Overview
Keeping healthy on a high calorie diet
Important
This information is produced for adults under the care of Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals. We usually give you the information after an assessment or appointment. Your dietitian or other healthcare professional may give you different guidance, depending on your specific medical needs.
It is important to check with a healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet. Please contact your dietitian if you have any questions or concerns.
If you are not a patient at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals, please contact a GP or specialist healthcare professional.
A fortified diet is higher in calories and usually recommended on a short-term basis.
It is important to keep healthy while trying to gain or maintain weight. This information:
- covers different food groups and gives tips for making healthy, balanced choices
- gives examples of a balanced, fortified meal plan, including if you have diabetes
The healthy heart tips (♥) indicate healthier choices that you can make if you are concerned or have been advised to fortify your diet in the longer term.
Different food groups
This section explains the different food groups and suggests tips to fortify your diet while keeping a healthy balance.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the main source of energy and fibre in your diet. Examples include:
- bread
- cereals
- rice
- potatoes
- pasta
- oats
- grains
Here are some tips:
Do
- ♥choose wholegrain options, such as porridge, muesli or wholemeal bread, to help keep your digestive system and heart healthy
- add margarine, cheese, mayonnaise (including plant-based varieties) or oil into savoury options, such as mashed potato, pasta dishes or sandwiches
- add sugar, honey, cream or dried milk powder into sweet options, such as semolina, rice pudding or cereal
Protein
Protein supports growth and your body structures. Examples include:
- lentils
- pulses
- beans
- nuts
- seeds
- eggs
- fish
- meat or vegetarian options
Here are some tips:
Do
- ♥choose lentils, beans and pulses to help reduce your cholesterol level
- try high-protein toppings on your toast, such as nut butters (like peanut butter), hummus (a chickpea dip), scrambled egg or sardines
- add extra pieces of meat into soups, casseroles, stews or pies
Fruit and vegetables
Fruit and vegetables give you vitamins, minerals and fibre. Examples include:
- bananas
- berries
- apples
- carrots
- peas
- sweetcorn
Here are some tips:
Do
- ♥choose a rainbow of colours to get a range of antioxidants (nutrients that protect your cells from damage) to help keep your arteries clear
- make nourishing smoothies or milkshakes using fresh, tinned or frozen fruits
- serve vegetables with a sauce or accompaniment, such as a rich gravy, cheese sauce or honey
Dairy foods and fortified plant-based options
Dairy foods and fortified plant-based options give you calcium, which you need to strengthen your bones. Examples include:
- milk
- dried milk powder
- yoghurt
- cheese
- fortified plant-based options
Here are some tips:
Do
- ♥use dried milk powder to increase protein and calcium without adding any extra fat
- choose full-fat varieties (or oat, soya and pea-based options), as these are higher in calories
- fortify your milk by adding 2 to 4 tablespoons of dried milk powder to 1 pint of milk, mixing well and then using the milk as normal
Do
- ♥eat oily fish, such as salmon, herrings, sardines or trout, once a week as the oils found in fish are good for your heart
- use vegetable or olive oil and spreads in place of animal fats, like butter or lard, to lower the saturated fat in your diet
- clean your teeth regularly using fluoride toothpaste to protect against tooth decay
Balanced meal plan
The following table gives an example of a balanced, fortified meal plan (you can use plant-based options instead, as needed):
| Breakfast | Weetabix™ or porridge with fortified milk and honey, served with mixed berries or dried fruit and a glass of orange juice |
| Mid-morning snack | A cup of tea or coffee with fortified milk and a banana or biscuit |
| Lunch | Shepherd’s pie made with a rich gravy and creamy mashed potato, followed by apple crumble and custard made with fortified milk |
| Mid-afternoon snack | A nourishing fruit smoothie or milkshake and a handful of nuts, or a slice of fruit malt loaf with margarine |
| Dinner | Scrambled eggs made with margarine and fortified milk or tinned sardines on toast with spread, followed by a creamy fruit yoghurt dessert |
| Evening snack | Hot chocolate or Horlicks® made with fortified milk and sugar |
If you have diabetes
The following table gives an example of a balanced, fortified meal plan if you have diabetes (you can use plant-based options instead, as needed):
| Breakfast | Weetabix™ or porridge with fortified milk, served with mixed berries or dried ground nuts and a glass of sugar-free squash |
| Mid-morning snack | A cup of tea or coffee with fortified milk and a creamy yoghurt or banana |
| Lunch | Fish pie made with creamy mashed potato and buttered vegetables, followed by an egg tart with a handful of berries |
| Mid-afternoon snack | A nourishing milkshake and wholegrain crackers with cheese, or a handful of nuts |
| Dinner | Omelette, scrambled eggs or oily fish (like sardines or mackerel) on wholegrain bread, followed by a small fruit cocktail and double cream |
| Evening snack | A nourishing milkshake |
Resource number: 4063/VER4
Last reviewed: February 2026
Next review: February 2029
