Eating Tips for Managing Cancer Treatment Side Effects

Transcription

1 PATIENT EDUCATION patienteducation.osumc.edu Eating Tips for Managing Cancer Treatment Side Effects Eating the best you can, and drinking enough of the right kind of fluids are important parts of your treatment. Cancer and its treatment can cause malnutrition. Eating well before, during and after treatment can help you feel better and stay strong. Here are tips to help you. Basics on Nutrition and Hydration Getting nutrition is as important as taking your medicines. You may need to eat even when you do not feel hungry to help stay strong. It may help to eat higher calorie foods and get in extra protein. Eating well during treatment might mean changing your usual eating habits and what foods you choose to eat. Drinking enough fluids (keeping hydrated) is important during treatment. Unless you are told differently, try to drink 8 cups (8 ounces each) of non-caffeinated liquids a day. Ways to Increase Your Appetite If you do not feel like you can eat much at one time, try eating several small meals and snacks each day. Drink liquids mostly between meals, rather than with meals. Fluids with meals can make you feel full too soon. Take a short walk before a meal or snack to help improve your appetite. Preventing Weight Loss Eat a diet high in calories and protein. Good protein sources include meats, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products and peanut butter. This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk with your doctor or health care team if you have any questions about your care. November 1, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

2 You can increase calories by adding gravy, butter and cheese to foods. Drink high calorie, high protein drinks, such as shakes and liquid supplements. Take your medicines with a nutritious drink, such as Ensure, Ensure Clear, Glucerna, or Boost, instead of water. Nausea and Vomiting Eat foods that have less odor to them. To decrease the odor of drinks, cover the cup or drink through a straw. Eat foods cold or at room temperature. Rest after eating to allow food to digest. Do not lay down flat right after eating. If you take medicine to help with nausea, take it at least 30 minutes before eating. If you have continued nausea, vomiting or weight loss, call your doctor. Taste Changes During treatment you may have some taste changes. Some treatments, like direct radiation therapy given to the mouth, can cause long-term taste changes. It may take some trial and error to find foods that taste right to you during treatment. If sweet foods do not taste good, try sour, bitter or tart flavors. Try adding sour salad dressings like French or Italian to salads, entrees and cooked vegetables. Try seasoning foods with tart flavors, such as lemon, citrus and pickled items. Rinse your mouth with water or tea to clear your taste buds before you eat. Dry Mouth or Thick Saliva Drink 8 to 12 cups of non-caffeinated liquids each day. Drinking lots of fluids can help loosen the mucus in your mouth or throat that makes swallowing difficult. Eat soft, moist foods that are cool or room temperature. Try adding milk, broth, sauces, gravy or soup to soften and moisten foods. Use yogurt, juice or jelly to make foods slide down a dry sore throat easier. Eating Tips for Managing Cancer Treatment Side Effects

3 Sore Mouth or Sore Throat Do not eat foods high in acid such as tomatoes, citrus fruits and juices including orange, grapefruit, lemon and lime. Avoid spicy or salty foods. Do not eat rough or dry foods that can hurt the sore areas in your mouth and throat. Avoid tough meats, raw vegetables, pretzels, chips and crackers. Diarrhea Eat small meals often during the day. Sip liquids slowly. Drink plenty of fluids during the day to replace what you are losing. Do not eat foods that are greasy, spicy, fatty or fried. Avoid broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and other gas forming high fiber foods. Do not drink fluids or eat foods with caffeine such as coffee, soda, tea or chocolate. Constipation Drink plenty of fluids. Exercise daily, if possible. Eat more high fiber foods such as whole grain breads and cereals, fresh fruits, vegetables and beans. More Information Eating Hints, National Cancer Institute, or call CANCER Nutrition for the Person with Cancer During Treatment, American Cancer Society, or call ACS-2345 Eating Tips for Managing Cancer Treatment Side Effects

