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Calorie dense foods for people recovering from severe illness

Many people dealing with cancer or other chronic illnesses have multiple challenges to getting proper nutrition in order to maintain their weight (or gain weight). These problems can include:

  • Greatly decreased appetite.
  • Nausea and/or vomiting
  • Many foods may “taste bad” due to alterations in the taste buds or sense of smell. 
  • Solid foods may be hard to swallow or cause nausea.
  • Difficulty swallowing due to pain.


So what we are looking for are foods that have concentrated nutrition and are easy to swallow. 

But first, we need to know how many calories and how much protein you need in order to gain weight and prevent muscle loss. Consider discussing this with a dietician. Or, you can use the following calculator, which will give you a good idea of where your calorie and protein goals need to be. 

High calorie liquids

Bananna apple smoothie (1100 cal, 61gm carb, 9gm fiber, 35gm protein, 87gm fat
  • Green smoothie JK1

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    Equipment

    • high speed blender

    Ingredients

    • 1 cups heavy cream
    • 2 cups spinach
    • 1 medium frozen banana
    • 1 medium apple
    • 1 scoop isopure protein powder

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1123 kcal | Carbohydrates: 61 g | Protein: 35 g | Fat: 87 g | Saturated Fat: 55 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 22 g | Cholesterol: 269 mg | Sodium: 115 mg | Potassium: 1178 mg | Fiber: 9 g | Sugar: 41 g | Vitamin A: 9299 IU | Vitamin C: 37 mg | Calcium: 313 mg | Iron: 2 mg
Pineapple mango smoothie (1100 cal, 48gm carb, 35gm protein, 87gm fat)

Green smoothie JK2

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup spinach
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup pineapple frozen
  • 1/2 cup mango frozen
  • 1 medium carrot
  • 1 scoop isopure protein powder
  • 1 cup heavy cream

Nutrition

Calories: 1073 kcal | Carbohydrates: 48 g | Protein: 35 g | Fat: 87 g | Saturated Fat: 55 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 22 g | Cholesterol: 269 mg | Sodium: 144 mg | Potassium: 907 mg | Fiber: 6 g | Sugar: 38 g | Vitamin A: 17491 IU | Vitamin C: 122 mg | Calcium: 325 mg | Iron: 2 mg
Pina Colada Smoothie (1000 calories, 62gm carb, 5gm fiber, 35gm protein, 73gm fat)

Green smothie JK3

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Ingredients

  • 2 cups spinach
  • 1.5 cup coconut milk
  • 1.5 cups pineapple frozen
  • 1 scoop isopure protein powder
  • 1 tbsp honey

Nutrition

Calories: 969 kcal | Carbohydrates: 62 g | Protein: 35 g | Fat: 73 g | Saturated Fat: 64 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g | Sodium: 95 mg | Potassium: 1361 mg | Fiber: 5 g | Sugar: 42 g | Vitamin A: 5770 IU | Vitamin C: 139 mg | Calcium: 234 mg | Iron: 14 mg
Kate Farms 1.4 nutrition shake (vegan. 455cal, 20gm protein, 19gm fat, 51gm carb)
Ensure Plus calories (355 cal, 14gm protein, 11gm fat, 51gm carb)
Boost Very High Calorie (530 cal, 22gm protein, 26gm fat, 52gm carb)
Benecalorie 1.5 oz (330 cal, 7gm protin, 30gm fat, 0gm carb)

Benecalorie is an unflavored supplement that is used to increase the calorie and protein content of other foods and beverages. This supplement comes in individual packs, each of which is only 1.5 ounces but has 330 calories and 7 grams of protein. 
Link to amazon. 

Coconut milk 1/3 cup (100 calories, 0gm protein, 9gm fat, 3gm carb)

Mix coconut milk into soups or other dishes to increase their calorie content. Coconut milk is great for increasing calories, but will not provide any protein. 

Amazon link

Heavy cream 1/2 cup (400 cal, 3gm protein, 43gm fat, 3gm carb)

Mix heavy cream into soups or other dishes to increase their calorie content. Heavy cream is great for increasing calories, but will not provide much protein. 

