Liquid diets aren't just for people looking to shed unwanted pounds. People who don't like to eat their food or who have trouble eating because of surgery, injury or chemotherapy may find liquid diets useful in gaining or maintaining weight. By using a few basic principles, you can get the calories you need through a completely liquid diet.
Caloric Intake
As with any sort of weight gain diet, the key to a liquid diet is taking in more calories than you're burning. If you are a sedentary adult, you'll likely need fewer calories than an active younger person. Most adults need between 1,600 and 2,400 calories. Depending on your weight gain goals, you may want to eat 500 calories more than normal or up to 1,500 calories more. You should consult a dietitian or doctor to find out what your exact needs are. After you've decided your caloric needs, it's just a matter of finding the right foods.
Basic Tips
The University of Virginia Health System suggests eating smaller, more frequent meals while utilizing a high calorie liquid diet. They also suggest using whole or evaporated milk whenever possible. You can fortify whole milk by adding one cup of dry milk to a quart of whole milk, thus increasing its calories. Likewise, you can add 1 tsp. to 3 tsp of vegetable oil to your milkshakes, smoothies and nutritional drinks to increase your caloric intake without drastically affecting flavor.
Blenderized Foods
You can introduce a variety of high calorie foods into your diet by simply pureeing the foods most people eat whole. Solid foods should be thinned with a liquid, blended well and strained. Meats can be blended with broths, milks, and vegetable juice. You can mix vegetables with broths, juices or salad dressings. Foods such as potatoes, pasta and rice can be mixed with gravy, sauces or soups to increase their value. Even dishes like pizza or casserole can be blended with liquids for consumption.
Nutritional Drinks
There are a host of nutritional drinks on the market that pack a caloric punch. When prepared with whole milk, a drink such as Carnation Instant Breakfast can give you 275 calories in an 8 oz serving, boosting your daily calorie intake. Similarly, Ensure's Plus Nutritional Drink has 350 calories, 11 g of fat and 13 g of protein in an 8 oz serving. By using these drinks between meals, you can augment the calories you get from other foods and reach your desired weight.
Final Considerations
Since you'll want to make the most of your appetite, don't fill up on beverages low in calories such as water, coffee and tea. Replace these drinks with juices, milk or smoothies. You can also make your own high calorie shakes and smoothies at home. Start with whole milk, yogurt and ice cream. Add fruits, flavored sauces, powdered protein mixes and juices to boost calories and suit your taste buds. If you're lactose intolerant, consider replacing dairy products with soy-based products.
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