High energy high protein
vegetarian diet

A vegetarian diet is a balanced alternative to eating meat if taken healthily. It may be more difficult to eat
optimally when your appetite is poor. Increasing your energy and protein intake will help you maintain your
weight and/or regain lost weight when recovering from an infection, aiding you to keep your strength up. This
fact sheet aims to help you achieve a nutritionally balanced vegetarian diet, high in energy and protein and to
give you some meal plan ideas
Nutritionally balanced vegetarian diet, high in energy and protein
The key to a balanced diet is to include at least one food from the following nutrient groups at each meal or
snack:
Nutrient groups Role Sources Servings/ day
Carbohydrate/ starchy
foods (wholegrain if
possible)
Essential for energy, B
vitamins and fibre
? Bread, pasta, rice, noodles,
breakfast cereals, millet, buckwheat
flour
? potatoes, biscuits, muffins,
porridge, chapatti, naan
6-14
Protein (including dairy
products)
Essential for cell growth
and repair. Dairy products
are also a good source of
energy, calcium and
vitamins A&D
? eggs (2 eggs = 1 serving)
? Milk/soya milk (aim for 1 pint/day),
cheese and yoghurt. Tofu, quorn,
soya products such as textured
vegetable protein (TVP) used in
casseroles (3tbs = 1 serving).
? Pulses (beans, lentils, peas), nuts,
houmous, tahini. (4tbs of
pulses/3tbs of nuts & seeds = 1
serving)
3 - 4
Fats and oils Very good source of
energy & fat soluble
vitamins
? Spreads, butter
? Poly / mono unsaturated oils (e.g.
corn, sesame olive oils)
0 - 3
Vegetables
and fruit
Source of essential
vitamins (A C E) and
minerals, iron, zinc and
fibre. Immune boosting
? A variety including dark green and
root vegetables and some citrus
fruit which aid iron absorption
5 of fruit
& veg
Miscellaneous ? Yeast extract, seaweed, herbs not applicable

Further Comments:
? To make this balanced diet higher in energy and protein
add foods from the fats and oils group, nuts, and seeds, to your cooked food and/ or during cooking
?In order to improve your food intake try to eat more frequently i.e. 5-6 small meals or snacks rather
than 3 large ones
?Try to choose nourishing drinks
?Be aware that drinking before a meal can fill you up
?Drinking citrus fruit juices or vitamin C enriched drinks with your meal will increase your iron
absorption
?If you do not eat eggs, milk or cheese, then certain protein foods are best eaten together. It is best
to combine a pulse or nut with a cereal or grain e.g. baked beans on toast, lentil bolognese and
pasta
?Avoid soft ripened cheeses
Meal plan ideas
Breakfast ? Toasted bagel / croissant with cream cheese & jam
? Crumpet with butter & jam / peanut butter & honey
? Porridge made with full cream (fc) milk and cream
? Scrambled eggs with mushrooms, tomatoes
? Bowl of muesli with fc milk, yoghurt and dried fruit
Light Meals ? Baked beans & cheese on toast
? Bap with houmous/tahini, tomato, cucumber
? Cream of tomato soup with a wholemeal roll/bap
? Egg salad with cress, pepper, mayo, tomato and ciabatta
Main Meals ? Pasta with quorn bolognese sauce and grated cheese
? Vegetarian deep pan pizza and salad
? Pasta with vegetable nut and cheese sauce
? Baked potato with quorn chilli and sour cream
? Vegetable curry and rice
Snacks ? Nuts / seeds
? Wholemeal fruit scone with butter & jam
? Ginger / banana cake with butter
? Banana / yoghurt flapjack
? Banana milkshake made with fc milk / yoghurt & ice cream
Enjoy your food!
See “Nourishing Drinks” fact sheet for further ideas.