It can be difficult to eat enough during cancer treatment \u2013 here’s why<\/p>\n
Cancer and cancer treatment can affect your calorie needs<\/a>. Often, this means someone with cancer will need to eat more than someone who doesn\u2019t have cancer, Rodgers says. But cancer and its treatments may also cause side effects that make it challenging to meet those increased needs. These include:<\/p>\n Why it\u2019s still important to eat when you don\u2019t have an appetite<\/p>\n Wondering why dietitians recommend eating even when you don\u2019t have an appetite?<\/p>\n \u201cOur main source of energy comes from the food we eat,\u201d Rosemond explains.<\/p>\n Keeping your weight and muscle mass stable during cancer treatment helps you maintain the strength, balance and coordination you need to continue your normal day-to-day activities, Coleman says.<\/p>\n Sometimes, a brief illness makes it difficult to eat for a few days. Once you feel better, you can eat normally again. But when you don\u2019t feel well for a longer time, not eating enough can become a bigger problem. As days pass and your calorie and nutrient intake remains low, you can enter a stage that he calls \u2018prolonged starvation.\u2019 This is when unintentional weight and lean muscle mass loss can occur, which can lead to problems.<\/p>\n When your body doesn\u2019t get energy from food, its \u201conly choice is to make energy out of stuff in your body,\u201d Rodgers says. This can mean your body uses its own stores of sugar, fat, protein and lean muscle mass for energy.<\/p>\n Lean muscle mass plays an important role in recovery during cancer treatment. Cancer patients who lose lean muscle mass and weight may face treatment delays and have worse outcomes, Rodgers says.<\/p>\n How to eat well when you don\u2019t feel well<\/p>\n Here are nine ways our experts suggest approaching food and getting the nutrients your body needs, even on days you aren\u2019t feeling your best.<\/p>\n Think of food as fuel<\/p>\n When you don\u2019t feel well, eating can feel less pleasurable. This might require you to change the way you think about food, Rodgers says.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s kind of like a car: if you don’t put gas in a car, the car won’t go,\u201d she says. \u201cSo, we need to think about it as fuel. How do we fuel our bodies to make them strong, have more energy and improve our quality of life?\u201d<\/p>\n Manage side effects<\/p>\n Often, one of the first ways MD Anderson clinical dietitians help patients with cancer meet their nutritional needs is by treating or managing side effects. This will look different for each patient and may require combining multiple strategies. Here, our experts share examples of tips they might give for specific side effects.<\/p>\n If you have altered taste:<\/p>\n Choose soft or moist foods to lessen how long the flavor lasts. If you have mouth sores or trouble chewing:<\/p>\n Choose soft foods. If you are feeling nauseous:<\/p>\n Take anti-nausea medications. If you are constipated:<\/p>\n Make sure you are drinking enough. Eat frequent meals<\/p>\n Dividing your calories neatly among breakfast, lunch and dinner isn\u2019t always realistic when you don\u2019t feel well. For example, only eating at mealtimes could mean you\u2019re eating less than your body needs. You may also have side effects that make it hard to eat too much at a time. That\u2019s why our experts recommend eating small meals throughout the day.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen there\u2019s a large plate of food and you don\u2019t want to eat, that can cause an aversion sometimes,\u201d Rosemond notes. Instead, she suggests small snacks and meals such as:<\/p>\n An oral nutrition shake If you\u2019re struggling to remember to eat, set a timer on your phone. This might look like eating something every 2 or 3 hours that you\u2019re awake, Coleman suggests.<\/p>\n Eat what you can<\/p>\n When you\u2019re not feeling well for a long period of time, eating something is more important than eating healthy, Rosemond says.<\/p>\n \u201cI don’t want to cause any additional restrictions on what someone can eat when they’re not feeling well,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n During treatment, you may be told \u201ceat what you can,\u201d Coleman says. This is because the effects of muscle loss during cancer treatment can be more harmful than eating an unbalanced diet for a while. \u201cDo we want patients to follow a well-balanced or healthy diet? Absolutely. That would be fantastic, but not necessarily at the cost of getting adequate nutrition.\u201d<\/p>\n Make every bite count<\/p>\n Coleman\u2019s mantra for eating when you don\u2019t feel well? Make every bite count. This means choosing nutrient-dense foods that are higher in calories and protein<\/a>.<\/p>\n Some easy ways he suggests adding calories to your meals include:<\/p>\n Adding dried fruit or crushed nuts or seeds to hot cereal Rodgers encourages people in cancer treatment to add a protein source every time they eat. This helps with energy levels and muscle mass.<\/p>\n One quick option for boosting your calorie intake that doesn\u2019t take much prep? Prepackaged oral nutrition shakes. These grab-and-go options are an easy way to get calories even when you don\u2019t have much energy.<\/p>\n Do light activity<\/p>\n Sometimes, moving your body can queue hunger cues.<\/p>\n Staying active when you don\u2019t feel your best<\/a> can be just as challenging as eating well when you don\u2019t feel your best. But physical activity doesn\u2019t always mean a sweaty HIIT workout. Instead, it might mean taking a short walk, getting dressed or doing a household task.<\/p>\n Create a mealtime routine<\/p>\n While eating during cancer treatment can be challenging, you don\u2019t have to give up the comfort, structure and company of mealtime. One small way to add a bit of normalcy? Join your family or friends at the table, even if you don\u2019t end up eating the same dishes.<\/p>\n \u201cStaying active or being in an area or place that makes you feel good can help stimulate your appetite,\u201d Rosemond says.<\/p>\n Make mealtime simple<\/p>\n Cooking and meal prep can be a challenge even on days when you\u2019re feeling your best. When you aren\u2019t feeling well, your priority might go from preparing something gourmet to simply getting meal prep out of the way. Our experts have tips for that, too. Here are their suggestions.<\/p>\n Meal prep before starting treatment. Store meals in the freezer and heat them up when you don\u2019t feel up for cooking. Still struggling? Let your care team know.<\/p>\n While you may have to encourage yourself to eat during treatment, you shouldn\u2019t feel like you\u2019re forcing yourself to eat. Eating more than you can tolerate can make side effects like nausea worse, Coleman says.<\/p>\n If you are having trouble eating during treatment, talk to your care team. They may prescribe IV fluids or medications to help you manage your side effects, Rodgers notes. MD Anderson patients can also request to see a registered dietitian<\/a> for personalized nutrition advice.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll say to patients, \u2018Let’s try to make it a little bit easier,\u2019 Rodgers says. \u201cI can’t make it totally easy for you, but we can make it easier.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nDrink beverages using a straw.
\nIf foods taste salty, balance it out by adding sweetness.
\nIf foods taste metallic, use plastic or wood utensils instead of metal silverware.<\/p>\n
\nTry drinkable options such as smoothies and shakes.<\/p>\n
\nAvoid greasy, fatty options.<\/p>\n
\nChoose foods with more fiber<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nFruit and yogurt
\nCrackers with nut butter or hummus
\nA peanut butter and jelly sandwich
\nHard-boiled eggs
\nCheese cubes
\nTrail mix
\nA bagel with cream cheese<\/p>\n
\nStirring sour cream or cheese into mashed potatoes
\nDipping a banana or apple in nut butter<\/p>\n
\nCut down on dishes by preparing one-pot or sheet pan meals. This might mean using a slow cooker or pressure cooker.
\nMake large meals, so you have leftovers.
\nBuy prepared meals from the grocery store.
\nStock up on ingredients for simple snacks and meals.
\nOrder meal delivery services or sign up to receive volunteer meal delivery.<\/p>\n