What To Eat During Chemo? Easy & Light Chicken and Pasta Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat pasta while on chemo? ›

Pasta dishes are a great options because of the chewable quality of noodles and the ease of incorporating a lot of healthy veggies in the dish.

Angel hair pasta cooks quickly, with the tomatoes, garlic powder, milk and olive oil creating a simple sauce that's easy to swallow with respect to symptomology for taste changes and swallowing difficulties.

o Try different protein foods with mild flavours such as chicken, turkey, tofu, dairy products (milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt), milk alternatives (soy milk or coconut milk), tuna, salmon, legumes (beans, lentils pea soup), and eggs (eggs, omelette or quiche). o Marinate meat, chicken and fish.

Try canned fruit and cooked vegetables. Fruits or vegetables with tough skins or seeds such as pears, nectarines, apples, cherries, apricots, tomatoes, peas, corn, blackberries, raspberries. Try soft peeled, canned or strained fruit and cooked mashed vegetables.

Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that stops or delays the growth of cancer cells. Healthcare experts advise that a person undergoing chemotherapy can have pizza if they are able to tolerate this food.

Whole-wheat pasta is an easy-to-find nutritious noodle that will bump up the nutrition of your pasta dish. Made from whole grains, every cup of cooked pasta (140 grams) boasts 43 g of carbohydrate, 3 g of fiber and 8 g of protein per serving, per the USDA.

Whole Wheat Noodles

Whole-wheat pasta is easy to find and bumps up your pasta-night nutrition. Compared to noodles made from white flour, it contains more fiber. Most older people don't eat enough fiber, which is good for our digestion and heart health — and it keeps us feeling full for longer.

2-3 servings of whole grain bread, pastas, rice, etc. every day. Limit fat intake to 30% of calories (preferably less than or equal to 20% of calories) every day. Limit intake of simple sugars.

Chemotherapy cycles may be planned in such a way that there will be 5 days of chemo with 2 days of rest, all within 7 days (roughly). Maintaining drug levels: 7-day rule helps ensure that there is enough chemo in the body to fight cancer.

What not to eat during chemotherapy? ›

If you've been ill, you may need extra protein. Some suggestions include: Add extra meat, poultry, fish, cheese or beans (pinto, navy, black, kidney) to casseroles, soups or stews. Choose meat salads, such as chicken, ham, turkey or tuna.

Experiment with different foods

Plus, certain foods, such as sour and tart foods, can enhance and stimulate the taste buds. In this case, adding more citrus flavors (think lemon, orange, lime) may help. Also, certain spices, herbs, vinegars, and seasonings may help boost the taste of your meal ( 6 , 7 ).

In addition to drinking plenty of fluids, eat water-rich vegetables and fruit, such as carrots, cucumbers, celery, berries, apples, plums, pears, peaches, nectarines, and oranges. Sip soups and broth, and enjoy smoothies made with milk or non-dairy options.

Do not eat from high-risk food sources, including salad bars, delicatessens, buffets and smorgasbords, potlucks, and sidewalk vendors. Do not eat raw fruits and vegetables . Ask for pasteurized fruit juices. Avoid “fresh-squeezed” juices in restaurants.

Chemo belly describes how a person's abdomen can become bloated, gassy, and uncomfortable during and following chemotherapy treatments. The condition often ends following the completion of treatment. It can occur due to changes in the gut bacteria as well as changes in how food moves through the digestive tract.