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