A guide to increasing your protein intake
Date issued: November 2022
Review date: November 2024
Ref: C-317/dietetics/CC/How to increase your protein intake v4
PDF: A guide to increasing protein intake final November 2022 v4.pdf [pdf] 168KB
Protein is an essential nutrient which plays a vital role in the body. It is needed for growth and repair of organs and muscles, and the immune system. It is important to eat enough protein each day, especially when you are on dialysis as you will lose protein from your body during each session.
If you do not eat enough protein, you could lose weight, feel weak and tired, become unwell more easily and take longer to recover.
Good sources of protein include:
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meat and poultry
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fish
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eggs
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cheese
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milk and milk products
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beans and pulses
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vegetarian alternatives to meat i.e., Quorn®, soya, tofu
How can I improve my protein intake?
Include a source of protein at each mealtime
Breakfast ideas
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Try a high protein cereal |
Kelloggs Plant Protein Crunch® Lizi’s High Protein Granola® Eat Natural Protein Granola® Weetabix Protein® Quaker Oatso Simple Protein® porridge |
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Cooked breakfast
Aim to avoid processed meats as they are high in salt e.g., bacon, sausages |
2-3 eggs and toast Reduced salt baked beans on toast Sardines on toast |
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Toast with nut butter |
Spread peanut/almond/cashew nut butter thickly |
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Yoghurt, fruit, and seeds |
150g high protein yoghurt |
Light meal ideas
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Sandwiches/wraps
Use seeded breads instead of white/wholemeal, or try using high protein wraps or breads e.g., Warburtons Protein Thin Bagels®
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Prawn or tuna and mayonnaise/salad cream, use at least ½ tin of tuna Egg mayonnaise, use 2 eggs 2 slices cooked meat and cheese 2-3 slices of corned beef and tomato 1 medium chicken breast and salad Falafel (x 3 balls) and hummus (1/4 tub) with salad |
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Soup
Avoid ready-made soups, they are high in salt and generally poor sources of protein |
Choose/make a soup that contains meat, beans or lentils Have alongside a sandwich |
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Eggs
Use 2-3 eggs as a portion |
Poached, boiled, fried, scrambled, omelette |
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Jacket potato |
Reduced salt baked beans and cheese 150g prawns Tinned tuna or salmon (at least ½ tin) |
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Crackers or crackerbread with cheese |
50g hard cheese 70g soft cheese 100g cottage cheese
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Main/cooked meal ideas
Base your cooked meals around a protein source
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Meat |
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Fish |
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Vegetarian alternatives |
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*Try to avoid protein sources that are processed as they are high in salt. If you are on a low phosphate diet, check the ingredients list for phosphate additives.
What if I have lost my appetite?
If your appetite is poor, often it is easier to eat little and often. Below are some suggestions of high protein snacks, puddings and drinks that you could include throughout the day to boost your protein intake.
Note: some of the suggestions below are processed and high in salt. However, if your appetite is poor and you are losing weight unintentionally, it is more important to ensure you are eating enough protein. If you are following a low phosphate diet, check ingredients lists for phosphate additives.
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Meat-based snacks: Scotch egg (large) Mini pork pie x 2 Pepperami® Sausage roll 60g Fridge Raiders® chicken bites Cocktail sausages x 5 |
Vegetarian options: Boiled egg Mini houmous pot (70g) Quorn® cocktail sausages x 4 Falafel x 3 Meat free goujons x 2-3 Quorn® sausage roll Quorn® picnic eggs x 3 Handful of unsalted nuts or 15g nut butter Fridge Raiders® meat free bites ¼ quiche
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Cheese: 30g hard cheese or 60g soft cheese with crackers Mini cheese portions, Mini Babybel® Cheesestring® |
Crisps: HIPPEAS organic chickpea puffs® Graze® protein savoury snacks Popworks® Protein popped chips
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Cereal bars: Nature Valley Protein Bar® Eat Natural Protein Bar® Graze Protein® oat bites & flapjacks Fibre One® 90 calorie protein Grenade Carb Killa KIND Protein® bars
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High protein yoghurts: Arla Protein yoghurt® Arla Skyr® Light & Free Skyr® Lindahls Kvarg®
Puddings: Rice pudding (1/2 tin) Custard pot 150g
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High protein drinks: Horlicks/Ovaltine made with milk Hot chocolate made with milk 200ml milk or milkshake UFit® High Protein milkshake 200ml Alpro Plant Protein Soya drink Fortified milk, add 4 tbsp skimmed milk powder to 1 pint milk
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Nutritional supplements: If you are really struggling to eat and drink, ask your dietitian about nutritional supplement drinks which can be prescribed |
