Nutrition Ideas?

ButterflyWings

Seeking suggestions for high calorie, high energy foods I can puree for DH in addition to our current go-to list.

I thought adding a non-dairy meal replacement shake daily would help with providing extra nutrition and calories for this Stage (7), even though he is going to keep losing a few lbs at each month's weigh-in I know. Mainly hoping to delay his getting so skinny that he's at an even higher risk of breaking something more easily.

Fall risk and near misses are increasing though we've been lucky so far. DH passed out 3 times briefly this week. Once seated on toilet (vaso), once he hit the wall then floor but no injuries, and the last time he began fainting and falling backward with my arm around him so I was able to get him to land on the couch. If he was in a facility, this 1:1 arm's length proximity 24/7 would not be available and I'm thinking he would have already broken something which I really, really hope to avoid.

Boost shakes are not an option here because of lactose intolerance. I misinterpreted Ensure Complete's package label prominently featuring this claim: "Plant based Omega-3 ALA" to mean it is non-dairy. Wrong.

The small print on the back of the bottle says "Contains milk and soy products". 😑Which I figured out on my own after DH guzzled the tasty treat and had diarrhea in minutes. Repeatedly. So much for its 30g of protein. He probably lost a lb or 2 yesterday thanks to me and my bright ideas. Google says Ensure does have a non-dairy option (but this wasn't it(. I also see something called Evolve. I'm looking for ideas to boost calories and protein mainly. He will eat anything (even non-food!) but it has to be pureed now.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

H1235

Peanutbutter is a good source of protein. I think you can buy a powdered peanutbutter (Sam’s club) if that would work better. I wonder if the kind of protein body builders would use in shakes would work. I’m sure some may still have dairy, but there might be more options available. What about oatmeal?

Jeanne C.

I sometimes use silken tofu in smoothies- adds protein without dairy. I tend to sub it in where I would have used Greek yogurt.

Iris L.

I second peanut butter and other nut butters if tolerated. Add powdered egg to increase protein.

Iris

GothicGremlin

It's such a bummer about the Boost - Peggy was lactose intolerant as well, so I couldn't use it. But there's a Boost out there that has 500 calories in it! I wanted to give that to her so badly, but didn't for the obvious reasons.

Like others, we also used smooth peanut butter, sometimes with strawberry jelly mixed in (her favorite).

The other thing I did, which might just be local to me, is we pureed spaghetti sauce (I made it non-spicy). I had pureed meatballs and Italian sausages along with it. This was treat food to Peggy because I made the annual Christmas sauce. When she smelled it the first time, I got an eyebrow raise out of her, which was a good sign.

Goodtogo

Have you tried making a high protein shake? I remember finding several recipes on the internet without diary. Manny included nut butters.

Another option is non dairy ice cream (not all, so you need to check the labels) has a decent amount of protein.

Boost has a protein water is clear and dairy free.

Some of the protein mixes are dairy free too.
Finding something they liked and could tolerate was a challenge for me.
https://www.amazon.com/BOOST-Nutritional-Protein-Nutrient-Rich-Calories/dp/B08ZB8ZWW3/ref%3Dsr_1_5?crid=2IZ1B4NOGX0LQ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.gY3vtYZdDoLMddBpP5oeS1lYwWn_vHqDWqMU4KBx3xr0qsyDs8NqHgj08PkJuE6ofkIwIklahWCmV1F8b44HUjdt_o-HXAHH6a3y5RrbzKz5CiUIrpJwfltc74oWXHeLb0jvWBkRpnfWyabF3tf3K9jCwOiHV5GWqRXhJ_4un8-2a8qz2jRnhxu6-RNjeghikmPRnSNL7YCn7TV3XSGvAY4fTcXKlPT67n7CPtB6uUSuRdDc3YoP8z0ijiVXKnYqq8HR1nzZl9hB-XhG3EP4im1YjC09mjb9rLGTtLv9CG8.K1RHsEs8-L8kj69ZRXQkma51Qpn9Y2KgDbjQB9pM8zI&dib_tag=se&keywords=boost+water&qid=1717798290&rdc=1&sprefix=Boost+wa%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-5

ButterflyWings

Thank you, thank you, thank you all. I do use the Orgain vegan protein powder often, but it is so pricey I haven't been loading it in as much as I should. The peanut butter is also something I add to his shakes, but your reminders prompted me to stir it in soups too.

And I didn't think about powdered, that's a great tip as well as other nut butter options for variety. All of these ideas will be implemented post haste. Thanks so much! I felt like I was wearing out the oatmeal, fruity pureed additions to his shakes etc., and this helps stretch the options.

Much appreciated!

tigersmom

@ButterflyWings , you can also use whey protein powder, like bodybuilders use, as long as it is whey protein isolate. That kind is lactose-free. I learned this yesterday reading an AARP bulletin story. I took note because I, too, am lactose-intolerant. There are lots to choose from on Amazon; just make sure it is isolate.

ButterflyWings

@tigersmom I never knew that about whey. Or powdered eggs @Iris L., or silken tofu @Jeanne C.

@Chug, @GothicGremlin and @Goodtogo I got hungry after reading your suggestions!

• I love to load my own oatmeal up with raisins, any kind of nuts, and have started adding bananas or a dollop of peanut butter to boost his nutrition. We just eat the same thing once pureed — it saves me time and energy.
• Especially if our aide isn't here, I can't be in the kitchen that long or he might be up and into something these days (or falling while trying to get up).
• Trying pureed meatballs for lunch tomorrow!
• and I haven't bought non-dairy ice cream in years but recall they make ice cream sandwiches with coconut milk etc - so those will do well in the blender if I let them unfreeze a bit first.

Thanks again 😊

GothicGremlin

P.S. I've done this for myself (but not Peggy) — if you're not lactose intolerant, you can make popsicles from Boost, and they're actually pretty good.

H1235

Spinach might also be a good addition to a smoothie. Lots of vitamins and nutrients.