Nutrition for Wound Healing
Guidelines For: _____________________________________
Date: _____________________________________
Dietitian: _____________________________________
Phone: _____________________________________
Another reliable source of nutrition information is HealthLinkBC.
Dial 8-1-1 and ask to speak with a dietitian.
Nutrition plays an important role in the healing of wounds. Eating enough protein,
calories, vitamins and minerals helps your wound heal well.
Protein
Protein supplies your body with the right materials to build tissue and repair your
skin, protect muscles, and help you fight infections.
• Protein rich foods should be eaten as part of every meal and snack. (See next
page for a list of high protein foods.)
• Check the Nutrition Facts panel on food labels to determine how many grams of
protein are in each serving of foods you eat regularly.
• Protein powder or skim milk powder can be added to your food or beverages to
help meet your protein goals.
Calories
Calories come from carbohydrates, protein, and fats in foods. If you don’t eat enough
calories from carbohydrates and fats, the protein you eat will be used for fuel instead
of healing your wound.
• Including a variety of foods in your protein rich diet will help you meet your
calorie needs and provide the materials needed to heal your wound.
• Good sources of carbohydrates and fats include grain products, potatoes, fruits,
avocados, oils, margarine, butter, or mayonnaise.
Nutrition Facts
Per ½ cup (125 mL)
Amount
% Daily Value
Calories 70
Fat 0.5 g
1%
Saturated Fat 0 g + Trans Fat 0 g
0%
Cholesterol 0 mg
Sodium 250 mg
10 %
Carbohydrates 13 g
4%
Fibre 2 g
Sugars 6 g
8%
Protein 2 g
Vitamin A 1 % Vitamin C 2 %
Calcium 0 % Iron 2
4%
Step 1: Check the Serving Size
Always compare the serving size on the package
to the amount that you eat. The label lists the
amount of protein per serving of food (not the
package or container).
Step 2: Check the Protein
Keep track of the total amount you eat each day.
Vitamins and Minerals
Zinc, Vitamin C and Vitamin A are needed to heal wounds. You will get enough of
these nutrients from food when you are meeting your calorie and protein needs.
• A daily multivitamin with minerals tablet can help while you are healing.
Examples include Centrum Forte®, Centrum Select®, and Jamieson Regular Vita-Vim™.
Tips
• Make the most of each bite by choosing high protein, nutrient rich foods.
• Eat more often, for example every 2-3 hours, to help you meet your calorie and
protein needs.
• Try frozen or packaged meals if you feel too tired to cook. Meal and grocery
delivery services may also be helpful.
• For quick and easy snacks, try prepared, single serve items such as pudding,
yogurt, dessert tofu, and heat and serve soups.
• Commercial supplement drinks (such as Boost®, Ensure®, or Carnation®
Breakfast Essentials™) and energy bars are portable, convenient sources of
protein, calories, and other nutrients needed for healing.
• For a tasty high calorie, high protein treat blend your favourite smoothie
ingredients with commercial supplement drinks. Add high fat yogurts and ice
creams if you need extra calories.
• Limit foods like pop, iced tea, chips, chocolate bars, or sweets because they are
low in the nutrients needed for healing.
If you are losing weight, your wound is not healing, or you would like more
information please contact the dietitian.
3
Protein Content of Foods
This list is designed to help you choose foods that are high in protein.
Your total requirement is _________ grams of protein per day. You should consume most
of this (i.e. _________ grams) from meat and dairy products or vegetarian alternatives.
Meat Sources
Amount
Grams of Protein
Boneless pork or chicken, cooked
3 ounces (90 grams)
25
Fish and shellfish, cooked
3 ounces (90 grams)
18
Luncheon meats
3 ounces (90 grams)
15
Canned tuna (drained)
½ can (60 grams)
14
Hint: 3 ounces or 90 grams of cooked meat is about the size of a deck of cards.
4
Vegetarian Sources
Amount
Grams of Protein
Cooked split peas, beans, lentils or chickpeas
(garbanzo beans)
1 cup (250 mL)
15
Eggs (large)
2
12
Peanut butter
2 Tbsp. (30 mL)
10
Tofu (firm)
½ cup (125 grams)
10
Seeds (pumpkin, sesame and sunflower)
1 ounce (¼ cup)
7
Nuts (peanuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews,
hazelnuts and pistachios)
1 ounce (¼ cup)
6
Dairy & Alternative Products
Amount
Grams of Protein
Greek yogurt
¾ cup (175 g)
Cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, paneer
½ cup (115 grams)
14
Milk (skim, 1%, 2%, whole or chocolate)
1 cup (250 mL)
8
Soy milk
1 cup (250 mL)
7
Cheese (hard)
1 ounce (28 grams)
7
Processed cheese
1 slice (28 grams)
6
Yogurt
¾ cup (175 grams)
6
Skim milk powder
2 Tbsp. (30 mL)
5
Pudding
½ cup (125 mL)
4
Nutritional Supplements
Amount
Protein powder – whey protein isolate
1 scoop
20-25
Vegan protein powder (Vega™ One, Vega
Vega™ Sport Performance)
1 scoop
15-20
Protein bars (Clif® Builder’s Bar, PowerBar®,
Protein Plus®)
1 bar
20
Vegan protein bars (Vega™ One, Vega™ Sport)
1 bar
15
Boost® High Protein or Ensure® High Protein
1 bottle
Energy bars (Clif® Bar, Luna® Bar,
PowerBar®, Vega™ Sport Endurance Bar)
1 bar
9
Boost® or Ensure®
1 bottle
9
15-18
Grams of Protein
12-15
5
Menu Ideas
Sample Menu
Approximate
grams of protein
1 piece of toast
2 tbsp peanut butter
Fruit smoothie with 1 scoop protein powder
10
20
Snack
2 oz cheddar cheese & apple slices
14
14
Lunch
Sandwich (2 eggs or 3 oz deli meat)
Vegetables
1 cup milk or 1 bottle Boost®
Snack
¾ cup Greek yogurt with fruit
15
25
Dinner
3 oz cooked meat, fish, poultry
1 cup rice, pasta, or potatoes
Vegetables
Snack
¼ cup almonds
1 cup milk
6
8
Breakfast
8
Total: 120 g
My Menu
Approximate
grams of protein
Breakfast
Snack
Lunch
Snack
Dinner
Snack
6
Total: _____ g
For more copies, go online at http://vch.eduhealth.ca or
email [email protected] and quote Catalogue No. BB.200.N959
© Vancouver Coastal Health, April 2014
The information in this document is intended solely for the
person to whom it was given by the health care team.
www.vch.ca