Mouth Wired Shut Part II

Suggestions For Higher Calorie Drinks and Smoothies

Aug 23, 2007 Nadia Santiago

You may have been looking forward to losing a few pounds during the 4-8 weeks that your mouth is wired shut. What you probably were not looking forward to was the fatigue

If you are feeling dizzy or light-headed and suffering from loss of energy, despite the fact that you are ‘eating’ constantly, there is a good chance that you aren’t getting enough calories.

This may sound shocking to those of us who usually struggle to stick to our diets, so here is some good news for all you readers who love to indulge. It’s time to put down your diet sense and start packing it in!

Start with your smoothies, caffeinated beverages and juice blends. Here are some suggestions for creating higher calorie mixes:

1. Use ice cream or yogurt instead of milk. Try cookies and cream or birthday cake for a bit of texture. Sherbet is great for fruit blends. For those who would rather stick to non-dairy varieties, look for soy and sorbetto (Italian, made with real fruit). As for yogurt, feel free to pass on the light versions.
2. Peanut butter. Two tablespoons adds between 180 and 210 calories. This gives a well needed boost without you having to consume too much extra liquid. Consider natural brands, which tend to be on the higher end.
3. Energy gels. Not only a 100 calorie addition per serving, these are especially helpful for those who want to maintain a regular workout routine. Gels are available at most athletic stores (i.e. Sports Authority) and vitamin shops. They can also be ordered through online retailers.
4. If you’re a coffee drinker, use creamer liberally. You might even want to try the flavored variety. You can find them in your grocery store’s milk section. Instead of creamer, you can also try energy drinks like Boost and Ensure. They are usually in the pharmacy section of your supermarket, and like creamers they come in various flavors. Both creamers and energy drinks are available in non-dairy forms. A suggestion for those who enjoy strong caffeinated brews: lighten up your cup to avoid feeling jittery.
5. “Eat” out. Check out your local smoothie or coffee shop. 16 oz. servings tend to range from 300 to 900 calories. As an added bonus, many smoothie chains offer a selection of nutrition boosts to choose from. For more information about the boosts, ask the cashier for health information or check the company website.

You should have gotten a nutrion fact sheet from your doctor or nutritionist. Continue to make sure that you are getting your daily dose of vitamins and nutrients. The tips provided above should help increase your calorie intake, but try not to go overboard unless you want to gain weight. Starting a food diary might help you keep track.

Happy sipping!

Resources

Article from the Harvard School of Public Health on Vitamins:

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamins.html

Ellen’s Broken Jaw Tips:

http://home.cfl.rr.com/bjaw/faq.html

The copyright of the article Mouth Wired Shut Part II in General Medicine is owned by Nadia Santiago. Permission to republish Mouth Wired Shut Part II in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.