Fortified milk is one of the simplest food-first ways to increase energy and protein when appetite is poor. Instead of making you drink a much larger volume, it adds skimmed milk powder to full-fat milk so the same glass, bowl of cereal or cup of milky drink provides more nutrition.
Several NHS dietetic services use a very similar recipe: around 1 pint (568ml) of full-fat milk plus roughly 4 tablespoons of dried skimmed milk powder. South West London’s NHS food-first guidance gives 4 tablespoons (60g) of dried skimmed milk powder with 1 pint of full-fat milk and reports about 595 kcal and 41g protein for the full pint. See the South West London NHS food-first fortified milk guidance for the current recipe.
This article explains how to make fortified milk, how to use it through the day, what can go wrong, and when you should get individual dietary advice.
Basic fortified milk recipe
You need:
- 1 pint (568ml) full-fat milk
- 4 tablespoons, about 60g, dried skimmed milk powder
- a jug
- a fork or whisk
Method:
- Put the dried skimmed milk powder into a clean jug.
- Add a small splash of the milk and stir until you have a smooth paste.
- Gradually add the remaining milk while whisking or stirring so the powder dissolves without lumps.
- Cover and keep refrigerated.
- Use it in place of ordinary milk during the day.
Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust advises covering the prepared milk, storing it in the fridge and using it within 24 hours in its fortified milk preparation guide.
Why skimmed milk powder is added to full-fat milk
This combination works because full-fat milk contributes energy and protein, while skimmed milk powder adds extra protein and milk solids without greatly increasing the volume. You end up with a more nutrient-dense milk rather than a bigger drink.
This is a classic example of food fortification. Our broader food fortification guide for weight gain explains how the same principle can be applied to porridge, soups, mashed potato, sauces and desserts.
Why recipes differ slightly between NHS services
You may see 4 tablespoons, 5 tablespoons, 50g, 60g or 60 to 70g of dried skimmed milk powder in different NHS leaflets. That does not necessarily mean one recipe is wrong. Spoon sizes and product densities vary, and local dietetic services standardise recipes differently.
University Hospitals Sussex, for example, uses 5 tablespoons (60 to 70g) with 1 pint of full-fat milk in its fortified milk guidance. Cornwall’s food-first advice uses 4 tablespoons with 1 pint. If you have been given a recipe by your own dietitian or NHS team, follow that specific version.
How much energy and protein does fortified milk provide?
The exact amount depends on the milk and milk powder used. South West London’s current NHS resource reports approximately 595 kcal and 41g protein per pint for its standard recipe. Other NHS services publish slightly different totals because brands and quantities differ.
Use those values as an example, not a guarantee for every product. If exact nutrition matters for a clinical reason, calculate it from the labels on the milk and powder you actually use or follow your dietitian’s plan.
1. Use fortified milk on cereal
Pour it over cereal exactly as you would ordinary milk. This can be one of the easiest ways to increase breakfast intake because there is no extra meal to prepare.
If breakfast is already difficult, our high-calorie breakfast guide for a small appetite shows how to keep portions manageable while increasing nutrition.
2. Make porridge with it
Use fortified milk instead of water or ordinary milk when making porridge. You can also add nut butter, yoghurt, cream, stewed fruit or honey if appropriate.
Do not feel you need a very large bowl. The point of fortification is to make a realistic portion work harder.
3. Add it to tea and coffee
If you normally use milk in tea or coffee, use fortified milk instead. The amount in one cup is small, but repeated use through the day can add up without creating another eating occasion.
A milky coffee made largely with fortified milk can also work as a nourishing drink between meals.
4. Use it for hot chocolate or malted drinks
Make hot chocolate or a malted drink with fortified milk rather than water. This can be helpful in the evening or between meals when solid food is less appealing.
If drinks tend to fill you up, have them between meals rather than just before eating. The NHS healthy weight-gain guidance similarly suggests high-calorie drinks between meals and advises against filling up on drinks before meals.
5. Make milkshakes or smoothies
Use fortified milk as the liquid base and blend with yoghurt, fruit, smooth nut butter or another suitable ingredient. Keep portions sensible if a large drink suppresses your appetite for the next meal.
See our nourishing drinks for weight gain guide for more practical drink ideas.
