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DIET: Do’s & Don’ts

Maintaining a balanced and nutritious diet is not only essential for your overall good health, it is a important for controlling nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or after surgery.

By making some simple changes to your diet and eating habits, along with keeping track of what foods caused you to feel nauseous or made you vomit in your Symptom Diary, you can take control of your symptoms.

The eating tips provided in this section are recommendations, please consult with your physician and/or nutrionist to develop a plan that works for you.

Quick Tips

Eat

• small, frequent meals instead of three large meals a day
  
  
• slowly and chew food well
  
  
• dry toast and crackers
  
  
• foods that are salty or sweet
  

Drink

• fluids for several hours after treatment
  
  
• drink plenty of clear liquids throughout the day, but not at mealtimes when they may make you feel bloated and increase nausea
  

Avoid

• hot, spicy, or greasy foods
  
  
• solid food right after treatment is over
  
  
• cooking meals that have strong odors because this can increase nausea
  
  
• alcohol and too much coffee

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If you vomit

• to avoid dehydration, suck on ice chips or take small sips of fluids until you are able to handle larger amounts of liquid or solid foods

  -if vomiting is severe, drink or sip broth, sport drinks, or flat soda to replace salt (sodium) and other electrolytes

DIET DO’S AND DON’TS

The following list of DO’S and DON’TS include some additional suggestions to help you improve your diet and increase your appetite when you experience CINV, RINV or PONV.

DO’S:

• DO eat foods high in calories. It is important for people undergoing cancer treatment to get as much nutritional value as possible with each meal. Suggestions include:
  
  -adding sauces and gravies to meals
  
  -changing cooking methods to include more butter, margarine,
  or oil
  
  -reduce your intake of high-fiber foods because they can irritate the stomach (diarrhea)
  
  
• DO eat meals at the same time each day. Stick to this pattern even when you are not feeling hungry. People who are well nourished are better able to cope with the side effects of chemotherapy and surgery.
  
  
• DO plan ahead. Stock the pantry and refrigerator and prepare your favorite meals. Have foods that do not need a lot of preparation easily accessible and ready to eat. Be sure to include foods that you know you can eat even when you are feeling sick.

• DO ask family and friends for help. While experiencing nausea and vomiting, ask others to help with the shopping and cooking. Friends and family are often looking for ways to help people. Allow them to help with little chores that you can't do yourself when you are sick.
  
  
• DO pay attention to a meal schedule that works best for your body. Many people have a better appetite in the morning. Take advantage of this by eating a larger meal early in the day and have small snacks or liquid supplements later in the day.
  
  
• DO make the atmosphere more pleasant during mealtimes. Prepare foods that are colorful and have a pleasant aroma. Arrange the plate attractively to make it more appealing to the eye. Use colorful place settings, flowers or background music.
  
  
• DO try to relax. If you are experiencing nausea, sit in a dark, quiet room, take deep breaths, and relax. This technique may also help if you are feeling nervous or anxious before going to a chemotherapy session.
  

DON’TS:

• DON’T worry on the days that you can’t eat at all. Instead, do what you can to make yourself feel better and to take your mind off of your nausea. Drink plenty of fluids on these days so that your body has the water it needs to function properly.
  
  
• DON’T try to force eating or drinking until vomiting is over. Once the vomiting has stopped, try drinking only small amounts of clear liquids for several hours, before moving onto solid foods.
  
  
• DON’T eat your favorite foods when you are feeling nauseous. If you try to force yourself to eat your favorite foods while feeling nauseated, you may end up disliking them forever.
  
  
• DON’T drink liquids at mealtimes. Drinking liquids at mealtimes can make you feel bloated and make the feelings of nausea worse.
  

Additional Eating Hints

For additional nutritional information and sample recipes, click on the link below to access Cancer.gov: The Website of the National Cancer Institute:

"Eating Hints for Cancer Patients: Before, During and After Treatment"

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