eating tips for cancer patients
DESCRIPTION
Cancer and chemotherapy can greatly impact a patient's ability to enjoy food. Nutrition becomes more important than ever since malnutrition is a real threat to cancer patients. Here we offer a few tips to make eating remain enjoyable and help cancer patients meet their nutritional needs. Learn more at www.chemobites.com.TRANSCRIPT
Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
EATING TIPSFor patients on chemotherapy
Ideas for how to make food more appealing
Ideas for how to stimulate your appetite
Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
Light
Breakfast
Snack
Time
Light
Lunch
Snack
TimeLight
Dinner
Snack
Time
Eat smaller
portions more
frequently
Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
Drink fluids
between meals
instead of with
meals
Green
Smoothies
Water
Decaf
Tea
Coconut
Water
Water
More
Water
Light Breakfast
Light Lunch
Light Dinner
Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
Choose foods
you like but
follow any dietary
restrictions laid
out by your
doctor.
Enjoy light
exercise 30
minutes before
you eat to
stimulate your
appetite.
Get creative!
Try to enhance
the smell,
appearance &
texture of food.
Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
Light
Breakfast
Snack
TimeLight
Lunch
Snack
Time
Light
Dinner
Snack
Time
Eat by the
clock – Your
body might
not tell you
it’s hungry
7AM
10AM 12P
M
3PM
6PM
8PM
Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
Plan meals in
advance. Freeze
small portion sizes
for quick,
convenient bites.
You taste buds
change. Try
new foods for
new flavors.
Make meals a
special occasion.
Set the table &
surround
yourselves with
friends & family.
Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
Season foods with tart flavors, like lemon wedges,
lemonade, citrus fruits, vinegar and
pickled foods
Tart candies, peppermint or lemon
drops may reduce the sensations of
bitter or sour rates. Choose sugarless
brands.
Add strongly flavored juices or
relishes to dishes
If you experience the "metallic" taste in meat, try marinating meat in a
reduced sodium soy sauce or fat free Italian dressing to intensify the
flavor. If red meat doesn't work, try eating
chicken, seafood, or beans for protein.
Try eating foods that don't have
strong odors
Add extra seasonings to give food more flavor. Try onion, garlic, chili
powder, basil, oregano, rosemary, tarragon, and
mint. Add a little at a time to see if you can
perk up your taste buds.
If you
experience
changes in
taste…
Try new foods
Nut butters Beans and legumes
Milk, cheese and yogurt
Eggs
Nuts and seeds
Tofu Ice cream and frozen yogurt
Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
Enjoy high
protein foods
as snacks & in
meals.
Not getting
enough
protein?
Protein fuels your body &
keep you full.
Baked chicken
Noodles
Potatoes
White rice
Yogurt
Graham crackers
Bran muffins
Lentils & black beans
Apples
Berries
Brussels sprouts
Leafy green vegetables
Yams
Nuts and seeds
Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
Not getting
enough
fiber?
Getting too
much fiber?
Diarrhea can
be curbed if
you cut back
on fiber
Constipation
is an
unpleasant
side effect of
chemo. Be
sure get lots
of fiber.
Cranberry juice
Clear carbonated drinks
Eggs
Potatoes
Well cooked vegetables
White rice
Bananas
Pasta
Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
This list may
help if you
have nausea or
once your
vomiting is
under control.
Feeling
nauseous?
These foods are
easy on the
stomach.
Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
Weight loss can be caused by cancer
itself, or by side effects of cancer treatment. Add
calories to add pounds. Try these
tricks to add calories.
Keep
healthy
snacks on
hand
Snack on
fatty nuts and
granola
Add extra
cheese to
dishes.
Snack on
high
calorie
dried fruits
Indulge -
Drink
chocolate
milk
Have
dessert
Eat
eggsSnack
Use whole
milk instead
of low fat
Select
whole fat
dairy
products
Cream of wheat
Pureed soup
Milkshakes
Vegetable juice
Frozen yogurt
Instant breakfast drinks
Bouillon
Clear broth
Apple and grape juice
Carbonated water
Decaf tea Water
Coconut water
Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
Clear Liquids
Full-Liquid
Foods
This list may
help if you
have
appetite loss,
vomiting, or
weight loss.
This list may
help if you
have
appetite loss,
constipation,
diarrhea, or
vomiting.
Casseroles
Cooked cereals, like oatmeal
Cottage cheese Macaroni and cheese
Soups
Yogurt
Smoothies
Milkshakes Applesauce
Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
This list may help
if you have dry
mouth, sore
mouth, sore
throat, or trouble
swallowing.
Sore throat?
Dry mouth?
Hard to
swallow?
These
foods are easy to swallow.
Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
Enjoy meals with
family & friends
Try new foods
Have a
wide variety of foods on
hand
Eat foods
you like
Listen
to your body
Snack
A few
take-aways
Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
Resources
“Eating Well
Through
Cancer” by
Holly Clegg &
G. Miletello, MD
National Cancer
Institute at the
National Institutes
of Health
www.cancer.gov