High energy and high protein heart healthy diet for home
Information for patients and families
High-energy foods contain a lot of calories.
Good sources of protein include meat, poultry, fish, legumes, tofu, eggs, nuts, seeds, milk and milk products.
Why do I need to eat a high energy and high protein diet?
Good nutrition is important when you are recovering from surgery or a serious health problem. Choosing high energy, high protein foods will help you:
Get the nutrition your body needs to recover, especially more calories and protein.
Make sure you do not lose any more weight. Or help you gain weight if you recently lost weight without trying to.
Strengthen your immune system and fight infections.
What can I do if I am not hungry?
Some people do not feel hungry when they are ill. Here are some tips to help you get the calories and protein you need:
Eat snacks and small meals more often. Try to eat every 1 to 2 hours.
Do not drink with your meals. Between meals choose beverages that give you energy, such as whole milk, soymilk, milkshakes and smoothies.
Eat your biggest meal when your appetite is the best.
Choose foods that you want to eat, even if this means eating the same foods often.
Keep quick and easy snacks in your kitchen. Try Greek yogurt with nuts or seeds, toast with peanut butter or low-salt crackers with hummus.
What should I eat?
It is important to eat foods from all of the food groups. To eat more calories and protein, include these foods in your meals and snacks:
Food group High energy, high protein choices What to do
Meat and 75 g (¾ cup) fresh or frozen meat, Add chopped meat, fish alternatives poultry or fish or tofu to pasta, omelettes and soups. Aim for ____ 125 mL (½ cup) fresh or low-salt servings each canned fish Eat more fatty fish such day as salmon, trout and 175 mL (¾ cup) tofu mackerel.
175 mL (¾ cup) dried beans or lentils Add tofu or lentils to 60 mL (¼ cup) unsalted nuts or seeds soups, stews and casseroles. 30 mL (2 Tbsp.) low-salt nut or seed butter Add tofu to smoothies.
2 eggs Add nuts or seeds to cereals and desserts, or have them as a snack.
Milk and 250 mL (1 cup) full-fat milk or soy milk Choose milk products alternatives with at least 2% milk fat 175 mL (¾ cup) full-fat yogurt or kefir (MF). Aim for ____ Skyr servings each 175 mL (¾ cup) Greek or yogurt Sprinkle chia seeds or day 200 mL yogurt drink wheat germ on yogurt.
60 mL (¼ cup) milk powder Add milk powder to beverages and soups. 50 g (1½ ounces) hard cheese Add grated cheese or 250 mL (1 cup) low-salt cottage yogurt to soup and pasta. cheese Add ice cream, pudding or yogurt to desserts and fruit.
Food group High energy, high protein choices What to do
Grain 1 slice of bread Eat bread, pancakes, products waffles or French Toast ½ bagel, pita or tortilla with a topping of nut Aim for ____ butter or margarine. servings each 1 pancake or waffle day 125 mL (½ cup) pasta, rice or quinoa Add nuts or dried fruit to cereal and oatmeal. 175 mL (¾ cup) cereal or oatmeal Try higher protein 30 g unsalted crackers cereals, like Kashi® Go Lean, Vector® or Special K® Protein.
Vegetables 125 mL (½ cup) fresh or frozen fruit or Add avocado to salads, and fruit vegetables sandwiches and pizza.
Aim for ____ ¼ avocado Eat vegetables with a dip, servings each like hummus. day 125 mL (½ cup) potatoes, yams or squash Top apples and celery with low-salt nut butter as 60 mL (¼ cup) dried fruit an easy snack.
Other high- 30 mL (2 Tbsp.) low-salt nut or seed To make a quick salad energy foods butter dressing, mix 3 Tbsp. of olive oil with 1 Tbsp. of 15 mL (1 Tbsp.) olive oil, canola oil or lemon juice or vinegar. sunflower oil Add olive oil to salads and vegetables.
Add extra sauces, oils, and cream to your food.
What about salt?
Choose foods that are low in salt (sodium). To help you decide which foods are best for you, talk to a Registered Dietitian.
Here is how you can reduce the amount of salt in your diet:
Limit processed and cured meats such as deli meat, sausages, hot dogs, ham and bacon.
Limit salted or dried fish such as salted cod or smoked salmon.
Limit canned and packaged items such as canned soup or soup mixes, packaged sauces, gravies or seasoning. Choose ‘low sodium’ options when you can.
Limited high-salt condiments such as soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, fish sauce and barbeque sauce.
Limit high-salt seasoning agents such as garlic salt, onion salt and MSG.
Do not add any salt when you cook or at the table. To add flavour to your food, choose pepper, herbs and spices!
Once your appetite and weight are back to normal, you can go back to following a regular heart healthy diet.
Oral nutritional supplements For an extra source of energy and protein you may wish to use oral nutritional supplements. They can be helpful when you cannot meet your nutritional needs through food alone. However, they are not meant to replace meals. Speak to a Registered Dietitian to help you decide which oral nutritional supplement is best for you.
How else can I add energy and protein to my diet? You can also make your own high-protein smoothie.
Add 60 ml (¼ cup) of milk powder, ¾ cup of yogurt, and 1 to 2 Tablespoons of nut butter to 1 cup of milk. Blend with your favorite fruits.
Here are two other recipes.
Banana nut smoothie 1 cup Milk or soy milk
½ cup Soft (silken) tofu
1 Frozen banana
2 tablespoons Peanut or other nut butter
Source: Eat Right Ontario. (2016). Put all ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth.
Creamy orange smoothie ¾ cup Greek or Skyr yogurt
2 tablespoons Milk powder
½ cup Orange juice
¼ Avocado
Source: Dietitians of Canada. (2014). Eating Guidelines for Increasing Your Energy and Protein Intake. PEN. Put all ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth.
St. Michael’s cares about your health. For reliable health information, visit our Patient and Family Learning Centre or find us online at www.stmichaelshospital.com/learn
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Ask your healthcare provider about this information if you have questions.
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