Healthy Alternative to Boost or Ensure?

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Boraboca
Boraboca Member Posts: 2
edited January 2023 in Head and Neck Cancer #1

My brother-in-law just completed chemo/radiation last week and the past week has been hellish. Still feels like he has a hot coal in his throat, lots of mucus, nausea, etc. He is having a difficult time drinking Boost, it's just too thick and all the sugar and milk protein is not agreeing with him. Is there a healthy alternative to Boost or Ensure? Also looking for recommendations for healthy, high calorie soft foods w/o too much sugar or dairy. Thank you!

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  • soonermom
    soonermom Member Posts: 155
    #2
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    Vitamix

    The solution we came to was to purchase a Vitamix and put real food in it.  The Vitamix will blend real food to any texture you want it.  

  • Tonita
    Tonita Member Posts: 197 Member
    #3
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    You can make your own

    You can make your own smoothies and put healthy ingredients in.  Use Almond mild and plain yogurt.  Full fat.  In fact, someone posted a recipe recently about a smoothie he makes.

  • Curlyn
    Curlyn Member Posts: 189
    #4
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    I have a bullet in which to

    I have a bullet in which to blend food. The nurse told me to find and buy a high quality fish chowder, blend it and freeze some for when needed. If it's bland it doesn't sting but get good calories. If you can't find any without the thick cream, make your own. It was also mentioned ( though never in life have I eaten this) to consider Spam, which is soft, can blend and only a third has megacalories. I find ensure and boost are just too gooey, sometimes, and the butter pecan boost can sting sore tissue. Good luck to you!

  • Ladybug23
    Ladybug23 Member Posts: 1
    #5
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    Healthy alternative

    my mom using liquid hope and also uses a juicer to make her own. 

  • ByeByeCancer
    ByeByeCancer Member Posts: 54 Member
    edited October 2017 #6
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    I know this topic is from last month but I wanted to add

    that my husband has been drinking Orgain brand pre-made protein drinks.  They are dairy free, soy free, non-gmo, low sugar, etc. so they seem like a good alternative to the high sugar drinks.  My husband is still eating some foods, so he just drinks these to get some easy protein in.  I agree with the above post about homemade smoothies in a vitamix!  I put spinach, protein powder (also Orgain brand), almond milk, blueberries, bananas, greek yogurt, and flax seeds and blend it up.  Tastes like a dessert to the kids!  My husband drinks it, even though taste is starting to fade for him (he is over halfway through radiation and erbitux for stage IV BOT HPV+ SCC).

  • christine2080
    christine2080 Member Posts: 71
    edited October 2017 #7
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    Orgain

    I second Orgain! My husband has been having difficulty eating even though he is only at 2.5 weeks. We're guessing this is due to Thrush (he is taking Fluconase& I ordered Bioxtra from Amazon but it won't be here until around Halloween.) At any rate, I made him a 900 calorie shake today using a McD chocolate milkshake and an Orgain protein drink. I blended them in the Vitamix & he easily got it down. He lost 6.5 lbs last week and I'm hoping to stop the weight loss. I also have the Orgain protein powder. 

  • RobLee
    RobLee Member Posts: 269 Member
    #8
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    Pronourish

    I recently switched from Boost Plus to Pronourish, as I sometimes had difficulty digesting Boost.

  • Chilinily
    Chilinily Member Posts: 15
    edited October 2017 #9
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    Yes! Orgain!

    HPV-OPC treated with low dose radiation last fall.  The tissue damage and extreme throat pain started after radiation, which ended December 23.  All through past January and February I could not tolerate swallowing anything but Orgain.  It is especially delicious and helpful, since I also try to eat vegan, due to past heart attacks...Easy to fix and carry in a thermos.  Cancer gone, but still have very dry mouth and related swallowing problems.  I recommend Xylimelts for the dry mouth.  I keep replacing one, up on my back gum, all day! Hydrating all day helps the most.

