Nutrition Supplement Recipes
You may need to supplement additional nutrition if:
- you have a poor appetite and find eating difficult
- your body needs more nutrients to maintain health than what you can normally eat
- for reasons as recommended by your health care professional
To help your body recover and stay healthy, it is important to try eating something every 2-3 hours, making every bite count. Our team of dietitians have put together these recipes to help you improve your nutrition intake from real food and to provide your body with more nutrients in addition to the foods you already eat.
Some recipes or food suggestions may not be suitable for people with allergies.
Increasing your protein and energy intake
High Protein Milk
Yield: 4 cups
4 cups whole milk
1 cup skim milk powder
Directions:
- in a blender combine the whole milk and skim milk powder
- blend until all the skim milk powder is dissolved
- place in a sealed container in the refrigerator (for no more than four days) Note: Use in milkshakes, smoothies, soups and cereals.
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8 oz):
Calories – 146 kcal
Protein – 12 g
Carbohydrate – 18 g
High Protein Milkshake
Yield: 1 cup
½ cup ice cream
¾ cup high protein milk
½ teaspoon vanilla
Variations for the High Protein Milkshake
Make the High Protein Milkshake Recipe above and then add the following. The nutritional content is for the finished drink.
Banana/Cinnamon – add 1/3 cup or ½ small banana and ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz):
Calories – 232 kcal
Protein – 8 g
Carbohydrate – 35 g
Chocolate – add 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz):
Calories – 216 kcal
Protein – 8 g
Carbohydrate – 30 g
Coconut/Peach – add ¼ teaspoon coconut flavoring and ½ cup frozen peaches
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz):
Calories – 196 kcal
Protein – 8 g
Carbohydrate – 26 g
Coffee – add 1 teaspoon instant coffee
No change of nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz):
Chocolate Monkey – 1/3 cup or ½ small banana, 1 teaspoon instant coffee, 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup and 2 tablespoons peanut butter
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz):
Calories – 466 kcal
Protein – 8 g
Carbohydrate – 53
Fruit (canned) – add ½ cup canned peaches, pears, cherries or fruit salad
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz):
Calories – 226 kcal
Protein – 8 g
Carbohydrate – 34 g
Note: The fruit used was canned in pear juice. If you need more calories choose fruit canned in syrup.
Fruit (frozen) – add ½ cup frozen raspberries, strawberries, pineapple, blueberries or mixed fruit
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz):
Calories – 206 kcal
Protein – 8 g
Carbohydrate – 28 g
Maple – add 2 teaspoons maple flavoring and 1 teaspoon maple syrup
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz):
Calories – 200 kcal
Protein – 8 g
Carbohydrate – 27 g
Mint – 1/8 teaspoon mint flavoring
No change to the nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz)
Mocha – 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup and 1 teaspoon instant coffee
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz):
Calories – 216 kcal
Protein – 8 g
Carbohydrate – 30 g
Spice – add ¼ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon allspice
No change to the nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz)
High Protein Pudding
Yield: ½ cup
2 tablespoons instant pudding powder (any flavor)
2 tablespoons skim milk powder
½ cup 1% milk
Directions:
- combine pudding powder and skim milk powder in a jar with a lid
- add milk and stir mixture until combined
- then shake with the lid on until thick; serve immediately
Nutritional content for ½ cup (4oz):
Calories – 219 kcal
Protein – 10 g
Carbohydrate – 40g
High Protein Mashed Potatoes
Yield: 1/3 cup serving
1/3 cup plain mashed potatoes (mashed with 1 teaspoon 10% milk fat cream)
2 tablespoons skim milk powder
2 teaspoons margarine or butter
Directions:
- add skim milk powder and margarine to mashed potatoes; serve immediately
Note:
• This recipe could be doubled and a portion refrigerated, then reheated.
• Do not use after 24 hours.
Nutritional content for 1/3 cup (3oz):
Calories – 130 kcal
Protein –7g
Carbohydrate – 20g
Peanut Butter Shake
Yield: 1 cup
½ cup whole milk
2 tablespoons skim milk powder
1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter or other nut butter if desired
½ cup vanilla ice cream
½ teaspoon vanilla
Directions:
- place all ingredients in a blender and blend until combined; serve immediately.
