Overview

This information is for people with diabetes who have a small appetite. It includes advice and ideas on how to eat a diet that:

• is high in energy (calories) and protein
• is well balanced
• helps to keep your blood sugar levels stable

We also suggest healthy heart options. These are healthier food choices if you need to make your diet more nourishing (fortify it) for a longer period.

If you have any more questions or concerns, please speak to your dietitian or the doctor or nurse caring for you.

How eating well can help you

If you have a small appetite, eating well can help you to:

• prevent or minimise weight loss
• regain weight that you have lost
• feel less tired and improve your strength
• fight an infection
• heal from wounds
• cope with your treatment better
• recover more quickly from periods of illness

How to have a higher calorie diet

Here are some ways to have a diet that is higher in calories and gives you more energy.

Eat little and often

Aim to have 3 small meals and 2 or 3 snacks or nourishing drinks every day.

Choose food high in calories and protein

Your meals, snacks and drinks should be high in calories and protein to give your body the nourishment (nutrients) that it needs every day. We have suggestions about how to increase the calories in your meals and make them more nourishing.

Eat some starchy foods with your main meals

Starchy foods give you energy and fibre. Examples include:

• bread
• potatoes
• rice
• pasta
• cereals
• chapattis
• couscous
• yams

Have at least 2 protein-rich foods every day

Foods high in protein include:

• meat, chicken, turkey or fish (the recommended portion size is the palm of your hand)
• 1 egg
• a small piece of cheese (the size of a matchbox)
• a standard pot of yoghurt or a vegetarian yoghurt
• 3 tablespoons of tofu, soya, Quorn®, or beans and lentils (this is a healthy heart option)

Include small portions of fruit and vegetables with meals

This is a healthy heart option, but be careful not to fill up on fruit and vegetables. They are low in protein and calories. If you cannot eat everything on your plate, have the starchy and protein-rich foods first.

Have desserts to increase the calories in your diet

Puddings or desserts help to increase the calories in your diet. Good choices include:

• tinned or fresh fruit with cream
• full-fat natural or Greek yoghurt
• fromage frais (a soft, creamy cheese made with whole or skimmed milk and cream)
• cheese and crackers
• a slice of plain cake

Avoid drinking fluids before and during meals

Drinks can fill you up. It is best to drink after your meals or at times that are not too near your main meals.

Include foods containing fats and oils

Foods containing fats and oils have more calories in each gram than protein and carbohydrate foods. They help you to put on weight. Examples include:

• margarine
• vegetable oils
• avocado
• nut butters (spreads made by grinding nuts into a paste, such as peanut butter)
• oily fish
• plain biscuits, such as 2 or 3 digestive or rich tea biscuits

The plant and fish-based oils are healthier for your heart than animal fats.

Take a multivitamin and mineral supplement if needed

You may need to take a multivitamin and mineral supplement every day if you can only manage small amounts of food. Talk to your dietitian or doctor about this if you are not sure.

How to increase the calories in your meals

If you can only eat small meals, you can make them more nourishing by adding high calorie ingredients to food and drinks. The following table gives you some ideas on how to do this.

Small meals and snacks

The following table gives examples of quick, nourishing small meals and snacks.

Other ways to manage a small appetite

More information and support

Diabetes UK

Diabetes UK is a charity for people living with diabetes in the UK. It gives information and support to help people with diabetes manage their condition effectively.

Phone: 0345 123 2399 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
Email: [email protected]