Tasty Calories: How to Gain Weight with Cystic Fibrosis — With Joy

Even in the new era of life with CFTR modulators, many children and adults with cystic fibrosis still need a higher intake of calories, protein, and fats to support growth, immunity, and development.

Vira Berseneva (psychologist, special education teacher, consultant on eating difficulties in children with special needs) successfully helps establish psychological comfort around food for children and adults, expand the diet, and gain weight.
This article contains helpful tips on foods that make it easy and tasty to “add” extra energy.

🧀 Hard cheese:

• a source of fats, protein, and calcium.

• easy to add to any dish or snack.

• cheese cubes, grated cheese in pasta, in a sandwich.

🧈 Butter, cream:

• add to porridge, mashed potatoes, vegetables, sandwiches.

• provides calories and helps absorb fat-soluble vitamins.

🌰 Nuts and nut butter:

• a source of “good” fats, protein, and micronutrients.

• nut butter: convenient as a snack, in porridge, or with fruit.

🍖 Fatty meat:

• pork, marbled beef (ribs, tongue), chicken or turkey (thighs, wings) = protein + energy + flavor.

🥪 Sandwich with protein or whole-grain bread:

• butter, cheese, meat, or spread + add a little mayo or sauce = an excellent high-calorie snack.

🍗 Jamón:

• aromatic protein and fat; suitable as a snack or part of a sandwich.

🫕 Banosh with cracklings and cheese:

• corn porridge with cream, cracklings, and brynza = hearty, caloric, homemade comfort food.

🧀 Mac & cheese:

• Mac & cheese — pasta with cheese and butter: an ideal combination of carbohydrates and fats.

🥤 High-calorie drinks:

• milkshakes, cocoa, or smoothies with cream, yogurt, nut butter, or banana — a simple way to add calories between meals or as a dessert.

🔥 Frying increases caloric density.

Boiled dumplings or pelmeni; yesterday’s mashed potatoes; pancakes, potato fritters, or simply fried wings.
These dishes develop a crust, smell intense, and stimulate appetite.
The only rule: fry in avocado oil, lard, poultry fat, or lamb fat.