Parkinson's Disease: Eating Right (cont.)

Maintaining Your Weight

Malnutrition and weight maintenance is often an issue for people with Parkinson's disease. Here are some tips to help you maintain a healthy weight.

• Weigh yourself once or twice a week, unless your doctor recommends weighing yourself more often. If you are taking diuretics or steroids, such as prednisone, you should weigh yourself daily.
• If you have an unexplained weight gain or loss (2 pounds in one day or 5 pounds in one week), contact your doctor. He or she may want to modify your food or fluid intake to help manage your condition.

Here are some tips for gaining weight.

• Ask your doctor about nutritional supplements. Sometimes supplements in the form of snacks, drinks (such as Ensure or Boost), or vitamins may be prescribed to eat between meals to help you increase your calories and get the right amount of nutrients every day. But, be sure to check with your doctor before making any dietary changes or before adding supplements to your diet. Some can be harmful or interfere with your medication.
• Avoid low-fat or low-calorie products. Unless other dietary guidelines have been recommended. Use whole milk, whole milk cheese, and yogurt.

Here are some high-calorie recipes to try.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake

Makes one serving; 1090 calories per serving.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
• 3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate ice cream

Directions:
Pour all ingredients into a blender. Mix well.

Super Shake

Makes one serving; 550 calories per serving

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup ice cream (1-2 scoops)
• 1 package Carnation Instant Breakfast

Directions:
Pour all ingredients into a blender. Mix well.

Super Pudding

Makes four 1/2 cup servings; 250 calories per serving.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 package instant pudding
• 3/4 cup nonfat dry milk powder

Directions:
Blend milk and oil. Add pudding mix and mix well. Pour into dishes (1/2 cup servings).

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Neuroscience Center

Edited by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, WebMD, March 2004.

Portions of this page © The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2003

Last Editorial Review: 1/31/2005 4:26:11 AM

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