Calorie and protein guidelines during cancer treatment

Your calorie and protein needs will vary depending on things, such as your age, gender, body weight, and activity level. The current recommended daily allowance for protein for most adults is 46 to 56 grams per day. It is important to discuss your own calorie and protein needs with your healthcare provider or registered dietitian. With some cancers, the metabolic processes can cause hypermetabolism. This condition affects how your body uses proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. With hypermetabolism, you may need to increase your calorie and protein intake. Discuss this with your healthcare provider or registered dietitian.

What foods are high in calories?

Listed below are some suggestions for adding calories and protein to your meals and snacks:

• Add butter or margarine, or use oil when cooking (30 calories per teaspoon) to:

  • Puddings

  • Casseroles

  • Sandwiches

  • Vegetables

  • Cooked cereal

  • Breads, muffins, pancakes, waffles

  • Pasta

  • Meat dishes

• Add wheat germ (25 calories and 2 grams protein per tablespoon) or ground flax seed (35 calories and 1.5 grams protein per tablespoon) to:

  • Hot cereals

  • Meat dishes

  • Cookie, brownie, pancake, muffin, or waffle batter

  • Casseroles

  • Peanut butter or other nut butter spreads

• Add mayonnaise or salad dressing (35 calories per teaspoon) or hummus (25 calories and 1 gram protein per tablespoon) liberally to:

  • Sandwiches

  • Salads

  • As a dip for raw vegetables or sauce on cooked vegetables

• Add evaporated milk (25 calories and 1 gram protein per tablespoon) in place of whole milk in desserts, baked goods, meat dishes, and cooked cereal. This can be added to most foods without drastically changing the flavor. 

• Add sour cream (30 calories per tablespoon) to:

  • Potatoes

  • Casseroles and soups

  • Sauces and dips

  • Baked goods

• Add sweetened condensed milk (60 calories and 1 gram protein per tablespoon) to:

  • Pies, puddings, and milkshakes

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, and spread on toast

• Add gravies (20 calories per tablespoon) liberally on:

  • Mashed potatoes

  • Rice

  • Noodles

  • Meats

• Ask your healthcare provider about adding nutritional supplement drinks between meals. 

The following snack ideas can be eaten as a meal or in addition to meals.