Products such as Carnation Instant Breakfast can also be helpful, but people often tire of sweet, milky-flavored snacks after several weeks. The ideas below will take extra effort from the family and caretakers, but they are simple ways to boost nutrition. If you need to add or avoid specific nutrients, the lists below suggest ways to concentrate calories with ingredients high in carbohydrates, proteins or fats. Fats Fats are the most concentrated source of calories, providing twice as many calories per equal volume of the protein or carbohydrates. Generally, when a person is malnourished, the goal of reducing fats to prevent heart disease is not a priority and fats should be used as liberally as possible.
Many older people avoid meat because it is too hard to chew, too expensive or tastes funny.
For these folks, adding proteins in alternative ways is important. Protein needs for the average, healthy adult are based on body size and range from 46 to 63 grams daily. The sweet taste is usually the most acute taste for seniors and many of them enjoy the suggestions below. If diabetes is a concern, then many of these choices would need to be limited. The recipes below illustrate how to add these ingredients into familiar foods to concentrate the calories and protein content.