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.

1. Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
EATING TIPS
For patients on chemotherapy
 Ideas for how to make food more appealing
Ideas for how to stimulate your appetite

2. Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
Light
Breakfast
Snack
Time
Light
Lunch
Snack
Time
Light
Dinner
Snack
Time
Eat smaller
portions more
frequently

3. 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

4. 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.

5. Chemo Warrior, Cancer Combatant: Healing Through Whole Foods
Light
Breakfast
Snack
Time
Light
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

6. 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.

7. 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

8.  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.

9.  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.

10.  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.

11. 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
eggs
Snack
Use whole
milk instead
of low fat
Select
whole fat
dairy
products

12.  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.

13.  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.

14. 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

15. 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