How to Add More Calories to Care Home Meals

Providing nutritious meals is an important part of caring for older residents, but sometimes simply serving a balanced meal isn’t enough. Some residents may have a reduced appetite, lose weight unintentionally or struggle to eat larger portions.

For care home chefs, adding extra calories to meals can be a simple way to support residents’ nutritional needs without making portions significantly bigger.

The good news is that there are plenty of easy ways to make everyday care home meals more energy-dense while keeping them tasty, familiar and enjoyable.

Here are some simple ways to add more calories to care home meals.

Add Cheese to Increase Calories In Meals for the Elderly

Cheese is an easy way to add extra calories, protein and flavour to a wide range of care home meals.

Grated cheese can be added to mashed potato, scrambled eggs, pasta dishes, soups and vegetables. A little extra cheese can also be sprinkled over cottage pie, lasagne or macaroni cheese before serving.

Cheese can be a simple way to increase the nutritional and caloric value of familiar dishes without dramatically increasing portion sizes.

High-Calorie Breakfast Ideas for Care Home Residents

Breakfast is another opportunity to increase calorie intake without increasing portion size.

Porridge can be made with whole milk rather than water, with extra calories added through cream, full-fat yoghurt, honey, dried fruit or peanut butter where appropriate. Bananas, berries and other soft fruits can also be added for extra flavour, nutrition and variety.

A high-calorie savoury breakfast could be an omelette with sausages, bacon and cheese, or scrambled eggs with avocado on toast.

For residents who enjoy a warm breakfast, enriched porridge can be a simple and comforting way to start the day.

Add Calories to Soups and Mashed Potatoes For Care Homes

Cream, butter and other fatty ingredients can be an easy way to increase the calorie content of everyday meals while also improving their texture and flavour.

Mashed potato can be enriched with butter, cream, whole milk or grated cheese to create a richer and creamier accompaniment to dishes such as cottage pie, sausages, casseroles and fish.

Similarly, cream can be added to soups, pasta sauces and other dishes to increase their energy content without significantly increasing portion size.

These simple additions can be particularly useful for residents who prefer softer foods, or have smaller appetities.

Add Healthy Fats to Vegetables In Care Home Meals

Vegetables are an important part of a balanced diet, but they don’t need to be served on their own.

Adding butter, olive oil, sauces or cheese can increase the energy content of vegetables while making them more appealing.

Buttered carrots, cheesy cauliflower and vegetables served with a creamy sauce can all provide more calories than plain steamed or boiled vegetables.

Offer High-Calorie Snacks for Elderly Residents Who Need To Eat More

For residents with a poor appetite, snacks can provide valuable opportunities to increase calorie intake between meals.

Rather than relying solely on three main meals a day, consider offering nutritious snacks such as cheese and crackers, sandwiches, yoghurt, hummus with carrot sticks or smoothies.

Adding butter, cheese, cream cheese or other energy-dense ingredients to snacks can help make every bite count.

Small portions offered throughout the day may also be more manageable for residents who struggle with larger meals.

Supporting Better Nutrition in Care Homes

Good care home catering is about more than simply providing three meals a day. Menus should offer residents a choice of nutritious, appetising food that supports their individual needs while making mealtimes something to look forward to.

From everyday ingredients such as full-fat dairy, cheese and butter to nutritious snacks and comforting meals, there are plenty of ways for care home kitchens to add extra calories without compromising on taste.

If you’re looking for a foodservice supplier that can help you create nutritious, varied and cost-effective menus for your care home, Trevors Foodservice supplies a wide range of frozen, chilled, ambient and fresh products to care homes across the North West.