Tips for getting back to real food

Most eating-related side effects associated with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or other treatments go away after cancer treatment ends. If you have had side effects, you should gradually begin to feel better and your interest in food and mealtimes will come back. Sometimes, though, side effects persist, especially weight loss. If this happens to you, talk to your healthcare professional and work out a plan together on how to address the problem.

After cancer treatment ends and you're feeling better, you may want to think again about the traditional guidelines for healthy eating. Just as you wanted to go into treatment with all the reserves that such a diet could give you, you'll want to do the best for yourself at this important time: eating right will help you regain your strength, rebuild tissue, and help you feel well.

However, even if your treatment is over and you're feeling much better, you still may not feel completely back to your old self. To overcome difficulties, here are some ways to help you ease back to regular meals and mealtimes, without overdoing it:

  • make simple meals using familiar, easy-to-prepare recipes,
  • cook enough for two or three meals, then freeze the remainder for a later meal,
  • take advantage of the supermarket's salad bar and prepared foods to make cooking easier,
  • think about ways you used to make mealtime special and try them again,
  • don't be afraid to ask a friend or family member for help with cooking or shopping.

In any case, the fundamental rules of a well balanced diet should always be kept in mind:

  • focus on eating a variety of foods every day. No one food contains all the nutrients you need, and you should have a balanced diet comprising all the nutrients your body needs,
  • emphasize fruits and vegetables. Raw or cooked vegetables, fruits, and fruit juices provide the vitamins, minerals, and fibre you need,
  • emphasize breads and cereals, especially the whole grain varieties, such as whole wheat bread, oats, and brown rice. These foods are good sources of complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and fibre,
  • go easy on fat, salt, sugar, alcohol, and smoked or pickled foods. Choose low-fat milk products, and small portions (no more than 6-7 oz. a day) of lean meat and poultry without skin. Try lower-fat cooking methods, such as broiling, steaming, and poaching.

Source: National Cancer Institute