Eating little and often when you have a poor appetite, or have lost weight, can improve your intake of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals.

The 'Food First' approach may help to increase your intake and prevent further weight loss. This involves three key elements:

  • Aim to have 1 pint of fortified whole milk per day
  • Include 2 nourishing snacks or drinks a day
  • Have 3 fortified meals every day.

1. Fortified Milk

Ensure all the milk you have is whole milk.

Fortify it by mixing four tablespoons of skimmed milk powder into one pint (568 mls) of whole milk. Mix the powder with a small amount of milk first to make a paste, then add the remaining milk, stirring continuously.
Once made up, keep it in the fridge to use throughout the day, for example in drinks, on cereal or when cooking.

A 200ml glass of fortified milk makes an excellent nourishing drink!

 

2. Why not try some of these snack ideas?

Try to have at least two nourishing drinks or snacks per day, between meals or in the evening.

Adopting a 'little and often' eating pattern by having small, nourishing meals, snacks and drinks every two to three hours can really help to increase your intake.

Sweet snack ideas*

Savoury snack ideas
  • Thick and creamy yogurt
  • Scone with clotted cream & jam
  • Tinned fruit with ice-cream or cream 
  • Buttered teacake or hot cross bun
  • Buttered fruit loaf or malt loaf
  • Chocolate or fruit mousse 
  • Chocolate biscuits
  • Crème caramel
  • Custard / jam tart
  • Milk pudding
  • Muesli bar or flapjack
  • Jelly and ice cream
  • Cheese and crackers
  • Crackers and dip
  • Crumpets with butter
  • Crisps
  • Nuts
  • Savoury scone with butter
  • Sandwiches
  • Toast with peanut butter or other nut butter
  • Mini scotch eggs
  • Hummus and bread sticks
  • French toast / eggy bread
  • Savoury pastry/ pasty

 

Why not try some of these snack ideas?

Foods/drinks marked with * contain sugar. If you have pre-diabetes or diabetes, avoid high-sugar energy or fizzy drinks and continue to choose sugar free drinks. You can have a moderate amount of sugar containing foods. You may also need to monitor your blood glucose (sugar) levels more closely than normal. Contact your GP or nurse if you have any concerns.

Milkshake *

Juice *

Soup

Ingredients:

200mls whole milk

1 scoop of ice cream

2 tbsp skimmed milk powder

3 tsp vitamin fortified milkshake powder, such as Nesquik or Tesco Milkshake Mix

Method:

1.      Add all the ingredients together and whisk.

2.      Serve chilled or warm.

Calories: 399

Protein: 19.9g

Ingredients:

100mls fresh fruit juice

100mls lemonade

1 scoop ice cream

1 tbsp sugar

Method:

1.      Mix all the ingredients together.

2.      Serve chilled.

Calories: 192

Protein: 2.3g

Ingredients:

1 instant soup sachet

200ml full fat milk

2 tbsp skimmed milk powder

 

 

Method:

1.      Warm the milk.

2.      Gradually add the soup sachet and milk powder,

stirring well.

Calories: 351

Protein:19g

Homemade nourishing drink ideas

Readymade milkshakes* and smoothies, such as Frijj, Mars, Yazoo or Innocent, are available in most supermarkets and convenience stores. You could include these in your diet as a nourishing drink too. Or how about a hot chocolate, milky coffee or malted drink, such as Ovaltine or Horlicks, made with fortified milk?

 

3. Fortify your meals

If you are only able to eat small portions of meals, these can be made more nourishing by adding high energy foods to them. This will mean you are getting more energy from your food without struggling to eat a larger meal. 

Make every mouthful count!

How to fortify your food:

  • Add cream or non-dairy alternative to cereals, porridge, sauces, soups, mashed potato and puddings.   
  • Add evaporated milk, milk powder or fortified milk to sauces, custard, jellies, tinned fruit, puddings and coffee.
  • Add cheese or cheese alternatives to mashed potato, soups, sauces, baked beans, scrambled egg and vegetables. Cream cheese and cheese spreads are good for crackers and on toast.
  • Add olive oil, cream cheese, pesto, hummus, tahini, mayonnaise or salad cream to potatoes, vegetables, soups, pasta, rice and bread.
  • Add butter or margarine to potatoes, vegetables, soups, pasta. Use thickly on bread. 
  • Add salad dressings, oils or mayonnaise to salads.
  • Add whole mixed nuts or seeds to salads or breakfast cereals. Ground or chopped nuts or seeds to porridge, cereals, puddings, yoghurt and milky drinks.
  • Add nut butters, chocolate spread, jam*, honey* or golden syrup* to porridge, cereals, puddings, yoghurt, milky drinks and bread.
  • Add dried fruit, coconut or a handful of cereal to porridge, yoghurt, tinned fruit with cream or non-dairy alternative.

 

If you are concerned that you are continuing to lose weight or struggling with your appetite, ask your GP or community nurse to refer you to a Dietitian.

 

If you would like this information in another format, for example large print or easy read, or if you need help communicating with us please contact:

First Community (Head Office)

Call: 01737 775450 Email:    fchc.enquiries@nhs.net     Text: 07814 639034

Address: First Community Health and Care, Caterham Dene Hospital, Church Road, Caterham, Surrey, CR3 5RA. 

For office use only: HPD_TS001 Food First Advice HCPS V4 Review date April 2027