Can anyone recommend some good meal replacement products?

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My grandad has terminal cancer, he had a course of chemotherapy last year and has just finished a course of radiotherapy.

The treatment has left him very weak, and with no appetite at all so he is not eating which is making him even weaker.

He is taking multi vitamins and iron tablets for anaemia (sp?) but I thought meal replacements may help him get his energy up a little while his appetite comes back.

I know you can buy complan milkshakes but my grandad has more a savoury tooth so I wondered if anyone can recommend maybe a soup like product? Or a milkshake that isnt to.sweet.

Many thanks

Can't link because I'm on my phone but google Ensure Plus Savoury, it comes in a couple of savoury flavours.

Hope it gives your grandad a bit of help x

Fortisip do a range of liquid products.

Thankyou for the suggestions. He has a meeting with his oncologist on Thursday so will discuss it with him but hopefully these will keep him going in the meantime.

You can buy Build-up sachets over-the-counter. Or sometimes people prefer "ordinary" foods & drinks eg ice-cream, puddings etc.

But there are ranges of prescribable products (ie on prescription from GP). There is everything from "shot" type products, to shakes, bars & puddings. These can be accessed through the GP, a dietitian, district nurse, hospital care team, who may be able to provide samples.

There has been a lot of tightening up on using these products in recent years, but having cancer means the products are prescribable for "disease-related malnutrition".

You can also buy non flavoured build up powders to add to clear soups, porridge, etc.

Thankyou for the great advice really appreciate it x

Will try and get him an appointment with his GP then as obviously would be better for him to have them on prescription, had a quick look online at some products and guess they would get quite expensive with daily use.

Il pop to the supermarket tomorrow and pick up a few products for him to try until something more long term is sorted. Thanks again

That sounds like a good idea: to buy some products to do you till you see the oncologist on Thursday. Or you could add cream, cheese, butter etc to savoury foods to add extra calories too.

I'd say the GP is unlikely to have samples for him to try, but the Oncology clinic will perhaps have access to a dietitian (you can ask for a referral) or nurse specialist who will have samples.

Honestly?

My dad has fortisips on prescription but they are a bit sickly yuk and he regards them as medicine... The savoury ones aren't a huge hit either...

Best added calories for dad have been the unflavoured stir in complan that you can add to nearly anything plus cream/butter in everything rather than milk. So his porridge has both complan added when making and a generous glug of double cream on top and honey. That's a calories packed start to the day lol

We also make soups or add cream to ready made.

Over Xmas he's had a lot of Xmas pud with cream and posh bought custard.

By all means try supplements but actually his enjoyment of life may be enhanced by nibbling at tasty nuts, cheese, thickly buttered crackers maybe with a bit of marmite, cake and custard/cream and clotted cream ice cream with extra cream on top ( did you know the cream makes a fun frozen topping a bit like ice magic!). Cheesy mash can have complan and cream added too don't forget!

The thing seems to be keeping tempting tiny morsels going with a small drinks (old people never seem to drink enough but maybe that's just my parents?). Treats rather than " medicine" iykwim...

Alcohol too is calories and an "appetiser" and a "treat". I'm not saying get him blotto ( but then again, heck does it matter if he's a bit tipsy?) but it's another way of making things seem pleasant with a sherry or a baileys...

Best if luck to you all.. We've had to be pretty devious at times with dad's calories. He's pretty well at the moment but still struggling to maintain weight (I think mum gives him little portions and then clears away. In a chatty family meal we slip a bit more of this and that and a top up of wine, and surely a drop more cream on that mince pie etc)

Some great tactics there Theas18

He does enjoy a drink every now and again now you say it, especially a Mackies stout!

I have tried to tempt him with all sorts, he usually loves seafood but he says he cant bear the thought of eating anything at all, not even a slice of toast. He is suffering with nausea a lot though which is another side effect of the radiotherapy.

Im sure his appetite will pick up slightly soon and il be able to use your suggestions, thank you for your post

Hope his nausea settles soon , that must be horrid. Dad had radiotherapy to his throat. Affected eating terribly.

Theas18 do you mind me asking about how your dads radiotherapy affected him? My DF is due to start radiotherapy for vocal card cancer in the next couple of weeks, he thinks he's gonna sail through it despite being told he may need a feeding tube etc he's convinced he will get by with bovril drinks!
I'm dreading it to be honest as he's not a good patient.

My Grandpa liked a bit of very creamy mash with some gravy mixed in - not a proper meal replacement but he could face it and even enjoy it a bit so that's the main thing.