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The Johns Hopkins Hospital Patient Information
How to Increase Protein
Original Date
11/03
Oncology
Revised/ Reviewed
10/12
Why is
protein
important?
Getting enough protein is important for maintaining muscles,
tissue repair, and immune function. Side effects of chemotherapy
and radiation, such as decreased appetite, taste changes, and
nausea, can make it difficult to eat enough protein. Below is a list
of protein-rich foods and tasty ways to include them into meals
and snacks.
Cheese
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Cottage
cheese
Ricotta
cheese
Milk
Nonfat instant
milk powder
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Meat, poultry,
seafood and
fish
Beans and
legumes
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Ice cream,
yogurt, and
frozen yogurt
Eggs
0965
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Melt on sandwiches, bread, muffins, tortillas, hamburgers, hot dogs, other
meats or fish, vegetables, or eggs.
Grate and add to soups, sauces, casseroles, vegetable dishes, mashed
potatoes, rice, noodles, or meatloaf.
Use as a spread for fruits, vegetables or crackers.
Add to casseroles, spaghetti, noodles, and egg dishes, such as omelets,
scrambled eggs, and souffles.
Use in gelatin, pudding–type desserts, cheesecake, and pancake batter.
Use to stuff crepes and pasta shells or manicotti.
Use milk instead of water in beverages and in cooking when possible.
Use in preparing hot cereal, soups, cocoa, and pudding.
Add cream sauces to vegetables and other dishes.
Add to regular milk and milk drinks, such as pasteurized eggnog and
milkshakes.
Use in casseroles, meatloaf, breads, muffins, sauces, cream soups,
mashed potatoes, puddings, custards, and other milk-based desserts.
Add chopped meat/poultry/fish/seafood to vegetables, salads, casseroles,
soups, sauces, and biscuit dough.
 Meat, fish and shellfish should be cooked well done.
Use in omelets, souffles, quiches, sandwich fillings, and stuffing.
Wrap in pie crust or biscuit dough as turnovers.
Add to stuffed, baked potatoes.
Cook and use beans/legumes, and tofu in soups or add to casseroles,
pastas, and grain dishes.
Use black bean dip or hummus (chick pea spread) as a dip or spread on
vegetables, bread, or crackers.
Add to carbonated beverages, such as ginger ale or cola.
Add to milk drinks, such as milkshakes.
Add to cereal, fruit, gelatin desserts, and pies
Blend or whip with soft or cooked fruits.
Sandwich ice cream or frozen yogurt between cake slices, cookies, or
graham crackers.
Make breakfast drinks with fruit.
Add chopped, hard-cooked eggs to salads and dressings, vegetables,
casseroles, and creamed meats.
©2009 The Johns Hopkins Hospital
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
Nuts, seeds,
and wheat
germ
Nut butters
(such as
peanut
butter)
Commercial
Products
(examples:
Ensure, Boost,
instant
breakfast
powder)
Resources
0965
Add extra eggs or egg whites to quiches and to pancake and French toast
batter.
 Add extra egg whites to scrambled eggs and omelets.
 Make custard with eggs, milk, and sugar.
 Do not eat raw or undercooked eggs, which may contain harmful
bacteria. Make sure all eggs are well cooked or baked.
 Add to casseroles, breads, muffins, pancakes, cookies, and waffles.
 Sprinkle on fruit, cereal, ice cream, yogurt, vegetables, and salads.
 Toast as a crunchy topping and use in place of breadcrumbs.
 Blend with parsley or spinach, herbs, and cream for a noodle, pasta, or
vegetable sauce.
 Spread on sandwiches, toast, muffins, crackers, waffles, and pancakes.
 Use as a dip for raw fruits or vegetables, such as apples, bananas,
carrots, and celery.
 Blend with milk drinks and beverages.
 Swirl through soft ice cream and yogurt.
 Mix with ice cream, milk, and fruit or flavorings for a high-protein
milkshake.
 Use instant breakfast powder in milk drinks and desserts.
If you would like more information, or if you are on a special diet (low salt, diabetic,
or low fiber , please contact the Oncology Nutrition Service at (410) 955-8152.
©2009 The Johns Hopkins Hospital