Supplement

On prescription?

Flavours

A PWCF’s perspective

Build-up

no

Strawberry, Chocolate, Vanilla and Banana (Lemon & Lime flavour is only available in the hospital packs).

Nestlé have created a range which as well as Build-up shakes now includes build-up soups and build-up custard. Unfortunately these are not widely available on prescription but can be bought from most chemists and are worth a try if you are struggling with the taste of other prescribed supplements.
https://www.nestle.co.uk/Nutrition/HealthcareNutrition/OralFeeds/Build-upRange/

Calogen

Unflavoured, Banana, Butterscotch and Strawberry.

Calogen is a high energy, long chain triglyceride fat emulsion. Taken as a “shot” this is often preferred by adults due to the tiny quantity needed.

Calshake

Yes

Calshake - I use these as a meal replacement from time to time if I really don't feel like eating or haven't got the energy to cook. If it's this or not have anything the it's an easy thing to get some calories in.

Recently having lost a lot of weight quickly I took them in addition to regular meals. Instant lardyboy (that's lardy not lady).

Makes a 660kcal calathon when used with proper full fat leaded milk, none of your watered down "white water" rubbish.

Best made by pouring powder into the free super dooper cocktail shaker type gadget they give you and then do your best hippy hippy shake. Pour frothy shake into a tall glass.

I either guzzle straight away or pop it into the fridge to cool and thicken a little. Feeling devilish results in a blob of ice cream on the top for added calories.

If you're a girl you can add sweetiebobbles or pop a cherry on top

Best served by a cute blonde Swede (person not vegetable) in a waitress outfit. Benny Hill theme tune playing in the background is optional.

Enlive plus

They come in the following flavours: Apple, Fruit Punch, Grapefruit, Lemon & Lime, Orange, Pineapple, Peach and Strawberry.

For the past few months I've been using the Enlive Plus (Fruit Juice Style) drinks. I've never really liked any of the other supplements - they're always so thick and gloopy - but the Enlive Plus drinks are relatively thinner and much easier to drink.

My favourites are definitely the Pineapple and Lemon & Lime (both quite tangy). The flavours are quite strong which helps to distract from the fact that they are slightly thicker than your average drink. I always drink them chilled as I think they taste better cold, but you can drink them at room temperature too if you prefer.

Each 220ml carton contains 330 calories. They don't contain any fat so you don't need to take any enzymes with them - another reason why they're my fave!

I've not tried any recipes or anything with them but I've heard they taste quite nice as ice lollies if you freeze them with along with a lollipop stick!

They've definitely helped me keep my weight stable over the last few months, especially when I've had infections because I used to drop about 5 or 6 kilos. Recently, I've managed to consume 2 or 3 a day (up to 1000 calories) which really takes the pressure off eating when you're feeling ill.

Ensure

Fortijuice

yes

Lemon, Apple, Orange, Strawberry, Tropical, Forest Fruits
and Blackcurrant.

Fortijuce is a juice tasting, ready to drink, high-energy
(1.5kcal/ml) nutritional supplement with added vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
300cal per bottle (150cal per 100ml)

Fortisip protein

yes

Strawberry, Forest Fruits, Vanilla
and Chocolate.

Although on a taste scale, strawberry calshakes are the nicest supplement I've found, on a day to day basis Fortisip drinks are more useful to me. These dinky little bottles containing 200mls (300 calories) come in a variety of flavours; strawberry, banana, chocolate, toffee, tropical, vanilla and orange. My favourite is strawberry and I tend to stick with that, although some of the other flavours are not as bad as they sound! This is a milk based drink so really is much nicer when chilled.

The advantage of fortisips is in the ease-factor...you just lift bottle, drink and hey presto, 300 calories better off. It doesn't require mixing with milk, shaking, stirring or washing of glass after use. It’s definitely the lazy persons supplement of choice, and also great to just pop in your bag to have when out and about. Another reason I have chosen this supplement is because of the miniature bottles they come in. apart from looking cute, they are much easier than cartons to use for bolus feeding via peg tube, as I can use large syringe to draw it up and fire straight into peg. If I don't manage a meal, I sometimes use a couple of fortisips via my peg tube and know I have had 600 calories, without having to take a huge volume. And just to show how environmentally aware I am, the little bottles are also on the list of plastics I can put in my recyling bin. Winner.

Fortisip Protein is a high protein (20g protein/200ml bottle),
1.3kcal/ml, milk tasting, ready to drink, nutritional supplement, with added vitamins, minerals and trace elements, for use in patients with increased protein requirements.

Fortisip recipes available at:
http://www.nutricia-clinical-care.co.uk/asp/show_subject.asp?brand_id=13&market_id=4&lng_id=1&lng2_id=1&id=6910

Fortisip bottle

Neutral, Vanilla, Chocolate, Toffee, Banana, Orange,
Strawberry and Tropical Fruits.

Fortisip is a nutritionally complete, 1.5kcal/ml, ready to drink,
milk shake style nutritional supplement, for the management of disease related malnutrition.

Fortisip can be used to supplement the diet of patients unable to meet their nutritional requirements from other foods, or used as a sole source of nutrition.

Fresubin

yes

Vanilla, Nut, Chocolate, Peach, Mocha and Blackcurrant

When I was younger (and much more fussy) fresubin was the only supplement I decided I liked. Chocolate was my favourite, although I remember trying peach and vanilla at some point. They come in 200ml cartons which contain 200 calories.

They don’t need refrigerating which was great as I always kept a few in my schoolbag and locker for whenever I could manage them!

For more info see:
http://www.fresenius-kabi.com/internet/kabi/gb/fkintpub.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/Fresubin+Original+Drink+2005/$FILE/Fresubin+Original+Drink.2005.pdf

Nestlé Clinutren

Poly-cal

yes

Not flavoured

Polycal is powdered dextrose, and you can add scoops of it to any food or drink you choose. My partner has become incredibly skilled at hiding it in anything from gravy to scrambled egg, from squash to hot chocolate. I find it easier to get other people to slip it into my food as then I am less aware of it and don’t search for a different taste! I personally don’t find that polycal affects the taste at all (except for in squash, but I quickly became used to it).

I find it a fantastic supplement, as it doesn’t involve consuming anything extra, it is merely a way of bumping up the calories of something you are already eating or drinking.

Resource milkshakes

Scandishake

Strawberry, Caramel, Banana,
Vanilla, Chocolate and Unflavoured.

Scandishake Mix is a high-energy
supplement based on skimmed milk powder, carbohydrate and
fat, for the management of disease related malnutrition.
598 calories per serving