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz):
Calories –370 kcal
Protein – 16 g
Carbohydrate – 33 g
Pink Lemonade Shake
Yield: 2 cups
1 cup whole milk
½ cup strawberries
2 tablespoons skim milk powder
2 tablespoons pink lemonade concentrate 1 tablespoon lemon juice
¼ teaspoon lemon rind
½ cup vanilla ice cream
Directions:
- place all ingredients in a blender and blend until combined; serve immediately.
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz):
Calories – 228 kcal
Protein – 10 g
Carbohydrate – 40g
Orange Whip
Yield: 2 cups
1 cup orange juice
½ cup pineapple juice
½ cup 2% milk fat cottage cheese
½ cup whole milk
1/3 cup or ½ small banana
Directions:
- place all ingredients in a blender and blend until combined; serve immediately.
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz):
Calories – 210 kcal
Protein – 10 g
Carbohydrate – 36 g
Pineapple Cheesecake Smoothie
Yield: 3 cups
1 cup frozen pineapple
½ cup 2% cottage cheese
¼ cup regular cream cheese
2/3 cup whole milk
¼ cup canned peaches (canned in juice)
½ cup peach juice (from can)
½ teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon honey
Directions:
- place all ingredients in a blender and blend until very smooth; serve immediately.
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz):
Calories – 250 kcal
Protein – 8 g
Carbohydrate – 36 g
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
Yield: 2 cups
¾ cup pumpkin pie filling
1/3 cup or ½ small banana
½ cup whole milk
¼ cup 10% milk fat cream
2 tablespoons hemp protein (powdered protein with 20g protein in 4 tablespoons powder)
1 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon allspice
Directions:
- place all ingredients in a blender and blend until very smooth; serve immediately.
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz):
Calories – 227 kcal
Protein – 12 g
Carbohydrate – 42g
Mango Eggnog
Yield: 2 cups
½ cup pasteurized egg white (can be found in the dairy department of your grocery store)
1 cup whole milk
1 tablespoon honey
1/3 cup ripe fresh or frozen mango
1/3 cup or ½ small banana
Directions:
- put the egg white in the blender and blend for one minute until foamy
- Add the remaining ingredients to the blender and blend until smooth; serve immediately.
Note: if desired, nutmeg may be sprinkled on top
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8oz):
Calories – 200 kcal
Protein – 11 g
Carbohydrate – 32 g
Create your own combo!
Step 1: choose your base product
- whole milk
- soy milk
- cream
- ice cream
- almond milk
- rice milk
- coconut milk
- yogurt
- evaporated milk
Step 2: choose your protein add-in
- skim milk powder
- protein powder
- hemp protein
- nut or seed butter
- peanut butter
- ground nuts
- cottage cheese
- tofu
- pasteurized egg white
Step 3: choose calorie add-in
- canola oil
- sunflower oil
- olive oil
- avocado
- coconut oil
- ground flax
- chia seeds
Step 4: choose flavoring (or combination)
- berries
- oranges
- banana
- chocolate syrup
- cinnamon
- coconut
- any fruit of your choice
- vanilla or almond extract
- mint
Raspberry Delight (dairy free)
Yield: 3 cups
1 cup frozen raspberries you normally would have
¾ cup or 1 small banana
1 ½ cup lemon lime soda water (zero calories)
Directions:
- place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until combined; serve immediately.
Note: frozen mango or peach can replace the frozen raspberries for an alternative without seeds
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8 oz):
Calories – 75 kcal
Protein – 1.1 g
Carbohydrate – 18 g
Vegetable Medley (dairy free)
Yield: 1 cup
1 cup chilled tomato-based vegetable juice
¼ teaspoon dill
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon paprika
Directions:
- stir all the ingredients together in a glass; serve immediately.
