Foods and Diet Plan for cancer patients during treatment
A proper diet plan is very important for a faster recovery during cancer treatment. This diet chart is prepared by our experts and it can also be followed by the normal people to stay away from cancer, as this plan will provide all the necessary nutrients for making your immune system strong.
| Meal Time | Foods/Meal | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Early Morning Breakfast | Tea, Biscuit, Fruit Milk Shake, Cereal (Dalia/Suji/Vermicili), Bread silce, Egg/paneer, Butter | 1 Cup, 2 Piece(10g), 1 Cup Milk + Fruit – 100g, 1 Katori (20g), 1 (30g), 1 (30g), 1 Teaspoon (5g) |
| Mid Morning | Mix Vegetable-Dal Soup, Fruit | 1 Cup (100g + 15 g), 1 (100g) |
| Lunch | Roti/Rice Dal Seasonal Vegetable, Curd | 2 / 1 Katori (60g), 30g ( 1 Karchi), 200g (1-1.5 Karchi), 75g (3/4th Karchi) |
| Evening Tea | Tea, Besan Cheela, Panneer/Egg | 1 Cup, 1 (15g), 30g / 1 Piece |
| Dinner | Roti/Rice, Dal, Seasonal Vegetables, Curd | 2/1 Katori (60g), 30g (1 Karchi), 200g (1-1.5 Karchi) 50g (0.5 karchi) |
| Bed Time | Milk | 1 Cup |
| Total Sugar | 20 g | |
| Total Oil | 20 ml/day | |
| 1 Karchi (Ladle) | 100 g | |
| 1 Cup | 150 ml | |
| Milk For Tea | 35 ml | |
Food Exchanges
A proper diet plan is very important for a faster recovery during cancer treatment. This diet chart is prepared by our experts and it can also be followed by the normal people to stay away from cancer, as this plan will provide all the necessary nutrients for making your immune system strong.
| Food Groups | Amount | Exchange |
|---|---|---|
| Milk (Toned) | 500 ml | 2 Glasses |
| Cereals | 180 g | 6 |
| Pulses | 90 g | 3 |
| Fruits | 200 g | 2 |
| Vegetables | 500 g | 5 |
| Egg/Paneer/Soyabean | 2/60g/30g | – |
| Sugar | 20g | 4 |
| Oil | 20 ml | 4 |
| Butter | 5 g | 1 |
| Energy | 1862 Kcal | |
| Protein | 74 g | 16% |
| Fat | 46 g | 22% |
| Carbs | 264 g | 58% |
Protein and its importance for cancer patient during treatment
Protein is required to repair body tissue and to keep our immune system healthy.
- Proteins are majorly responsible for building body cell mass and tissue repair.
- An adequate protein in the diet can help in various repairing of healthy tissues got damaged during chemotherapy.
- Sources include pulses, legumes, milk and milk products, nuts, eggs, chicken, fish, soybeans and tofu.
- Maintaining good nutritional status also help in reducing post-chemotherapy symptoms
Diet to deal with the Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
1. Overcome the problem of dry mouth/ Mucositis.
- Sip water throughout the day & Chew gum or suck candy to increase saliva production.
- Eat foods that are easy to swallow and moist in texture like khichdi (rice, Dalia), pulses, soups, yoghurt, smoothies and fruit cream.
- avoid spicy, sour salty and crunchy food.
2. Dealing With Nausea & Vomiting During Cancer Treatment.
- Have liquids throughout the day to avoid dehydration.
- include bead sticks, dry biscuits and dry crackers in your meal.
- Avoid fried and oily foods as they are worst tolerated.
- avoid lying down for at least 30 min after consumption of food.
3. When its either Diarrhea or Constipation.
- can be due to poor intake/loss of appetite.
- include fibre in the diet, in the form of whole bran, nuts, fruits, green leafy vegetables, papaya, oats. whole pulses etc.
- be active throughout the day.
- can be due to poor hygiene practices.
- can be drug induced.
- drink plenty of liquids every day.
- intake of fluids like buttermilk, soups, coconut water, lemon water, ORS to replenish sodium and potassium losses.
- eat soft and easily digested food like banana, rice and dal (lentils) preparations.
- avoid milk and fibre rich food like papaya, green leafy vegetable, oats, raw vegetable and whole pulses.
4. Care for changes in taste and smell.
- Maintain oral hygiene and rinse your mouth with mouthwash after every meal.
- Add flavors to food with the addition of condiments (cardamom, cloves, jeera, dry coriander seeds) and herbs (tulsi, parsley, mint).
- Use a different color combination for improved food appearance and serve it in small bowls.
- Eat food at room temperature neither too hot nor too cold.