1. Plan Ahead to Eat Healthy
Learning how to combat possible post-chemotherapy symptoms--such as loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing and nausea--is the key to maintaining a healthy diet. Plan a daily menu in advance, and while doing so, be sure to include plenty of high-calorie and high-protein foods. Keep snacks readily available, and try to consume at least one-third of your calorie needs at breakfast. Attempt to eat five or six small meals a day to avoid a sense of fullness, and refresh your palate by rinsing your mouth with lemon water after eating. Creating distractions while eating can also be helpful, so read the newspaper, turn on the television or even take a walk while enjoying a healthy snack.
2. Supplement Your Diet
Protein shakes and liquid vitamins are solid sources of nutrition for those undergoing chemotherapy. Each is easy to swallow and digest and requires little preparation time. It's important to drink plenty of fluids but in small quantities at a time. One trick is to create flavored ice cubes with your favorite juice, soda or fruit punch. Another way to maintain a healthy diet is to add nutrients to your meals without adding calories. Sprinkling fresh herbs and seasonings over your food or adding nutrition-rich foods like flaxseed to your breakfast cereal or oatmeal will help boost immunity. If you've been advised to avoid milk and dairy products, try soy-based products as a safe and healthy alternative.
3. Eat the Right Foods
Your well-rounded nutrition plan should involve all five food groups, but it's important to know how certain foods can help to either minimize or increase the side effects of chemotherapy. Hot, spicy foods, greasy or fried foods and sweet, sugary foods should be avoided, since they can cause nausea and diarrhea during and after chemotherapy. Low total-fiber or soluble-fiber sources--such as rice, bananas, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, applesauce and skinless chicken--are easy on the digestive track and provide your body with the fuel needed to maintain a healthy diet. If you are having trouble swallowing, remember that cooking vegetables to soften them or eating canned fruits instead of whole fruits may help. You can also use a juicer or blender to liquefy fruits and vegetables.
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