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Fortified Foods

Fortified for Health

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  • Define malnutrition

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  • Name populations at risk for malnutrition

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  • Provide a description of fortified foods

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  • Explain the benefits of using fortified foods

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To educate on what fortified foods are and how they can be utilized to help prevent malnutrition.

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Fortified Foods

Purpose:

Objectives:

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Malnutrition

Definition

  • A condition that occurs when a person’s body is not getting enough nutrients to perform day to day functions.

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  • May be the result of an inadequate or unbalanced diet, digestive difficulties, absorption problems or other medical conditions.

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Malnutrition

Other factors that can influence malnutrition include:

  • Medication interactions/changes
  • Chronic Illness
  • Injury
  • Chemotherapy/Radiation
  • Surgery

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Malnutrition

May lead to unexpected weight loss

In turn, the weight loss may lead to a multitude of other healthcare concerns, such as:

  • Increased risk for illness
  • Fatigue
  • Confusion
  • Disorientation
  • Pressure ulcers

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Who is at risk?

  • Cancer patients
  • Elderly
  • HIV/AIDS patients
  • Those with chewing/swallowing difficulties
  • Those with an altered taste sensation
  • Anyone on a modified diet for an extended time period

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Warning Signs of Malnutrition

  • Changes in appetite or early satiety (more than 75% of meals uneaten)
  • Complaints about the taste of food (metallic taste or lack of taste)
  • Dental issues (tooth loss, gum changes, chewing difficulty)
  • Problems swallowing

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Warning signs of Malnutrition

  • Skin changes (very dry skin, skin breakdown, pressure sores, bruises)
  • Changes in mental status, alertness, confusion, fatigue
  • Lack of social interaction
  • Involuntary weight loss

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Prevent Malnutrition

To help fight against malnutrition, use Fortified Foods.

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Fortified Foods

  • Are rich in calories

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  • Have additional fats, carbohydrates and/or proteins added to provide extra nutrients without altering the taste or volume of the food

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  • Are usually familiar foods, such as mashed potatoes and hot cereals

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How to Fortify!

  • Add a high-calorie, high protein powder to regular foods such as: mashed potatoes, cream soups, gravies and hot cereals.
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  • Additional suggestions:
  • Use an instant protein powder
  • Add peanut butter to brownie mix
  • Add whole milk, dry milk powder and vegetable oil to pudding
  • mix
  • Add cream or dry milk to soups, gravies and milkshakes
  • Add 1 tbsp of corn syrup or sugar to juice

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Fortifying Foods…

  • Substitute high calorie fortified foods for the regular foods on the menu.

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  • This will provide your patients/residents with extra calories and protein without overwhelming them with additional or unfamiliar foods such as oral supplements

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Let’s Compare

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Fortified Foods

Food Item

Serving Size

Calories

Protein (g)

Fortified Mashed Potatoes

½ cup

310

11.3

Regular Mashed Potatoes

½ cup

73

1.63

Fortified Oatmeal

4 oz.

188

8.5

Regular Oatmeal

4 oz.

73

2.44

Fortified Cream of Wheat

4 oz.

322

16

Regular Cream of Wheat

4 oz.

71

2.59

Fortified Cream of Mushroom Soup

6 flz.

283

8.86

Regular Cream of Mushroom Soup

6 flz.

67

1.33

Fortified Brown Gravy

2 flz.

91

5.2

Regular Brown Gravy

2 flz.

44

0.41

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Other Suggestions for Fortifying Food

Make meal presentation attractive

Help with feeding

Talk with the person

Offer substitutions if intake is inadequate

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Benefits for Patients

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Fortified Foods

  • Increases caloric intake leading to weight gain/maintenance
  • Prevents weight loss
  • Promotes repair of body tissue
  • Easy transition for patients, food is visually the same
  • Decreases amount of food that would be needed

to fulfill calorie requirements

  • Commercial supplements are no longer needed

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Benefits for Department

  • Less preparation time
  • Less labor needed
  • Less paperwork
  • Less waste of unwanted supplements
  • Decreased cost due to decreased supplement use

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Fortified Foods

= Money Saved

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Getting Started

  • Make a formulary that includes both standard supplements and fortified foods
  • Share with your medical and nursing staff to promote fortified foods

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Fortified Foods

Food or Supplement

High Calorie Supplement

High Calorie Peanut Butter Shake

Fortified Oatmeal

Fortified Mashed Potatoes

Serving Size

8 flz.

8 flz.

6 flz.

½ cup

Calories

360

400

282

310

Protein (g)

14

16

12

11

Fat (g)

14

20

6.5

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Getting Started

  • Remember these tips:
  • Offer smaller, frequent meals that are calorie-rich to increase intakes
  • Encourage fluids with calories (whole milk, juice) vs. just plain water, coffee or tea
  • Add ingredients that are higher in calories without adding volume

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Conclusion

  • The use of fortified foods guarantees that extra calories are available for those who need them.
  • Fortified foods are beneficial to both the department and patients/residents.

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Thank you.

If you have questions,

Please contact the Nutrition Resource Center at:

1.800.968.4426

nrc@gfs.com

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