A patient with a high risk for coronary heart disease is prescribed a 1750-kcal diet in which 55% of the diet is to be carbohydrates and 20% fat. How many calories should the nurse instruct the patient consume as protein each day?

Question

Record your answer rounding up to the nearest whole number.

Answer 1

Correct Answer: 438 kcal
If the patient is to consume 55% of the diet as carbohydrates and 20% as fat that means the patient is to consume 25% of the total calories as protein. To determine protein calories, the nurse should multiply the total number of calories per day by 25%, or 1750 × .25 = 437.5 or 438 kcal.