  • OKCnative
    OKCnative Member Posts: 326 Member
    #10
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    The benefit of VHC Boost is

    The benefit of VHC Boost is that it packs 530 calories into only 8 ounces. For me, that's only 8 swallows and I'm done. It is very difficult to Vitamix real food into something so calorie dense in only 8 ounces.

    Another option if you Vitamix your own food, you could consider adding Benecalorie. It's a calorie and protein food enhancer. Just mix a small packet into your food or drink to add 330 calories and 7g of protein.

  • ByeByeCancer
    ByeByeCancer Member Posts: 54 Member
    #11
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    Now that my husband is

    Now that my husband is getting down less and less....I wanted to let y'all know that the Benecalorie suggestion from above was great!  I ordered some on Amazon (same day delivery for me!) and added it to my husbands soup last night.  It turned a 200 calorie soup into a 530 calorie soup!! The Benecalorie thickened it up a bit so I did add more water but it sure seemed like an easy extra 330 calories!  Thank you OkCnative for that tip! 

  • christine2080
    christine2080 Member Posts: 71
    #12
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    Ensure

    I finally figured out why the nutrititionist keeps bringing up Boost and Ensure! The hospital has a deal with Ensure & can get it for us at $5 a case. My husband hasn't tried it yet, as I stocked up on Orgain when he was diagnosed & waiting two weeks to start treatment. We took a chocolate Ensure home on Friday so I'll have to try that out on him.

  • OKCnative
    OKCnative Member Posts: 326 Member
    #13
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    ByeByeCancer said:

    Now that my husband is

    Now that my husband is getting down less and less....I wanted to let y'all know that the Benecalorie suggestion from above was great!  I ordered some on Amazon (same day delivery for me!) and added it to my husbands soup last night.  It turned a 200 calorie soup into a 530 calorie soup!! The Benecalorie thickened it up a bit so I did add more water but it sure seemed like an easy extra 330 calories!  Thank you OkCnative for that tip! 

    Glad it helped. Try to keep

    Glad it helped. Try to keep his food as thick as he can tolerate as it helps to keep your epiglottis and throat 'working harder' and makes rehabilitation that much easier later. Work those muscles so we don't loose them!

  • dnelson964
    dnelson964 Member Posts: 21 Member
    edited November 2017 #14
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    Ensure option and dry mouth/throat help using Aloe Vera drink

    CVS has their own brand similar to ensure and tastes better in my opinon. Another good source of liquid is Aloe Vera drink and it is easier to drink then water and more nutritious. I have been buying Aloe King brand at a local grocery store and it has helped me keep well hydrated despite a dry throat and mouth. I am 1.5 years post radiation/proton treatments for a sinus tumor, grade IV squamous cell cancer and so far I am still cancer free.

  • Drivingdaisy
    Drivingdaisy Member Posts: 263
    edited November 2017 #15
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    Orgain

    All I drank till they put in feeding tube.  Was able to use this in the feeding tube.  Still drink since fair about of protein & tasty.  Buy Vanilla & add my own amount of chocolate syrup, less is best otherwise to sweet.  Up to your taste.  Easy to take with if I can't eat what's on the menu. Thumbs up!

  • zblurr
    zblurr Member Posts: 2 *
    #16
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    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/312045/healthy-alternative-to-boost-or-ensure
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/312045/healthy-alternative-to-boost-or-ensure
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/312045/healthy-alternative-to-boost-or-ensure
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/312045/healthy-alternative-to-boost-or-ensure
    https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/312045/healthy-alternative-to-boost-or-ensure


  • zblurr
    zblurr Member Posts: 2 *
    #17
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    Why is no one mentioning the fact that these nutritional drinks r nothing but unhealthy carbs...protein is the building block of our cells...and when cancer is killing u we don't need to help it along with sugary drinks or sugary meals...get well everyone good luck

  • MST
    MST Member Posts: 21 Member
    #18
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    I use Kate Farms as a healthy alternative. It is 100% organic and more or less vegan. I use it exclusively and have put back on 34 of the 47 pounds I lost during chemo/immuno. It has several flavors as well as a 1.5 Peptide that I use.

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