Eating well during your treatment

If you are well nourished, you will:

• Feel stronger.
• Be able to fight infection.
• Cope better with treatment.

Being well nourished can also help with wound healing.

Weight loss can be a common problem during illness or treatment. This booklet includes advice on how to add extra energy and protein to your diet to help maintain or increase your weight and information about manufactured food supplements.

Achieving a balanced diet

Everyone needs a balanced diet for health. To achieve this it is important that you try to include foods from the main food groups shown on the next page.

Common eating problems

• Try taking small, frequent meals and snacks.
• Try to have something nourishing every few hours.
• Try smaller portions or use a smaller plate so you don’t over face yourself.
• Cold foods may be easier to eat e.g. cold meats, cold potato, pasta or tuna salads, mini quiche, mini pork pie or sausage rolls.
• Softer food can often be less effort to eat e.g. scrambled egg, shepherds pie, dhal.
• If you are tired you may enjoy food prepared by someone else or try ready meals, frozen meals or tinned foods.
• Make the most of the times when you feel better by trying to eat more.
• Relax before meals and take your time eating.
• A small amount of alcohol (if permitted) or some fresh air before a meal may help stimulate your appetite.
• Drinking fluids with meals may fill you up – try having a drink after your meal instead.
• Smoking can affect your appetite and taste; stopping may help to improve them.

Taste changes

• Avoid foods that taste unpleasant.
• Sharp or strong flavoured foods may have more taste e.g. lemon, mint and curry flavours.
• If food tastes metallic, try alternatives to red meat such as chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, cheese, beans, nuts or lentils.
• Try marinating meat in wine, fruit juices, soy or sweet and sour sauces.
• Try drinking milk, fruit juice or fruit/herb teas if tea and coffee taste unpleasant.
• Try plastic or wooden cutlery if food tastes metallic.

Sore mouth and throat

Tell your doctor or clinic nurse as soon as you start to develop any discomfort when chewing or swallowing so they can advise you on suitable pain relief medications, gels or mouthwashes.

• Avoid very hot foods. Warm or cool foods are often more soothing.
• Spicy, salty or sharp/acidic foods may be best avoided e.g. yeast extracts, curries, chillies, oranges, lemons, tomatoes, fresh fruit juices.
• Eat soft, moist foods e.g. mashed potato, cottage pie, lasagne, fish in sauce, lentils, soups with grated cheese, moussaka, scrambled egg, yoghurt, milk puddings.
• Moisten your food by adding extra butter, ghee or margarine, sauces, gravy, cream or evaporated milk.
• Avoid dry or rough foods that may irritate your mouth e.g. toast, dry biscuits.
• You may find it helpful to drink through a straw.
• Use a small, soft tooth brush and mild tooth paste to clean your teeth and mouth gently.

Dry mouth

• Sip drinks often e.g. fruit juice, milky drinks, water, fizzy drinks.
• Try sucking crushed ice or ice cubes. Fruit juice can be made into ice cubes.
• Make meals moist with gravy, sauces, cream, evaporated milk or creamy soups.
• Boiled sweets, mints or chewing gum may help to stimulate your saliva.
• Saliva sprays, gels and lozenges can also help – please ask your clinic nurse or doctor for more information about these.

Weight loss

If you have lost weight or can only manage to eat small amounts, you should try to eat a diet higher in protein and energy. It is still important to try to include some foods from each of the main food groups to keep your diet balanced.

How to add extra energy and protein to your diet

Fats and sugar provide energy and help foods taste good. Protein is important for wound healing and muscle strength. Try some of the ideas below and see what suits you best.

Here are some snack ideas to try:

Meal and snack Ideas

Manufactured food supplements

If you continue to have a small appetite and weight loss you may need to include some food supplements in your diet. Food supplement drinks, that are available on prescription from your doctor include Fortisip, Fresubin Energy and Ensure Plus. Non-prescribable food supplements are available from most chemists and large supermarkets. Some of these are:

Complan: Sweet flavours include Strawberry, Chocolate, Vanilla, Banana. Savoury flavours include Chicken, and Original.

Meritene: Sweet flavours include Strawberry, Vanilla and Chocolate. Savoury flavours include Chicken and Vegetable.

Nutrament: Sweet flavours include chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, banana.

The information in this leaflet provides general guidance and ideas only. If you require additional information or help please ask your nurse or doctor. For some patients a referral to the Dietitian may be required.
Patients having chemotherapy may need to follow ‘Safer Eating Advice’. Your nurse will advise you of this.

Local Support Services

Leeds Cancer Support

Leeds Cancer Support complements care provided by your clinical team. We offer access to information and a wide range of support, in a welcoming environment for you, your family and friends.

We can be found in the information lounges in Bexley Wing and also in the purpose built Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre

The Sir Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre

The Centre is on the St James’s Hospital site and offers a variety of support services including complementary and supportive therapies. These therapies include Reiki, relaxation and visualisation, hand and foot massage and many others. We also offer a weekly exercise class and a monthly support group. You can just drop in for a coffee and a chat anytime.

Contact numbers for Leeds Cancer Support

Maggie’s Centre

If you or someone you love has cancer you may have lots of questions. Maggie’s is a warm, welcoming place where you can meet people who are experiencing similar things to you.

You may also be able to find support groups specific to your needs and get advice and information from their professional staff.

You don’t need an appointment and all support is free.

National Support Organisations

Leeds Hospital Charity

The printing of this leaflet has been funded thanks to donations and gifts in Wills to Leeds Hospitals Charity. We have world class NHS hospitals here in Leeds whenever we need them; your donations make them even better. When it’s your loved one in hospital, you want the very best care, equipment and research to be available. Our NHS staff already do an incredible job caring for patients and your support can help them do even more. Support Leeds Teaching Hospitals to make a real difference for patients, families and staff – click the link below to visit the leedshospitalscharity.org.uk for more information.

Leeds Hospital Charity