Nutrition in Cancer Care

When you have cancer, good nutrition plays an important role in your recovery. Good nutrition will help you maintain strength and weight so that you are better able to handle your treatments. It will also boost your immune system which is a critical component in your body’s healing and repair process.

How Can a Registered Cancer Dietitian Help Me?

Your cancer dietitian will individualize recommendations based on your cancer diagnosis and your specific treatment plan. They will strive to ease the side effects of your treatment while improving your quality of life. Together, you both will come up with a plan that you feel you can achieve that meets your needs based on your specific cancer diagnosis.

• maintaining proper nutrition during treatment,
• individualized meal planning,
• suggesting foods to ease nausea,
• communication with your physician’s office,
• solutions to boost appetite,
• achieving your nutritional goals.

How Do Foods Help Fight Cancer?

Look at your plate: Fill at least 2/3 of it with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans and 1/3 with fish, poultry, lean beef, seafood, eggs, or tofu.

• add more vegetables to recipes
• use beans in place of meat in soups and main dishes
• eat more fruit for dessert

Pay attention to portion size:Eating less cuts calories. Recommended portion sizes are below...

• 3 ounces of lean meat
• 1 cup skim milk or 1 1⁄2 ounce of cheese
• 1 cup fresh fruit or 1 medium apple or orange
• 1/2 cup cooked vegetable or 1 cup raw, leafy vegetable
• 1 teaspoon of oil (olive or canola), margarine or butter
• 1⁄2 cup brown rice or 1⁄2 cup cooked oatmeal

All foods work together for the best protection: Eat many different fruits and vegetables. Choose colorful fruits and vegetables rather than taking vitamins to help you get the best from these foods.