Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are faced with potential drastic changes to their ice habitat in the near future. Climate models predict that the ice-covered period during which bears use the sea ice to hunt seals is getting shorter, and that the ice-free season will become extended. Bears will not have enough ice time to accumulate the necessary body fat reserves they need to live off when stranded on land during summers. However, polar bears have been observed making use of several food sources while on land, although the energetic contributions of these diets to the bears' energy budget were considered to be minor. We examine mathematically whether observed diets (i.e., arctic charr [Salvelinus alpinus], ringed seal [Pusa hispida] blubber, and berry diets) can contribute sufficient energy to offset the daily body mass loss. We then estimate the amount or mass of the diet that must be consumed to achieve a balanced daily energy loss, and whether this is possible, given specific constraints on feeding. The analysis indicated that it is possible for polar bears to maintain their body mass while on shore by feeding on arctic charr and seal blubber. Polar bears of body masses up to 280 kg could gain sufficient energy from blueberries to match the daily energy loss. The question that arises is how many bears of a population would resort to such strategies? To better understand how polar bears will adapt to a warming climate, we recommend continued examination of polar bear diets in the field, and controlled feeding trials with captive polar bears.