Fortifying meals is a good way in which the nutritional content can be increased but the volume of food taken remains basically the same. An easy way to do this is through the addition of toppers to increase the energy and protein of the foods given.
Care must be taken to ensure that the texture of the foods provided remains appropriate for the patient if anything additional is added.
Quiz: Can you identify the appropriate additional/alternative to add to Connie’s meals to increase her nutritional intake? (drag and drop your choices into the box)
Breakfast: Porridge with semi skimmed milk
Fortified full cream milk – Yes contains additional protein and can also be used in place of water to cook
Cream – Yes contains additional calories and could be used to cook the porridge in place of water
Honey – Yes adds interest and different flavour
Seedless jam – Yes adds interest and different flavour
Crunchy peanut butter – No not suitable as lumps unable to be broken down by tongue and likely to be claggy
Sultanas – No not suitable for a level 5 diet
Soya milk – No not adding extra calories
Lunch: Instant soup and yogurt
Homemade or tinned soup-Yes as alternative choice
Melt grated cheese into soup– Yes adds extra calories and protein
Adding skimmed milk powder to soup – Yes great way to increase protein content of meal
Adding croutons – No not suitable due to texture and will not be beneficial nutritionally
Swap low fat for thick and creamy yogurt – Yes can increase intake significantly
Swap yogurt for mousse or custard – Yes can increase intake significantly
Low fat yogurt – No not best option due to not adding additional calories
Dinner: Stew with mash potato and veg
Add cream to pot – Yes contains additional calories
Add skimmed milk powder to stew – Yes as it will increase the protein content of meal
Add low fat spread to potatoes and veg – No it is better to use butter of full fat olive/sunflower spread
Page last reviewed: 30 Sep 2021
