Managing Adult Malnutrition
Including a pathway for the appropriate use of
oral nutritional supplements (ONS)
Dietary advice to optimise nutritional intake
- Encourage small, frequent meals and snacks with a focus on nutrient-dense foods and drinks
- Talk with individuals about their attitudes, concerns, habits, and preferences around eating and drinking. See helpful hints on how to do this HERE
- Care should be taken when fortifying food and drink to ensure nutritional requirements, including protein and micronutrients are met29. Avoid relying on high-fat options alone. A multivitamin and mineral supplement may be helpful if diet variety or intake is limited
- Advise on increasing energy and protein intake by prioritising nutrient-dense foods and higher-calorie options, (e.g. fortify fluids with ingredients like milk powder or ground nuts) to boost nutritional value without added volume
- Provide the yellow leaflet ‘Your Guide to Making the Most of Your Food’ and advice on issues like taste changes. Leaflets are available at HERE and may also be available from your local nutrition and dietetic team
- For individuals following a plant-based diet, the ‘Plant-Based Eatwell Guide’ and fact sheets on high-protein options and healthy weight gain strategies are available HERE
- Dietary restrictions e.g. low fat, low sugar previously advised upon to manage co-morbidities (e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease) may need to be relaxed to increase the energy (Calorie) content of the diet particularly when appetite is poor. Dietitians are skilled at providing dietary counselling: if in doubt about the suitability of dietary advice because the patient has a number of medical conditions that require dietary modification, seek input from a Dietitian
- Group education sessions for individuals with long-term conditions can support nutritional self-management, facilitate peer exchange of ideas and help activate change
Always advise on adequate hydration as it is vital to support bodily functions and help the bowels and kidneys work well
The Malnutrition Pathway website includes some practical CASE STUDIES to illustrate how to put the pathway into practice and the impact of selected nutrition interventions according to an individual’s needs.
Resources
A selection of publications for use by healthcare professionals, patients and carers are available in the resources section of the website.
Support for Patients & Carers
A number of resources are available that have been developed to support patients and carers.
Further Information
We can be contacted regarding the malnutrition pathway materials and website
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