snacks/day between meals can significantly improve intake. Some residents find it
difficult to sit through meals or are constantly active throughout the day either due to dementia or anxiety. These residents are at
increased risk of malnutrition. Providing finger foods throughout the day enables residents to feed themselves and can improve the
nutritional content of their diet.
Equivalent to 4 plain biscuits
Aim for a nourishing snack mid-afternoon & evening everyday
Ideas for nourishing snacks and finger food
Fruit cake
Sandwich triangles
Soup with bread and butter
Crackers with butter & cheese
Nuts with dried fruit
Cheese cubes
Fruit pieces & cream
2
Toasted teacake or scone with butter & jam
Breakfast cereal & enriched milk
Tea bread or malt loaf with butter & cheese
Toast with peanut butter or cheese
Pizza fingers
Toasted crumpets with butter
Ginger Bread
Created by First Community Health & Care Dietitians. Produced 2014. Review June 2017. Version 1.0
3. Fortified meals
A fortified diet is achieved by fortifying at least one dish at each mealtime. The following foods can be used to easily fortify meals.
Ensure you have a supply of the following ingredients.
Ingredient
How to use in Cooking
Added Calories
Milk powder
Add 4 tablespoons of whole milk powder to 1 pint of full cream milk to make fortified milk, use
this for milk drinks, porridge, sauces & on cereals. Use to make up instant soups, porridge and
jelly instead of water. For extra calories use enriched milk.
4tbsps dried milk
powder
204 Kcals
Full Cream Milk
Use to make up instant soups, porridge and jelly instead of water. For extra calories use
fortified milk.
1/3pt fortified milk
180 Kcals
Evaporated or
condensed milk
Use in place of usual milk to prepare porridge and milk puddings or add 2 tablespoons to
individual portions when porridge /milk puddings are served.
2tbsps evaporated
milk
51 Kcals
Double cream
Add 2 tablespoons to each serving of porridge, soup and dessert or fruit
2tbsps double cream
130 Kcals
Cheese
Sprinkle 2 tablespoons grated cheese onto soups, stews, sauces, potatoes, vegetables and
scrambled eggs.
2tbsps cheese
125 Kcals
Margarine,
butter
Use 1 teaspoon extra butter/margarine on bread / crackers, and 2 teaspoons to each serving of
potatoes and vegetables.
2tsps margarine
80 Kcals
Oil
Offer more fried foods e.g. fried bread, fried eggs,
fried fish, chips and roast potatoes.
2tsps oil
108Kcals
Sugar*
Jam, honey,
syrup*
Use at least 1extra teaspoon of sugar on cereals/porridge and added to desserts.
Spread thickly on bread/toast. Serve milk puddings with 2 teaspoons jam or honey
Serve porridge with 2 teaspoons honey or syrup.
1 tsp. sugar
24 Kcals
2tsps jam etc
~32 Kcals
Abbreviations: tsp = teaspoon tbsp. = tablespoon
*May not be suitable for residents who have diabetes discuss with a Dietitian, Diabetes Specialist Nurse or GP.
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Created by First Community Health & Care Dietitians. Produced 2014. Review June 2017. Version 1.0
Fortified Drinks Recipes
Milk Shake
307kcals and 11g protein per serving
Serves 1
Ingredients:
200mls full fat milk
2 tbsps dried milk powder
2 tbsps milk shake powder
Quick and Easy Soup
387kcals and 5g protein per serving
Serves 1
Ingredients:
½ tin of soup or homemade
1 tbsp dried milk powder
3 tbsps double cream
Method:
1. Add all the ingredients together and whisk
2. Serve chilled or warmed
Method:
1. Empty soup into a mug
2. Add milk powder &
cream.
Fruit Juice
170 Kcals and 1g protein
Serves 1
Ingredients:
200mls pure fruit juice
3 teaspoons Icing sugar
Method:
1.Dissolve sugar in a little of the fruit juice
2. Add the remaining juice
3. Whisk together & serve chilled
For further information please contact First Community Health & Care Dietitians: 01293 600314 or email: [email protected]
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Created by First Community Health & Care Dietitians. Produced 2014. Review June 2017. Version 1.0