Six is Better than Three: How to get the nutrients you need during treatment

What’s the right portion size? Are smaller, more frequent meals better than three square meals a day? We’re here to talk about how you can get the nutrient-rich calories you need during treatment and recovery to help rebuild your strength and energy.

Right Portion Size + Six Mini-Meals = Nutrient-Rich Variety for Strength & Energy

Try Mini-Meals to Increase Nutrient Intake

Studies show that people who eat more meals also enjoy a wider variety of foods and are more likely to meet daily nutritional requirements.  Eating mini-meals, as long as they’re balanced with the proper amount of calorie, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals, can help maintain your weight and strength. Patients with good nutritional status generally tolerate and respond to treatment better than those who are malnourished. You’ll want to make sure you’re taking in the adequate amount of calories your doctor has recommended—just try to spread them out over six meals instead of three!

Tools to Help You Keep Track

Use the Weekly Nutrition Tracker to keep track of the mini-meals you’ll be eating and your appetite and energy levels. Then, print them out and bring them to your next doctor’s appointment—these tools can be a great way to bring up the topic of your nutrient intake and more. Link to: http://bit.ly/1YjVd9i

Choose Nutrient-Rich Foods Your Body Can Use

Your body needs a balance of calories and protein to function at its best. Here are a few suggestions for how you can mix and match foods to get the nutrition you need from a mini-meal approach:

• Drizzle olive oil over a mixed green salad and add a juicy tomato
• Try whole grain bagels with natural peanut butter, crackers dipped in hummus, tuna pouches, fat-free Greek Yogurt, cheese snacks, or hard-boiled eggs
• Mix in cheese or diced cooked meats to omelets
• Snack on roasted nuts, pumpkin or chia seeds
• Add cooked meats to soups, casseroles, and salads
• Enjoy 2 Ensure^® Enlive^® with 20g protein and the unique ingredient, HMB, to fill in nutrition gaps

Eating a nutrient-rich diet can help increase your strength, help you maintain your weight and even help build your energy. Remember, adding two Ensure Enlive each day with 20g protein and the unique ingredient, HMB, can help rebuild muscle for strength and energy.