Ensure Juice plus - is this okay long term??

[Danceruk]

Wondering for those of you who have experience with this is it okay long term?

Right now gastro said to use those and slowly reintroduce when I can.

Having 1 a day (its Provide Xtra - cheap version of Ensure juice), 1 babyfood puree pack - around 300 cal a day then I have herbal tea + water + medicine

I know its not made to be a main source of nutrition, just unsure what to try/ dont to risk having problems again

Any advice would be ace

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I have an Ensure every morning for breakfast, I've been doing that for nearly a year now. I haven't experienced any problems from it. It's probably not the best thing for me to drink, since it is high in sugar, but it's also got vitamins and calories and protien and all that stuff, so I don't feel too bad about having one every day.

My advice is, drink it slowly because it's kind of hard on the system to get all those calories at once, and it can cause more d if you drink it fast. I sip mine over a period of about 15 or 20 minutes each morning. I'll have a sip, wait a minute to make sure it's sitting okay in my stomach, then have another sip. If I drink it faster than that, I'll be running to the bathroom soon afterwards. Good luck, I hope it works out well for you! Glad to hear you'll finally be getting some calories!

 

[Danceruk]

Thanks for that Cat

I am sipping slowly, man it tastes awful!!! making me gag... am determined to get it down me though!!

These are 300cal a bottle, so pretty good, try and drink plenty of tea and even eat a couple of dry crackers in the evening

Thanks so much

 

[crazycanuck]

Well im quite glad you can hold those down. My doc prescribed 6 a day when i lost a bunch of weight in the spring. Im not sure about longterm but it is a good alternative until you figure out what you can eat. When you start with whole foods again keep it very very simple and bland and keep a diary. Start with like just plain chicken and then add 1 thing and if that works another and another until you get a nicer list of foods growing you can eat. Also try to stay away from seeds and skins as seeds can get stuck in there and skins arent digestable anyway so its making your gut do a lot of work for no benefit at all.

 

[Danceruk]

He said just to have 1 a day... these generic brand ones make me gag. I had two sips of it today and couldnt have anymore

Thanks for the wise words hun

Taking the strongest cocodomal and still not enough pain relief to be able to eat..so just seeing what I can drink and sip for the time being

Hopefully get the REAL ensure Saturday

 

[kenny]

the carnation instant breakfast was a lot cheaper than the Ensure Plus but it did not have as much minerals and vitamins. I relied on them for more than 1/2 my caloric intake for 3-4 months. It was rough. The canned ones are worse! I liked the butternut and Strawberry with Vanilla bringing up a close third. Not all flavors were in Plus tho either.

And do NOT try an make cream of wheat with vanilla ensure. That really spoiled it for me and I had to stop drinking them all together shortly after I tried that uke_r:

 

[Danceruk]

I cant use milk, hence the Juice variety only..

lol wish I could have milk would be sooo much easier!

Hopefully get the REAL Ensure on Saturday... sticking to water for the time being

 

[glum chump]

I take one nutritional supplement a day, and have been for the past eight months without noticing any effects. Like Cat-a-Tonic, I was concerned about the levels of sugar, so I switched to Glucerna shakes (chocolate and butter pecan). It's lactose and gluten free (and kosher). I wait for it to go on sale and then pretty well clear up the existing stock!

They have about 260 calories...I don't use it for weight gain. I use the nutritional supplement to have something in my tummy so I don't feel hungry, particularly when eating "food", even snack size, seems overwhelming.

 

[Danceruk]

Thanks, I will google for that shake

All I am having so could use something tasty-ish!

 

[glum chump]

I forgot to mention that the Glucerna shakes are specially formulated for people with diabetes which is why the sugar and carbohydrate content is differentiated from regular Ensure. The same people who make Ensure make Glucerna.

They make Glucerna bars as well, but I can't afford those, even when they're on sale!

 

[Danceruk]

Thanks so much

Finally got the Ensure Juice plus today... omg.. tastes SO good.. wow.. so pleased, can easily manage with 2 bottles of that a day

sipping it really slowly, dont want to run before I can walk

Thanks for all your help

 

[glum chump]

Yeah! Yes, sipping slowly when it's all you're having is a good idea. When all I was 'eating' was Ensure, I would sometimes gulp it down and I would get bloated and gassy.

Glad you finally got Ensure and sounds like the flavour has finally been sorted out!