Aim for 30-60 grams total carbs in an 8-11 ounce supplement. Meals in recovery are recommended to include at least two to four carb exchanges. Carbohydrates: One carb exchange equates to 15 grams of total carbohydrates.Aim for 10-20 grams of fat in an 8-11 ounce supplement. A recovery meal is often recommended to include at least two to four fat exchanges. Fats: One dietary fat exchange equals 5 grams of fat.Macronutrients are often measured in terms of “exchanges”: The goal is that supplements have a macronutrient profile similar to a balanced plate. The caloric nutrients or “macronutrients” that we hope to balance in a meal are protein, carbohydrates (carbs), and dietary fat. Macronutrient ComparisonĪ comprehensive liquid supplement should be evaluated against the same dietary recommendations as a normal meal. Any product that comes in serving sizes larger than 11 ounces has the risk of being too filling-someone recovering from an eating disorder may not finish it, meaning that the precious calories will never be delivered. Alternatively, multiple shakes-2 or 3-can together replace a meal. Any under-300 calorie product is insufficient to replace a meal or even a majority of a meal for someone in recovery from an eating disorder, and should instead be treated as a calorically dense beverage to be added alongside a meal or snack. To optimize replacing calories in a meal, we recommended selecting a product that delivers at least 300 calories per 8- to 11-ounce serving. Substantial caloric density per ounce is the most important factor in the selection of a liquid supplement. Lastly, we’ll rate them for taste and palatability. In this post, we will continue the discussion about supplements, comparing different supplement brands based on caloric density per ounce, macronutrient comparison (fat, carbohydrates, protein), and label advertising. If you or a loved one are restoring nutrition from an eating disorder, you should be under the care of a medical doctor (MD) & registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In these cases, the use of supplements can be invaluable. Families doing FBT often report having supplements as a tool can be helpful in helping a teen with anorexia gain weight. Sometimes, patients in recovery will be unable to restore their nutrition entirely with food. Photo of Katie Grubiak, RDN eating lunch while surrounded by the supplements we tastedIn a previous post, we discussed the role of supplemental nutritional shakes in eating disorder recovery. By Katie Grubiak, RDN at Nutrition Illumination (formerly at EDTLA)Ĭhoosing a nutrition shake to support eating disorder recovery can be a daunting process.

Breeze protein drink