One of the most common side effects of cancer and its treatments is reduced appetite. Individuals with cancer might be too fatigued or preoccupied to remember to eat, but where possible, a reliable and healthy diet is essential for maintaining good health and mental well-being.
Hydration and calorie intake are incredibly important for those living with cancer. If you struggle with eating and drinking enough, you may benefit from nutrition support. Today, we’ll explore the benefits of a balanced diet and how you can find support.
The Importance of Eating Well With Cancer
There are several reasons why eating a healthy, balanced diet is so important for individuals living with cancer. Not only does the decision to follow a nutritious diet give you a sense of control, but you can also rest assured that you’re doing the best you can for your health.
After cancer treatment, you might have a higher risk of health problems, including diabetes, osteoporosis and heart disease. A healthy diet can help prevent these issues, reducing your risk of frailty in the future.
An unhealthy diet can also lead to reduced effectiveness of certain treatments. The lack of nutrients delivered by a good diet may mean treatment doesn’t work as well, potentially increasing the risk of longer recovery times and more debilitating symptoms.
How to Support Someone With Cancer With Eating
If you care for a loved one living with cancer, it can be difficult to see them struggling to eat and dealing with the negative impacts of malnutrition. Whether you’re experiencing cancer-related reduced appetite yourself or supporting a loved one going through it, there are several ways to help:
Prioritise Protein
Protein is essential for individuals with reduced appetite because it’s high in energy, slow-releasing and calorie-dense. Protein is filling, so it’s important to offer it as the main meal rather than a side on a carbohydrate-dense plate.
Great sources of protein include:
- Meat and oily fish
- Eggs
- Nuts
- Full-fat dairy, such as cheese or yoghurt
Encourage your loved one to eat small meals or snacks every two to three hours. This helps keep energy levels up without leaving them feeling overfull or sluggish. Warm milky drinks can be consumed between meals to increase protein and calorie intake.
Plan Meals Together
Your loved one may be more willing or excited to eat if they feel in control of their meals. Try to include their favourite foods in the weekly meal plan, and ask them what they want rather than feeding them a strict, bland diet.
Use mealtimes as an opportunity for fun and social conversation by sitting down together at the table and enjoying your meal. Your loved one might be able to eat more when they’re distracted instead of watching their plate.
Focus On Whole Foods
Whole foods are those which haven’t been ultra-processed, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains like oats and brown rice, nuts and seeds, legumes, eggs and unprocessed meat. These are much higher in nutritional value, so your loved one doesn’t have to eat as much to experience the benefits of vitamins, minerals and satisfying calories.
Don’t Forget to Drink
While a healthy diet is essential for individuals with cancer, so is getting enough fluids. Keep a large insulated water bottle by their favourite chair or bedside so they can easily reach it throughout the day without having to refill it too often.
However, remember that fluids can fill us up quickly. Avoid sugary drinks that offer no nutritional value, such as fizzy drinks and coffee. Encourage your loved one not to drink right before meals if their appetite is already poor.
Organise Pre-Cooked Meals
If your loved one feels too fatigued or weak to prepare their own meals, consider organising someone to deliver pre-cooked meals to their door.
If friends and family are happy to help out, you could create a schedule for everyone to cook a certain number of meals and bring them over to share. This ensures they have healthy meals and a dose of socialisation every day.
Unfortunately, busy schedules often make this impossible. Setting your loved one up with a ‘Meals on Wheels’ subscription is another alternative, supplying healthy meals and snacks that can be microwaved or heated in the oven easily.
Eating and Drinking Aids for Improving Appetite
Cancer treatments can impact motor skills and make it much more difficult for individuals to eat and drink. If your loved one struggles with using cups or cutlery, they may feel embarrassed to eat in front of others and experience a negative impact on their appetite.
To counter this, there is specialist equipment that can help, such as:
- Insulated plates and cups: These keep meals and drinks warm, helping them stay more palatable for longer.
