URMC / Encyclopedia / Content

Nutrition and Cancer: Recipes for High-Calorie Drinks

Cancer treatments can cause side effects that make eating difficult. Sometimes dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, or mouth sores cause the eating problems. At other times there may be a general lack of interest in food. If you experience eating problems, you may need to eat high-fat, high-calorie foods to maintain your weight or cool foods such as milkshakes to cope with such side effects as mouth sores.

The following recipes for high-calorie shakes and drinks may help you manage some of the nutritional issues cause by cancer treatments.

Recipes for high-calorie shakes and drinks	Calories per serving
CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER SHAKE 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream 3 tbsp creamy peanut butter 3 tbsp chocolate syrup 1 1/2 cups chocolate ice cream Blend in blender.	1330
STRAWBERRY CRUSH 2 cups frozen strawberries 1/2 cup crushed pineapple 1/2 medium banana 1/2 cup water 6 tbsp sugar 1/4 cup lemon juice 2 tbsp honey Blend in blender.	715
PEACHES AND CREAM 1 cup milk 1 cup canned peaches 1 cup vanilla ice cream 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp vanilla Blend in blender.	535
APPLE PIE A LA MODE 1 cup apple pie filling 1/2 cup milk 1 cup vanilla ice cream Dash of cinnamon Blend in blender.	525
HIGH-CALORIE BREAKFAST SHAKE 1 cup half-and-half 1 packet Carnation Instant Breakfast 3/4 cup ice cream Blend in blender.	675
GRAPE SLUSH 2 grape juice bars 2 tbsp corn syrup 1/2 cup grape juice or lemon-lime soda 1 tbsp corn oil Blend in blender.	300
ORANGE SHERBET SHAKE 3/4 cup orange sherbet 2 tbsp corn syrup 1/2 cup lemon-lime soda 2 tbsp corn oil Blend in blender.	610
OLD-FASHIONED MILKSHAKE 1 cup whole milk 1 cup ice cream Blend in blender.	420
HOT CHOCOLATE 3 ounces milk chocolate 1/4 tsp vanilla 1 tsp butter 1 cup half-and-half Melt chocolate and butter. Add vanilla and slowly stir in half-and-half, small amounts at a time. Reheat to desired temperature.	420
CARNATION INSTANT BREAKFAST 1 packet Carnation Instant Breakfast 1 cup whole milk	280

There are high-calorie drinks that come ready-made. They are available in most grocery stores and pharmacies. They include the following:

Ensure Plus, 8 ounces - 350 calories per serving
Resource 2.0 - 480 calories per serving
Boost Plus - 360 calories per serving
Carnation Instant Breakfast - 240 calories per serving

Let your healthcare provider know if you have any problems controlling side effects or eating enough calories. There are a variety of resources and ideas available to help you manage your side effects and maintain a healthy diet.

Medical Reviewers:

Fraser, Marianne, MSN, RN

Levin, Mark, MD