Cancer
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Nutritional Guidelines
Cancer treatment can, at times, result in a variety of eating problems, from nausea and vomiting to difficulty swallowing, constipation, diarrhea and more. Here are a few general guidelines to help you lessen these side effects and get the balanced nutrition you need to keep your body strong:
- Eat in a relaxed environment. Turn off the TV, put on soft background music (if possible), and keep the conversation light and lively at mealtimes.
- Serve small portions, with extra foods available for seconds if desired.
- Try foods with different colors and textures for variety and appeal.
- For supplements that seem too sweet, try adding a few drops of aromatic bitters (available in liquor stores) to counteract the sweet taste.
- Try melting cheese on foods to add protein and calories. Natural cheeses have less lactose than other dairy products if lactose intolerance is a problem.
- Use a hand blender to mix moist casseroles, meats with gravy or soups/stews with chunks of food. The hand blender is a quick and easy way to prepare high-calorie milkshakes, too, and cleanup is slick.
For more tips on dealing with specific side effects of your treatment, see
Managing Side Effects.