Recommendations:

The following are methods for adding protein and calories to the diet. In addition to these tips, make sure that you are taking a multivitamin containing vitamins A, D, E and K.

Enzymes, vitamins, and salt:

• Most people with cystic fibrosis must take pancreatic enzymes. These enzymes help your body absorb fat and protein. Taking them all the time will decrease or get rid of foul-smelling stools, gas, and bloating.
• Take enzymes with all meals and snacks.
• Talk to your doctor about increasing or decreasing your enzymes, depending on your symptoms.
• Ask your doctor about taking vitamins A, D, E, K, and extra calcium. Special formulas exist for patients with CF.
• People who live in hot climates may need a small amount of extra table salt.

Eating patterns:

• Eat whenever you are hungry. This may mean eating several small meals throughout the day.
• Keep a variety of nutritious snack foods around. Try to snack on something every hour. Try cheese and crackers, muffins, or trail mix.
• Make an effort to eat regularly, even if it's only a few bites; or include a nutritional supplement or milkshake.
• Be flexible. If you aren't hungry at dinner time, make breakfast, mid-morning snacks, and lunch your main meals.

Getting more calories and protein:

• Add grated cheese to soups, sauces, casseroles, vegetables, mashed potatoes, rice, noodles or meat loaf.
• Use whole milk, half and half, cream, or enriched milk in cooking or beverages. Enriched milk has non-fat dry milk powder added to it.
• Spread peanut butter on bread products or use it as a dip for raw vegetables and fruit. Add peanut butter to sauces or use on waffles.
• Skim milk powder adds protein -- try adding 2 tablespoons of dry skim milk powder in addition to the amount of regular milk in recipes.
• Add marshmallows to fruit or hot chocolate. Add raisins, dates, or chopped nuts and brown sugar to hot or cold cereals or for snacks.
• A teaspoon of butter or margarine adds 45 calories to foods. Mix it into hot foods such as soups, vegetables, mashed potatoes, cooked cereal, and rice. Serve it on hot foods -- hot breads, pancakes, or waffles absorb more butter than cool ones.
• Use sour cream or yogurt on vegetables such as potatoes, beans, carrots, or squash. They can also be used as a dressing for fruit.
• Breaded meat, chicken, and fish have more calories than broiled or plain roasted.
• Add extra cheese on top of frozen prepared pizza.
• Add coarsely chopped hard cooked egg and cheese cubes to a tossed salad.
• Serve cottage cheese with canned or fresh fruit.
• Add grated cheeses, tuna, shrimp, crabmeat, ground beef, diced ham or sliced boiled eggs to sauces, rice, casseroles, and noodles.