Hello

I've read several posts recently from carers/patients wondering about getting extra calories into their loved ones/bodies.  I know the challenge well.  I've been feeding my husband, who has oesophageal cancer, for over a year.  He went down from 12 stones to 8 stones 4. But, 4 months post op he was back up to 10 stones 4 and although the cancer has returned he is holding steady at that.

I am not a dietician, and Steve doesn't have any allergies and LOVES all kinds of food, so I had a star pupil to start with and I know there are lots of fab recipes here:

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/coping/maintaining-...

However my challenge was how to get calories into S when swallowing became almost impossible for him because the tumour was blocking his gullet.  So, I hope the information below helps anyone in a similar situation.

In no particular order....

Dried milk powder. Loaded with vitamins and minerals.  I added it to coffee/hot chocolate/sauces etc.

Protein powder shakes.  the kind body builders use.  Again loaded with goodies.

Gold top milk.  Everything possible was made with Jersey/Channel island/gold top milk

Nuts either whole or in butter e.g. peanut butter.  Tahini paste was another great help.

Bananas and avocados - both real power houses in the calories and good fat department

I would make all kinds of smoothies and shakes with the above ingredients but ALWAYS used protein powder (either banana or chocolate flavour) AND dried milk power AND creamy milk AND at least 1 banana.  I then added either peanut butter, tahini paste or avocado (don't worry you can't taste it).  It was not the easier thing to drink but at least S got some nutrients and minerals into him.

Instant hot chocolate powder - the kind you only need to add water to.  DON'T make it with water.  Make it with milk, and add a teaspoon or 2 of dried milk powder.  To this day it's S's fave bedtime drink:  3 heaped teaspoons of mix, 1 teaspoon of dried milk powder, a touch of cinnamon.  Top with hot milk, drop a square of chocolate into the bottom and a swirl of cream on top.  

Lemon curd - ditch the marmalade - lemon curd has tonnes more calories in it

Crumpets are easier to chew that toast and you get more butter on them

Rice pudding if you make it yourself make it with cream, if you buy it, add the cream and jam/lemon curd or sultanas.  Or make it with evaporated milk, or a mixture of condensed and evap.

Porridge - soak the oats overnight in milk first, add cinnamon and serve with brown sugar and cream

Pasta - cook  some shells/macaroni until really soft.  Make a white sauce (packet mix if fine) with milk.  Add cheese to sauce and add to the pasta.  I used to freeze batches of these and then add either flaked smoked haddock, brocolli puree, sweet corn and peas.

Sausages - take the skins off them and cook them like minced beef. Much easier to eat without the skins.

Streaky bacon - cooked nice and crispy so you can crumble over scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, pasta etc.

I made a batch of toffee sauce (equal quantities of butter, brown sugar and double cream) and pour over ice cream, bananas, stewed apples/plums.

Mashed potatoes/jacket potatoes - add any combo of cream cheese, cheddar, butter, crispy bacon, smashed avocado

When cooking veg like carrots, sprouts, green beans, I'd steam them really quickly, then finish cooking them in butter, then mash them when S was struggling.

Eggs - scrambled with a little cream and butter - I used to use an extra egg yolk or two and chuck the white.  I know it's wasteful but S filled up really quickly so I didn't want to waste any precious stomach space on empty calories.

Coconut milk and curry paste - I'd add about a tablespoon of paste to a can of coconut milk (the full fat kind) and then add raw prawns and cook until prawns are pink, or pour over cooked salmon, cooked boned chicken thighs, cooked rice or even mashed potatoes.  I've even cooked rice in the coconut milk.

I'll stop now... but you get the idea.  I know this isn't a cheap diet nor is it in any way healthy, but it worked.  S put the weight back on.  Unfortunately, as I say, the cancer is back, but that's another story!

I'd be really interested if anyone else has got any brilliant ideas/tips/swaps

Thanks everyone and take care

Ruth