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The Neuromuscular and ALS Center Staff

Preventing Weight Loss in ALS Patients

By Julie Glass, R.D.


 Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) can occur as a bulbar complication of ALS.  Such dysphagia can lead to a drop in weight due to loss of body fat and muscle.  This is often a result of a decreased food intake along with lack of interest in eating due to fatigue at mealtime.  To make up for lost calories and protein, it is important for individuals with ALS experiencing weight loss to increase the calorie and protein content of their meals.  If weight loss is a problem for you or your loved one, try a few of these calorie-boosting hints:
  •  Add butter or margarine to hot foods such as soups, vegetables, mashed potatoes, cooked cereal, pasta, and rice.  A teaspoon will add 45 calories.  Serve bread hot – more butter is used when it melts into it.
  •  Increase calories in food by using gravies, cream, cheese sauces, salad dressing, or mayonnaise on meats, vegetables, and starches.
  •  Try light or heavy cream in place of milk when baking, making soups, or making desserts such as pudding or custard.
  •  Use milk in place of water in hot cereals and instant beverages, such as hot chocolate.  Increase the protein content by adding 2-4 tablespoons of powdered milk per 1 cup of milk.
  •  Whipped cream is about 60 calories per tablespoon.  Add it generously to pies, fruit, puddings, hot chocolate, jello, and other desserts.
  •  Powdered coffee creamers add calories without volumes – add them to gravy, soup, milk shakes, and hot cereals.
  •  Add extra calories to food by using sugar, jelly, jam, honey, molasses, or maple syrup.
  •  Drink fluids with calories and nutrients, such as juice and milk.
  •  Water, black tea, and black coffee have no calories; regular soda is high in calories but is lacking in any nutrients.
  •  Carry convenient foods with you, such as canned supplements (e.g., Carnation Instant Breakfast®, Ensure®, Boost®, Resource®), yogurt, pudding, applesauce, instant soup or cocoa packets so you never miss a meal.
  •  Eat frequent high-calorie snacks during the day.
  •  Help stimulate the appetite by preparing the meals and setting the table in the most visually appealing manner as possible.  Use garnish to accent the foods.
  •  Remember to season the food as you would any other meal.
The ALS Team welcomes Julie Glass, R.D., as nutritional consultant and dietitian.  Julie recently joined the Neuromuscular & ALS Center and replaced Patti Nevins, who has moved on to a new position.