Nutrition is the key to recovery:
Salad
- The fresher the food is the best it is for you. For example once the skin is removed from fruit, this allows oxygen to penetrate the fruit and it start the oxidation process, the start of the degeneratation process.
- The aim of nutrition in recovery is to supply sufficient energy (from protein, carbohydrates & fats) i.e. food to rebuild lost tissue. In addition, any insufficiencies in vitamins & minerals intake must be replaced.
Nutrition in Recovery from malnutrition (underweight & or growth delay)
Recovering from the malnutrition (underweight & growth delay) is hard work:
- Firstly, people experiencing malnutrition & in the early stages of nutrition rehabilitation from malnutrition can become medically unwell and so should be seeing their doctor regularly. (Your doctor will manage any electrolyte or body salts problems medically).
- Food is the medicine for recovery from malnutrition. To fully recover from malnutrition (i.e. to recover weight and restart normal growth) people need to build up to eating more than most people might expect and enjoy, for some weeks and months.
- Being in a malnourished or starved state causes a number of symptoms that may make it hard to accomplish meals easily: feeling full quickly and for a prolonged time, suppressed appetite, being more worried, anxious and indecisiveness.
- The aim of nutrition in recovery is to supply sufficient energy (from protein, carbohydrates & fats) i.e. food to rebuild lost tissue. In addition, any insufficiencies in vitamins & minerals intake must be replaced.
- Generally speaking increasing food intake will replace most of the micronutrient deficits, but some people may require additional iron, zinc or calcium. A multi vitamin & mineral supplement (at the ‘Recommended Dietary Intake’ dosage) may be useful.
- Ordinary, everyday family foods are recommended. Most people need to re-introduce more meat and protein rich foods, more bread & cereal foods, more milk and milk products, more healthy fat rich foods (Omega 3 & 6).
Extra supplements like Sustagen or Ensure may be helpful if you are having trouble eating enough.
Fuel Needs for Weight Restoration
Initially an underweight person will have lower than expected food needs and will restore weight and health by building up to an intake of 1500 – 2000kcal (6 – 8 MJ) daily. (Aiming for an approx. weight gain rate of 500g/week.) See below for an example of meals suitable for this initial step.
Within a few weeks most people will find they require more than this and will need to increase their intake to around 3000kcal (12.5 MJ) or more in order to fully recover and return to full physical health.
This translates into a plan of meals providing at least the following:
- 3 regular meals + 3 regular snacks:
– Each meal consisting of : 2 courses + substantial drink
– Each snack consisting of: something substantial to eat + substantial drink
See below for an example of meals for ongoing weight and health recovery.
It is important to remember that weight may appear to increase quickly for the first week or two. This is mostly due to improved hydration, as people experiencing malnutrition are usually dehydrated.
These sample meal plans are designed for 3 meals and 3 snacks per day, eating every 2.5 to 3 hours.
Each sample menu plan incorporates different requirements for each exchange and includes proteins, starches, fruits, vegetables, fats, and dairy (or alternatives). The foods listed in the meal plans could also be substituted for another item in the same group (ex. Starch for another starch, like substituting a ½ cup brown rice for a ½ cup whole wheat noodles.
If you need help with visualizing portion sizes click here.
Here are a few sample food plans. You can adjust the times to reflect what would work with your schedule and also substitute in other foods for the exchanges according to your individual preferences.
Have full fat products of milk, cheese, cream, margarine. (Don’t have low fat when trying to gain weight)
Sample Eating Recovery
Meal Plan 1
| Breakfast | Banana ½ cup or 1 serving Cereal – muesli or porridge 1 cup Milk (dairy, soy, almond, etc.) 1 slice toast, butter and spread Or 1-2 slice toast (wholemeal) 1 scrambled egg with mushrooms 1 medium apple Optional Tea or coffee |
| Morning Tea | Protein shake or ½ cup cottage cheese with pineapple
Or Piece of fruit and 200 ml unflavoured milk Or 30g cheese with 1 serving wheat crackers Or 1 slice whole wheat bread with hard boiled egg and tomato slices Optional Tea or coffee |
| Lunch | Chicken & Salad sandwich (wholemeal) or
Or Turkey sandwich with slice of cheese on 2 slices whole wheat bread Or 2 slices whole wheat bread with turkey, 1 slice cheese & mustard/mayo Or Peanut butter sandwich and Small tub of yoghurt 200ml of water or fruit juice/ tea or coffee |
| Afternoon | 1 serving crackers, pretzels or popcorn
200ml milk drink (for protein & calcium) Or ¼ cup trail mix (raisins, nuts, dried fruit, etc) and milk Or ½ cup cottage cheese with fruit |
| Evening meal | Grilled chicken breast, 1 cup broccoli, 1 cup rice noodles, 1 cup milk or soy milk; or
Meat casserole & mashed potato & broccoli; or Stir fried chicken & vegetables & rice; or Spaghetti Bolognese or Lasagne; or Fish mashed potato, broccoli, corn, carrots; or Chicken teriyaki, Asian stir fry veges with rice or noodles; or Baked salmon with 1 cup broccoli, ½ cup pasta, 1 T butter; Or Veggie burger (make sure has 14 grams protein or more) on wholemeal bun, 1 slice cheese, 1 cup steamed broccoli or vegetable greens and Dessert: small tub of yoghurt with fruit or with 2 tbsp. peanut butter
|
| Snack | 200 ml milk drink – Milo
Or apple 1 cup yogurt with 2 Tbsp. peanut butter Or 1 serving wheat crackers with 2 Tbsp. peanut butter
|
This is to be used as a guide.
Remember the more packaging on the food you choose the less likely it is real and good for you.
To help your body heal fresh is best, try to eliminate processed foods and fast food.
There are many more real foods that can be used, but try to keep in mind to minimise sugar content in the foods chosen.
Fruit contain surcrose a natural sweetener. A banana is a great sugar hit and you get its vitamin C & A, potassium, Vitamin 6, Magnesium and essential dietary fibre.
What a wonderful fruit the Banana is!
Banana
Another one of natures gifts! Thank you!