MISSING SCRIPTThe evidence behind everyday care.Read the shake guide ↗

THE PRACTICAL TOOLKIT

Make room for
better nourishment.

Count what you can manage. Bring the numbers to your care team. A useful starting point, without turning food into another test.

For adults 20 and older. These educational tools do not diagnose malnutrition or prescribe a diet. Unintentional weight loss needs assessment at any BMI. If you have eaten very little for more than 5 days, contact your team before rapidly increasing intake.

01 / A STARTING POINT

BMI & calorie estimate

BMI describes weight relative to height. It cannot show muscle loss or tell you whether you are well nourished.

Example: 5 ft 9 in = 69 inches.

Under 20; pregnancy; swelling or ascites; major amputation; kidney, liver or heart failure; very little intake for over 5 days.

Your estimate will appear here.

Uses weight × 25–30 kcal/kg/day, a general oncology starting range from ESPEN. This is total daily energy, not calories to add on top of meals, and not a weight-gain guarantee. Actual needs may differ.

02 / WHAT YOU ATE

A simple daily food log

Add foods, drinks, or part of a shake. Use your label if it differs from a preset. Refreshing clears this session.

0calories recorded
0grams of protein
  • No entries yet.

The tool does not choose a calorie target or prescribe extra shakes.

The number is a conversation starter.

If appetite, swallowing, nausea, diarrhea, or early fullness is getting in the way, tell your oncology team. A shake can help close a gap; it cannot explain why the gap is there.

What would you want in a better nutrition shake? Take the reader survey →
Methods, sources & privacy

BMI = kilograms ÷ meters². Pounds convert at 0.45359237 kg; inches at 2.54 cm. The energy estimate uses the ESPEN 25–30 kcal/kg/day starting range. A dietitian may use a different weight or measured needs. For BMI below 18.5 or at least 30, or the listed special situations, this tool withholds a calorie estimate and asks for an individualized plan. It does not calculate a deficit, a weight-loss goal, or a refeeding regimen.

Each food-log total is calories or protein per serving × servings consumed. Presets are US manufacturer values checked October 10, 2026; flavor and formulation changes can alter labels. Medical formulas belong in a clinician-guided plan. The article links every manufacturer source.

Measurements and food-log entries are processed in this browser only. This app does not transmit them, store them on a server, or save them after refresh. Download a CSV only on a device you trust. Hosting services may collect ordinary access logs. The optional reader survey is a separate WordPress form; its responses go to the site owner.

ESPEN practical guideline · CDC: adult BMI · NCI: nutrition during cancer