4 Here is a list with food choices that are better for you to eat if you have any of the following problems: Taste Changes Breakfast Entrées Lunch and Dinner Entrées Sides Dessert French Toast with Fruit Topping Make your own omelet Include: Peppers, Onions, Tomatoes, Diced Ham, Cheese Condiments: Hot Sauce, Ketchup, Salsa, Sour Cream Cereal: Quaker Oatmeal, Cream of Wheat with Craisins and Brown Sugar, Honey Nut Cheerios, Frosted Mini Wheats, Total Raisin Bran Beef Pot Roast or Meatloaf Topped with Gravy Baked Chicken Tenders with Dipping Sauce, BBQ and Honey Mustard Chicken and Cheese Quesadilla with Salsa, Guacamole, or Sour Cream Penne Pasta with Alfredo or Marinara Sauce Soups: Creamy Tomato, Chicken Noodle Toast with Peanut Butter or Jelly Bagel with Cream Cheese Flavored Yogurt Fruit Pickle Spear Coleslaw Mashed Potatoes with Gravy Baked Potato Wedges with Dipping Sauce Blueberry or Peanut Butter Tart Chocolate Pudding Chocolate Chunk Cookie Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Fruit Sorbet Orange Sherbet Ice Cream: Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla (Regular or Sugar Free)

5 Taste Changes Condiments Fruit Juices Soda Lemonade Coffee Tea Nutritional (Ensure, Ensure Clear, Glucerna, Boost) Syrup Hot Sauce Ketchup Mustard Dressing BBQ Sauce Mayonnaise Dry or Sore Mouth Breakfast Entrées Lunch and Dinner Entrées Sides French Toast Eggs: Hardboiled, Scrambled Make your own omelet Include: Peppers, Onions, Diced Ham, Cheese Cereal: Quaker Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat Penne Pasta with Alfredo Sauce Homestyle Chicken Noodles over Mashed Potatoes Meatloaf Topped with Gravy Chicken or Tuna Salad Sandwich Soups: Broths Soft Fruit: Pears, Peaches, Banana, Pineapple, Applesauce Yogurt: Blueberry, Strawberry, Strawberry- Banana, Seasonal Fruit Smoothie Cottage Cheese Macaroni and Cheese Mashed Potatoes with Chicken or Beef Gravy Nutritional (Ensure, Ensure Clear, Glucerna, Boost)

6 Dry or Sore Mouth Dessert Strawberry Sorbet Orange Sherbet Ice Cream: Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla (Regular or Sugar Free) Pudding: Chocolate, Vanilla (Regular or Sugar Free) Upset Stomach (Nausea) Entrées and Sides Plain Toast or Bagel Cereals: Cream of Wheat, Quaker Oatmeal, Cheerios, Rice Chex Grilled Chicken Breast Plain Penne Pasta Brown Rice Mashed Potatoes Baked Potatoes Applesauce Banana Pears Orange Sherbet Yogurt Soups: Vegetable Broth or Chicken Broth Ginger Ale Sprite Skim Milk Gatorade Tea Constipation or Dehydration Drink 8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses of non-caffeinated fluid each day.

7 Weight Loss Entrées and Sides Condiments French Toast Breakfast Quesadilla Bagel with Cream Cheese Cheese Quesadilla Chicken and Cheese Quesadilla Baked Chicken Tenders Meatloaf with Gravy Chicken Salad Grilled Cheese Sandwich Macaroni and Cheese Peanut Butter Sour Cream Mayonnaise Cheese Whole Milk Chocolate Milk Nutritional (Ensure, Ensure Clear, Glucerna, Boost) Diarrhea Entrées and Sides Plain Toast or Bagel Cereals: Cream of Wheat, Quaker Oatmeal, Cheerios, Rice Chex Plain Penne Pasta Brown Rice Mashed Potatoes Baked Potatoes Applesauce Banana Pears Soups: Vegetable Broth or Chicken Broth Ginger Ale Sprite Gatorade Tea