1. Bring on the Calories
Diets for chemotherapy patients are different from diets for healthy people. Diets for healthy people often emphasize losing or maintaining your weight. However, unintentional weight loss can be a problem for cancer patients. If you're nauseated or vomiting, you might not feel like eating a large meal. Nevertheless, you must consume enough protein and calories to enable your healthy tissues to heal from treatment. To increase your caloric intake, add rich sauces or gravies to your foods. Prepare foods with evaporated milk instead of water.
2. Pamper a Sore Mouth
Chemotherapy damages cells that grow and divide quickly, including the cells that line the mouth and throat. This, coupled with an increased tendency to develop infections, can cause chemotherapy patients to develop painful mouth sores. Avoid any crunchy foods like crackers, nuts or granola if your mouth is sore. Treat yourself to creamy comfort foods like custard, ice cream and pudding. Soothing main dishes include cottage cheese with canned pears or scrambled eggs.
3. Conquer Queasiness
When nausea and vomiting strike, you must trade your regular foods for a bland diet. Take a break from odoriferous foods like fish, garlic and onions. Instead, get your protein from yogurt or baked chicken. Tart foods quell nausea, so season your food with lemon, drink lemon-lime soda and have a tart dessert made with lemon curd or other citrus flavors. Cooking odors can trigger nausea episodes, so get takeout if you want a hot meal. Patients with nausea tolerate cold foods well, including refrigerated canned fruit, popsicles and gelatin.
4. Get Things Moving
While some chemotherapy patients experience diarrhea, others deal with constipation issues. Constipation can occur when you become dehydrated, inactive or when chemotherapy drugs impair the function of the gastrointestinal system. If your bowel movements are dry or difficult to pass, choose prune juice to complement your meal. In fact, all fresh and dried fruits are high in fiber and can stimulate a healthy bowel movement. Snack on muffins made with whole grain, and add beans to any main dish for soluble fiber. If your appetite is low, snack on a light food high in fiber like popcorn or sunflower seeds.
5. Flush Your System
Some chemotherapy drugs can damage your kidneys and bladder. You can mitigate these symptoms by staying well hydrated. This is challenging if you're experiencing vomiting and diarrhea. Compensate for the fluid loss by drinking nourishing liquids and making part of your diet a liquid diet. When you can tolerate beverages, sip on broth, unsweetened juices or sports drinks. When you're ready for a snack or light meal, prepare cheese soup with a milkshake or smoothie. Garnish your foods with butter or sour cream to increase calories.
