Diet Tips from Carers

Here are the two 'foods' I mentioned. John started having both in June, when he was advised by a dietician during his stay in Hospital - cancer ward.

Polycal - a tasteless powder that has 20 calories per scoopful. It can be added to anything - milk, gravy etc. I used to put several scoopfuls in a couple of pints of milk every other day. This was then used to pour on breakfast cereal, added to coffee and drunk on its own. Polycal is obtained only by doctor's prescription.

Nestle soups. Again first given in June, suggested by the dietician. There are four flavours - Wholesome Tomato, Wholesome Potato and Leek, Wholesome Chicken and Wholesome Vegetable. I liked the taste of all four - John liked all except tomato. It is very simple to make - just add the sachet of dried soup to 200mls of boiling water and stir vigorously. It is about a mugful. The soups are fortified with vitamins and minerals. No prescription is needed - my local chemist ordered some for me.

As I said on the phone John was able to eat both the above whereas he never found any of the boxed drinks at all palatable. I really, really wish he had been told about them back in January - not five months into his weight loss. I hope this information may be of use to somebody.

It was a constant struggle trying to tempt my husband to eat anything. He found fortisip with lemonade was passable. However, I would strongly recommend build up which is full of nutrition. For example if you make up the strawberry flavour, add some strawberry milk shake mix to make it taste better, add milk and a few scoops of icecream then put it all in a blender - it will make a nice milkshake drink - packed with calories! Alternatively, you could do the same with the chocolate build up except add a bit of cocoa powder. These drinks do lack flavour somewhat but add a bit of extra and they aren't bad at all. Also at night you could make a hot chocolate with the chocolate build up, cocoa powder and warm milk. I tried all sorts of things and these ideas were the most successful.