6. Add it to mashed potato
Use fortified milk instead of ordinary milk when mashing potatoes. Add butter, cheese, olive oil or cream cheese if you need additional energy and these foods suit your diet.
This works particularly well when you are serving mash with a soft protein such as fish, minced meat, lentils or eggs.
7. Use it in white sauce
A white sauce made with fortified milk can increase the nutritional value of macaroni cheese, fish pie, cauliflower cheese and similar dishes. You can add grated cheese as well if appropriate.
This is useful when the person eating cannot manage a large portion because the extra nutrition is built into the sauce.
8. Use it in custard and milk puddings
Rice pudding, semolina and custard can all be made with fortified milk. These foods are often easier to manage when appetite is poor and can be served in small portions.
They can work as dessert after a small meal or as a snack later in the day.
9. Add it to scrambled eggs or omelettes
A splash of fortified milk can be used in scrambled eggs or omelettes. Add cheese for additional protein and energy if wanted.
Eggs are already protein-rich, so this is a compact way to make a small breakfast or snack more substantial.
10. Use it in soups
Fortified milk can be added to creamy soups or used instead of ordinary milk where the recipe allows. Do not use milk where it would split badly or where the recipe is unsuitable; add it gently and avoid hard boiling.
For very small appetites, pair soup with a protein-rich side rather than relying on a thin vegetable soup alone.
Can you drink fortified milk on its own?
Yes, if you like the taste and your diet allows it. Chilled fortified milk can be easier for some people than a full snack. Others prefer it flavoured or incorporated into food.
You do not need to force a whole pint as a drink. NHS services commonly recommend using the prepared milk throughout the day in foods and drinks.
What if the milk powder goes lumpy?
Do not pour all the milk onto the powder at once. Start by making a smooth paste with a small amount of milk, then add the rest gradually. A fork, balloon whisk or hand blender can help.
If lumps remain, pass the milk through a sieve or blend briefly. Check storage and use-by guidance as you normally would for dairy products.
Can you make half a pint?
Yes. Halve both ingredients rather than changing only one. For a half-pint version, use about 284ml full-fat milk and roughly 2 tablespoons, around 30g, of skimmed milk powder. Exact spoon measurements vary by product, so weighing the powder is more consistent if you need precision.
Can you use semi-skimmed milk?
You can physically make a fortified drink with semi-skimmed milk, but many NHS food-first recipes specify full-fat milk because the purpose is to increase energy and protein for someone at risk of undernutrition or unplanned weight loss.
If you have been advised to restrict fat or calories for a medical reason, ask your healthcare professional before switching to a full-fat fortified recipe.
What about plant-based milk?
Plant-based alternatives vary widely in protein, energy, calcium and other nutrients. South West London’s NHS resource provides a separate plant-based fortified milk example using plant protein powder, but the nutritional result depends heavily on the product chosen.
If you avoid dairy because of allergy, intolerance, vegan diet or another reason, a dietitian can help you choose an alternative that meets your needs rather than assuming every oat, almond or coconut drink is nutritionally equivalent to milk.
When fortified milk may not be appropriate
Generic fortified milk advice may need modification if you have diabetes, kidney disease, heart failure with fluid restriction, a milk allergy, lactose intolerance, galactosaemia, a prescribed low-protein diet or another condition affecting nutrition.
If you have swallowing difficulties, follow the consistency recommended by your speech and language therapist. A drink that is safe for one person may be unsafe for another even when it is nutritionally useful.
Fortified milk is food first, not a medical diagnosis
It can help increase intake, but it does not explain why appetite is poor or why weight is falling. Speak to a GP or healthcare professional if you are losing weight without trying, appetite has changed significantly, swallowing is difficult, you are repeatedly vomiting, or you have other concerning symptoms.
If you are recovering after illness, our guide to gaining weight after illness or hospital explains the broader recovery picture.
Make it easy to use consistently
Prepare one jug in the morning, label it if other people share the fridge, and use it anywhere ordinary milk would normally go. Keep a clean whisk nearby and make the recipe part of a simple routine rather than another complicated task.
For someone with a small appetite, consistency usually matters more than creating elaborate high-calorie recipes every day.
Reviewed: September 2026. General UK information for adults. Follow your own dietitian or clinical team’s recipe where one has been prescribed.