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8 oz):
Calories – 50 kcal
Protein – 2 g
Carbohydrate – 10 g
Chocolate Sauce (low carbohydrate & dairy free)
Yield: 8, 2-tablespoon servings
1 cup water
¼ cup cocoa powder
2 packages (1g each) of Stevia® powder
2 teaspoons honey
Directions:
- in a small bowl place water and microwave for 1½ minutes on high
- stir in cocoa powder, Stevia® and honey
- whisk or stir until powders are dissolved
Note:
• Stevia® could be substituted with an equivalent amount of Equal®, Sugar Twin® or Splenda®
• sauce may be refrigerated in a container for 2 weeks
• add 1 ounce of sauce to 6 ounces of milk of choice
• use instead of chocolate sauce in any recipe that calls for regular chocolate sauce
Nutritional content for 2 tablespoons:
Calories – 11 kcal
Protein – 0 g
Carbohydrate – 3 g
High Protein Soup
Yield: 2 cups
1 small can (284ml) cream of chicken soup
1 cup high protein milk (see first recipe)
Directions:
- combine the ingredients and heat to desired temperature
- strain out lumps if necessary
Note: a variety of cream soups may be used (mushroom, celery, cheese, asparagus)
Nutritional content for1 cup (8 oz):
Calories – 240 kcal
Protein – 12 g
Carbohydrate – 22 g
Green Smoothie
Yield: 3 cups
1 cup soy milk
¾ cup orange juice
½ cup spinach
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon grated ginger (or ½ teaspoon powdered ginger)
1 frozen medium banana
1 pear (chopped)
Directions:
- place all ingredients in a blender and blend until combined; serve immediately
Note: Almond milk, rice milk, evaporated milk, coconut milk, etc. could be substituted for soy milk if you prefer, however they will provide less protein. 1 cup soy milk = 9 g protein. 1 cup almond or rice milk = 1 g protein. Check the label for protein content to be sure
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8 oz):
Calories – 152 kcal
Protein – 4 g
Carbohydrate – 30 g
Kiwi Kick Smoothie
Yield: 1 ¾ cup
1 cup ginger ale
1 cup kiwi (peeled, chopped)
1 cup kale
½ cup ice cubes
Directions:
- place all ingredients in a blender and blend until combined; serve immediately
- this drink will separate quite quickly and will not keep well in the refrigerator
Note:
- other fruits may be substituted for kiwi
- diet ginger ale could be substituted for regular ginger ale if you would like to lower the carbohydrate content
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8 oz):
Calories – 115 kcal
Protein – 2 g
Carbohydrate – 28 g
Fruit Cobbler Smoothie
Yield: 2 cups
1 cup chopped apple with skin on (Granny Smith or Macintosh is best)
½ cup dried cherry flavored cranberries (original and blueberry are also good)
3 tablespoons water
1 cup soy milk
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Directions:
- put the chopped apple, cranberries and water in a small microwaveable bowl
- cover and microwave for 2 minutes on high; let cool
- in a blender combine, soy milk, cinnamon, nutmeg
- add apple and cranberry mixture
- blend until smooth; serve immediately
Note:
- this recipe gives you 3 grams fiber in a 1 cup serving
- almond milk, rice milk, evaporated milk, coconut milk, etc. could be substituted for soy milk if you prefer, however they will provide less protein. 1 cup soy milk = 9 g protein. 1 cup almond or rice milk = 1 g protein. Check the label for protein content to be sure
Nutritional content for 1 cup (8 oz):
Calories – 183 kcal
Protein – 3.0 g
Carbohydrate – 40 g
These items can be added to any of the recipes as desired!
Avocado
Serving size: 1/2 an avocado
Benefit: 10 g of healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats as well as 6 g of fiber
Quick Cooking Rolled Oats
Serving size: ½ cup uncooked
Benefit: 4 g of fiber and 5 g of protein
Chia Seeds (whole or ground)
Serving size: 2 tbsp
Benefit: 6 g of healthy fats and 4 g of fiber
Ground Flax
Serving size: 1 tbsp
Benefit: 6 g of healthy fats and 4 g of fiber
Coconut Oil, Canola Oil, Sunflower Oil, Olive Oil
Serving size: 1 tbsp
Benefit: 120 – 125 calories from fat that the body can quickly convert to energy
Canned Coconut Milk
Serving size: ½ cup
Benefit: 200 calories and a creamy consistency
Soft Tofu
Serving size: ½ a package
Benefit: 15 g of protein and 1.2 mg of iron
Nut/Seed/Peanut Butter
Serving size: 2 tbsp
Benefit: 200 calories and 6-8 g of protein and source of fibre