Build-up diet for cancer patients

If you’re underweight or have a poor appetite, your doctor, nurse and dietitian may advise you to follow a diet high in protein and energy (calories) to help you to build up your strength.

General tips for building yourself up

• Eat nutritious snacks and meals regularly during the day rather than 3 main meals – eat every 3 hours / 4-6 times a day.
• Make the most of your appetite to eat nutritious, high-energy foods and drinks.
• Avoid diet or low-fat versions of food.
• Add fats and calories by using full-fat dairy products, oils and frying or roasting some foods.
• Ask your doctor or dietitian about build-up drinks.
• Try to plan ahead so you have the right foods at home.

Which foods have a lot of protein?

Good sources of protein include:

• Meat
• Fish
• Eggs
• Dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt
• Tofu
• Nuts
• Pulses such as beans, peas and lentils

Tips to get more protein

Try to include protein in at least 2 meals per day, rather than only at 1 meal.

• Eat more hard and soft cheeses. Add them to food where possible.
• Use full-fat milk as a nutritious drink. Use it to also make smoothies and in cooking whenever possible.
• Add high-protein milk or yogurt to drinks, fruit and cereals.
• Add chopped hard-boiled eggs to salads, vegetables, casseroles. Avoid raw eggs.
• Add nuts, seeds and wheat-germ to your food. Add to casseroles, salads, breads, biscuits.
• Add chopped meat or fish to vegetables, salads, casseroles, soups, baked potatoes.
• Add hummus to sandwiches and salads or have with crackers.
• Eat more beans, lentils and peas. Add to soups and casseroles.

Which foods have a lot of energy (calories)?

Foods that are high fat tend to have the most calories. This means foods like butter, oil, cream, nuts and cheese.

Tips to get more calories

• Add butter or olive oil to soups, mashed and baked potatoes, sauces, cooked vegetables, rice.
• Add whipped cream or full-fat yogurt to desserts, puddings and fruit.
• Add cream to soups, sauces, custards, cereals. It can also be added to mashed potatoes and puréed vegetables.
• Add cheese to casseroles, potatoes, vegetables, omelettes, sandwiches.
• Sauté or fry foods if you can tolerate them.
• Add sauces or gravies to your food.
• Add ground almonds or other nuts to porridge, cereals or desserts.
• Add hummus, guacamole, nut butter or cream cheese to sandwiches or as a snack with crackers.

Build-up drinks or nutritional supplements

You can further supplement your diet by taking a nutritious drink between your meals. Over time the protein and calories in these drinks can help you put on weight. Also, your energy levels may improve and make you feel better.

You can either make one at home or get them from your local pharmacy. Your doctor or dietitian can recommend and prescribe a suitable one. There is a wide variety of types and flavours available. For example, milky, fruity or yoghurt-style drinks. Some are 'shots', while others are bigger drinks.

However, not all drinks are suitable for everyone, so make sure to consult a health professional before trying one. For example, some are not suitable if you have diabetes, kidney failure or other medical conditions.