High calorie foods with very soft consistency

High calorie applesauce (400 cal, 25gm protein, 1gm fat, 77gm carb)
  • 1 cup applesauce
  • 1.4 cup sugar
  • 1 scoop isopure protein powder
Very high calorie applesauce (600cal, 33gm protein, 17gm fat, 85gm carb)
  • 1 cup applesauce
  • 1.4 cup sugar
  • 1 scoop isopure protein powder
  • 2 tbsp peanut butter
Banana apple mix (700 calories, 33gm protein, 28gm fat, 86gm carb)
  • 1 cup applesauce
  • 1 banana
  • 1 scoop isopure protein powder
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream

Mix in blender until smooth

Cream of Mushroom Soup high calorie (1000 cal, 93gm fat, 21gm protein, 23gm carb)
  • 1 can Condensed Cream of Mushroom soup
  • 1 cup heavy cream
Cream of chicken noodle soup high calorie (900 cal, 12gm protein, 4gm fat, 26gm carb)
  • 1 can condensed chicken noodle soup
  • 1 cup heavy cream
Mac and Cheese high calorie (1400 cal, 42gm protein, 113gm fat, 75gm carb)

Mac and cheese high calorie

Servings: 6
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Ingredients

  • 1 box ziti noodles
  • 0.5 cup Butter
  • 12 tbsp Flour
  • 0.5 tbsp Dry Mustard
  • 6 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese shredded (4 cups to make cheese sauce, 2 cups to top the dish)
  • 4 cups heavy cream

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Lightly spray a Large Deep Casserole Dish with cooking spray, set aside.
  • Boil 4 quarts of salted water, then add noodles. Wait for re-boil, gently boil noodles uncovered for approx. 8 minutes (you want them to be al-dente) Drain noodles; pour into greased casserole dish

Make cheese sauce

  • Melt butter in a large pot on medium.
  • Add flour & mustard, stir constantly, until smooth and starts to turn tan in color. This will takee a few minutes
  • Slowly add heavy cream, a quarter cup at a time, mix constantly until incorporated until adding more. Once all the cream is added, continue to mix until thickened (this can take 5 minutes or so)
  • Add 4 cups cheese, stir with until completely melted.

Finish the dish

  • Pour the (drained) noodles into the baking dish. Pour cheese sauce over noodles, mix well. Top with additional cheese.
  • Cover; bake 45 minutes. Uncover; bake 15 minutes longer.

Nutrition

Calories: 1472 kcal | Carbohydrates: 75 g | Protein: 42 g | Fat: 113 g | Saturated Fat: 68 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 27 g | Trans Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 333 mg | Sodium: 908 mg | Potassium: 430 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 7 g | Vitamin A: 3938 IU | Vitamin C: 1 mg | Calcium: 928 mg | Iron: 2 mg
Oatmeal high calorie (100 cal, 35gm protein, 71gm fat, 55gm carb)

Oatmeal high calorie

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Ingredients

  • 0.5 cup rolled oats
  • 2/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 scoop isopure protein powder

Instructions

  • prepare the oats according to the instructions on the box, but substitute heavy cream for water. Add a tablespoon of butter and 2 tbsp of brown sugar before serving

Nutrition

Calories: 985 kcal | Carbohydrates: 56 g | Protein: 35 g | Fat: 71 g | Saturated Fat: 44 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18 g | Trans Fat: 1 g | Cholesterol: 209 mg | Sodium: 142 mg | Potassium: 333 mg | Fiber: 4 g | Sugar: 28 g | Vitamin A: 2682 IU | Vitamin C: 1 mg | Calcium: 229 mg | Iron: 2 mg
Yogurt high calorie (540 cal, 43gm protein, 33gm fat)

Yogurt high calorie

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Ingredients

  • 1 each chobani strawberry yogurt
  • 1 pack benecalorie
  • 1 scoop isopure protein powder

Nutrition

Calories: 540 kcal | Carbohydrates: 16 g | Protein: 43 g | Fat: 33 g | Calcium: 80 mg

Accordion Content

High calorie foods with soft consistency

Scrambeled eggs high calorie (1000cal, 17gm protein, 110gm fat, 3gm carb)
  • Melt butter in a pan over medium heat
  • beat eggs, heavy cream, salt and pepper in a bowl
  • Pour into skillet and cook, stirring constantly, until just about done to your liking. 
  • Add cheese, and stir until mixed well and eggs are cooked to desired doneness. 

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This site is made with ❤ by Philip Berry, MD

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