- Brightly-coloured tableware: Bright ceramics are easier to see than natural colours, helping remind your loved one of their meals before they go cold.
- No-spill cups: Cups with secure lids and spouts or lids with a small opening help prevent spills for those with unsteady hands.
- Plate guards and high-sided bowls: These aids help your loved one eat with one hand rather than two, preventing spills and making it easier to eat.
- Straws: Straws help your loved one drink easily without having to pick up cups, which can be particularly helpful when treatment affects their dexterity and strength.
- Kettle tippers: Designed to help safely pour hot water from a kettle, these aids reduce the risk of spills and allow individuals to cook or make hot drinks safely.
- Automatic openers: Electric can and jar openers can be used with the press of a button, minimising hand strain and improving independence.
Support for Swallowing Difficulties
In certain situations, cancer treatments can cause difficulty swallowing food. If this happens to you or a loved one, the first thing to do is contact a GP. They may refer you to a speech and language therapist or a dietician, who can provide nutritional advice and recommend supplements.
In severe cases, alternative feeding methods may be considered. This includes a nasogastric tube or a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube, where feeding tubes are placed directly into the stomach.
Meal Ideas for Building Up Diet
Meal preparation and planning are key if you’ve lost weight due to cancer or cancer treatment. We’ve included a few examples for each mealtime below:
Breakfast
Focus on protein and dairy at breakfast, accompanied by a side of fresh fruit.
Examples include:
- Fried egg and bacon with toast
- Stewed fruit with full-fat yoghurt and cereal
- Whole wheat cereal with fortified milk and sugar
- A fruit smoothie with added avocado and full-fat yoghurt
- Scrambled egg or tofu with cheese
Lunch
Lunch is often a lighter meal, as you may still be full from breakfast.
You can still get plenty of nutrients, though, with healthy meals:
- Tuna and cucumber sandwich with butter and mayonnaise
- Mashed avocado on toast
- Thick vegetable soup sprinkled with cheese and olive oil
- Baked potato with baked beans, tuna and mayonnaise or grated cheese
- A fruit salad with full-fat yoghurt or rice pudding as a base
Dinner
Dinner should be the most calorie-dense meal, although it can be broken down into smaller meals if you struggle to eat a big dinner.
Here are some suggestions:
- Mixed bean chilli or stew with rice and potatoes
- Meat or vegetable lasagne, spaghetti bolognese or pasta bake with extra cheese
- Roast chicken with potatoes and fresh vegetables
- Curry with added beans or lentils, rice and naan bread
- Steamed fish with black bean sauce and plain rice
Puddings and Snacks
Puddings are a good source of extra nutrients and can provide a mood boost.
Bulk them up with ice cream, cream or custard made from fortified milk:
- Stewed fruit or fruit crumble
- Fruit or chocolate trifle
- Rice pudding
- Microwave or ready-made puddings
Savoury snacks are also great to increase calorie intake between meals.
Suggestions include:
- Unsalted nuts
- Dried fruit
- Biscuits
- Fruit loaf
- Cakes or scones with jam and cream
- Full-fat yoghurts or fromage frais
Drinks
Water isn’t the only drink option people with cancer have. While fizzy drinks, energy drinks and coffee should all be avoided or consumed in moderation, there are several other drink options that can increase calorie intake and provide energy:
- Fruit smoothies
- Milk smoothies
- Nutritious milkshakes
- Tea and hot chocolate made with fortified milk
How Country Cousins Can Help
At Country Cousins, we understand the importance of maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet for individuals with cancer. Our live-in carers are fully trained and experienced in cancer care at home, and understand the complexities that come with nutrition and appetite.
Our live-in carers can provide:
- Meal planning, preparation and cooking
- Mobility assistance and symptom management
- Transportation for running errands, including shopping and attending appointments
- Assistance with daily tasks, including bathing and getting dressed
- Encouragement to eat and drink independently
- Companionship and emotional support
Talk to Our Team Today
As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959 – all from the comfort of their own homes.
Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.
