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Nutritional Meals for Cancer Patients

Getting proper nutrition while undergoing treatment for cancer can be difficult. This is because cancer patients experience a wide range of side effects, including appetite loss, weight fluctuation, sore teeth, throat and gums, nausea, dry mouth, constipation and diarrhea. Cancer patients usually need to eat high-calorie, protein-rich foods to make up for nutrient loss that occurs during treatment. There are a wide variety of meals that can help cancer patients get the nutrition they need while working with the physical limitations treatment often imposes.

  1. Liquid Meals

    • One of the easiest ways for cancer patients dealing with nausea and loss of appetite to get nutrients is through liquid meals. Drink high-calorie, nutrient-rich beverages such as juice and milk mixed with a powdered meal replacement. Smoothies are also mild and easy to digest. To make a meal, combine a cup of whole-milk yogurt, 1 Tabls. of milk, cut-up frozen and fresh fruits and 1/8 to 1/4 cup of a fiber source (such as wheat germ or bran flakes) in a blender. If the patient is allowed to have soy products, add some cubed silken tofu for extra protein. If the patient's weight loss is a particular concern, add a scoop of premium ice cream to the smoothie.

    Protein-Rich Meals

    • Cancer patients often require an elevated source of protein to make up for deficiencies caused by treatment. Protein boosts the patient's strength and helps maintain and rebuild tissues affected by treatment. A protein-rich meal for a cancer patient should include a large portion of beans, tofu, poultry, fish or eggs along with a side of leafy greens or edamame and some yogurt. Avoid fried foods. The patient should eat the high-protein item before the rest of the food, as he may become full quickly. Some patients are more able to eat a large, protein-laden meal first thing in the morning because they are well-rested.

    Small Meals

    • Patients who experience loss of appetite may need to eat small meals throughout the day and consume small amounts of calorie-dense foods every few hours. Cheese and crackers, muffins, pudding made with milk, peanut-butter sandwiches, cottage cheese with fruit and yogurt are examples of small meals that are nutritional.

    Soft Meals

    • Cancer treatment can cause tooth and gum pain, as well as sore throats. For that reason, cancer patients may want to stick with soft meals. However, there are options in addition to milkshakes, yogurt, scrambled eggs and pudding. Boil a serving of pasta until it is mushy, then mix it with a non-acidic cream sauce or a cup of pureed vegetables, such as carrots or butternut squash. Serve sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. You can also make a soft shepherd's pie by spreading layers of pureed vegetables, gravy and mashed potatoes in a baking dish and baking it uncovered at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until slightly brown.

    Cold Meals

    • Sometimes patients' nausea is triggered by the smell of food. Serving cold food to these patients may help them eat more. Freeze fruits such as grapes or peach slices. Cold soups such as gazpacho can be easier to ingest than hot soups. Frozen yogurt, cold custards, milkshakes and ice cream are excellent cold sources of protein.

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