Avoid dry and sharp foods such as toast, crackers, and chips. Suck on ice chips, popsicles, or frozen fruit. Some chemotherapy medications cause cold intolerance, so avoid this if you have been told to skip very cold foods. Avoid fruit and vegetables with small seeds.
Don't go crazy on junk food.
But remember your body is under a lot of stress and needs good nutrition. At least two meals a day, try to emphasize fruits, veggies, lean meats, and whole grains. Whole grains fight constipation.
These include yogurt, cereal and milk, half a sandwich, a bowl of hearty soup, and cheese and crackers. Avoid snacks that might make any treatment-related side effects worse. If you have diarrhea, for example, avoid popcorn and raw fruits and vegetables.
Potatoes are high in potassium, vitamin C and folate, all of which are most concentrated in the skin of the potato, which is left on in this dish. The roasted vegetables provide an opportunity to use what you have available.
Unpasteurized juice, cider, milk, yogurt or backyard eggs. Refrigerated duck, chicken liver or other meat pate, since the organs used are not always cooked through and may harbor campylobacter or other bacteria. Chilled, ready-to-eat sandwiches, or deli-prepared salads made with egg, ham, chicken or seafood.
Pizza is a flavorful, high calorie food that offers suitable nutritional value as a snack. Healthcare professionals advise that a person can eat pizza during chemotherapy if their body tolerates the food.
Be careful when you have dairy products: All milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy should have the word pasteurized on their containers. Do not eat soft cheeses or cheeses with blue veins (such as Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, Stilton, Gorgonzola, and Bleu).
It is also high in calories, perfect for cancer patients who need to gain weight. A lightened version can be prepared using skim or almond milk in place of the whole milk and reduced amounts of butter and cheese. A perfect easy meal for lunch or dinner!
It is best to limit sodium, eat mainly unprocessed foods, and drink plenty of water during treatment. The following are some tips and information to help you reduce and monitor sodium intake: Read food labels and focus on the sodium content per serving. Limit foods that contain more than 200mg of sodium per serving.
Debate no more if you should eat chocolate or not. Go ahead and enjoy a dark chocolate bar (in moderation) while decreasing inflammation and preventing cell damage. Check out this recipe for dark chocolate-covered strawberries and pair it with a glass of red wine, which also have the powerful antioxidant flavonoids.
However, as they are low-acid, bananas may be a more stomach-friendly fruit for people with chemotherapy-related nausea. Bananas are also a good source of potassium and magnesium, so they are helpful for replacing the electrolytes the body loses from vomiting.
Try low-odor, dry, and bland foods, such as crackers, toast, oatmeal, and plain yogurt. Sip cold, clear liquids, such as ginger ale, iced tea, sparkling water, or fruit juice. Some people find sparkling water with a splash of juice soothes the stomach.
Get some rest during the day if you're going out at night – you'll have more energy for the evening. You can take some anti sickness tablets before you go out for a meal if you think you'll need them. Drinking a little alcohol probably won't affect most types of chemotherapy – but check with your doctor first.
It is best to avoid eating out and takeaway food if your immunity is low. If you eat out, try to choose somewhere where you know the food will be freshly prepared and properly cooked. Avoid eating food from salad bars, buffets and street vendors because it is difficult to know how fresh the food is.
Meat, poultry, fish, tofu, and nuts
Ensure all meats, poultry, and fish are cooked thoroughly. Use a food thermometer to be sure that meat and poultry reach the proper temperature when cooked.
– Choose whole grains. Brown rice, whole wheat pasta and whole wheat bread are better choices than refined grains like white rice and white bread.
Eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day. 2-3 servings of whole grain bread, pastas, rice, etc. every day. Limit fat intake to 30% of calories (preferably less than or equal to 20% of calories) every day.
Greek yogurt could be a great option. What is in Greek yogurt? It contains all the benefits of regular yogurt, plus extra protein (17 grams per serving). Greek yogurt also adds calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins A and D to your diet.
Eat high calorie foods: milkshakes, ice cream, sauces, Carnation Instant Breakfast, Ensure, and Boost. These foods replace the energy your body is using to fight the cancer cells. Stay away from fatty, fried, and greasy foods. Your appetite will come back in 2-6 weeks after your chemotherapy is over.
Some raw foods can contain germs that can hurt you when cancer or treatment weakens your immune system. Ask your health care provider about how to eat well and safely. Eggs can have bacteria called Salmonella on their inside and outside. This is why eggs should be cooked completely before eating.
Eat Light Ahead of Time
Two to three hours before an infusion, eat a light, high-fiber snack. The drugs commonly used to prevent nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy can also be constipating. Between staying hydrated and eating fiber, you should gain the upper hand on constipation.
EAT GOOD CARBS: Eat rice, noodles, chapatti, wholegrain bread and pasta. You could also eat oats, corn, potatoes, dairy products and beans. Also, eat honey, but in moderation, as it has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. This helps in preventing infections.