How to Eat When Chemo Ruins Your Appetite

Cancer treatments like chemotherapy can have side effects like nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, and changes in your ability to taste or smell.[1] These side effects can make it difficult for you to eat and maintain an appetite. You can get your appetite back while undergoing chemo by picking specific foods and seasonings as well as by adjusting your eating habits. You can also get professional help from a doctor or dietitian to address your lack of appetite and ensure you get the nutrients you need to stay strong during chemotherapy.

Method 1 - Picking Specific Foods and Seasonings

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→ List your favorite foods. Make a list of your favorite foods, comfort foods, or anything that sounds appetizing. Eat these whenever you feel hungry. If you typically have a better appetite in the morning than at night, for example, have pizza or a sandwich for breakfast.

→ You don’t have to follow typical food rules when dealing with appetite issues on chemo.

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→ Go for food that is colorful and appealing. To help stimulate your appetite, try going for food that is colorful and vibrant looking. You may arrange a plate of various fruits and vegetables to create an appealing rainbow of color. Or you may try making a fun colorful pattern or design out of your food to help you get into eating the meal.

→ You may find that food that is fresh and has a certain texture, such as crunchy or juicy, may be more appealing to your tastebuds.

→ You may try varying the food combinations you have from meal to meal so your food appears interesting and different every time. For example, you may try having a meal of yellow or red colored foods, followed by a meal of purple and green foods.

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→ Add seasonings to your food. To make your food seem more appealing, try adding a dash of seasoning. You may add salt and pepper to a meal to give it more of a taste or other seasonings like lemon pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. If you have never had a certain seasoning before, add it to a meal to see if it makes your food more appealing.

→ You may also try seasoning your food with fresh herbs like dill, thyme, basil, or mint. Adding fresh herbs can help to stimulate your tastebuds and make your food more appealing.

→ Try adding condiments to your food to bump up the flavor, such as hot sauce, ketchup, mustard, or relish.

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→ Have snacks high in protein and calories. Having snacks high in protein and calories can help you stay full between meals and keep your eating habits regular. Add in snacks like sliced cheese, fresh fruit, peanut butter, nuts, and crackers. You can also have beverages as a snack, such as a milk shake, a smoothie, or fruit juice.

→ You should avoid snacks that are low in calories and protein, as they can end up filling you up without providing enough nutrients. For example, you may cut out foods like broth and lettuce in your diet.

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→ Avoid foods that are heavy and greasy. Try not to have too many fried foods or foods that are processed or prepackaged. You should also skip foods that can cause gas, such as beans, cauliflower, broccoli, and cabbage. Go for fresh food that is prepared at home whenever possible.

→ If you are really struggling to eat anything at all while you are undergoing chemotherapy, you may try eating what you want or crave. Even if the food you crave is unhealthy, heavy, or greasy, eating food may be more important than what you eat.

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→ Go for foods that can help with nausea. You may experience bouts of nausea while undergoing chemotherapy, making it more difficult for you to eat. Try having foods that can fight off nausea and settle your stomach before meals to maintain your appetite. Prepare ginger, lemon, or peppermint tea. Sip ginger ale or ginger tea in the morning or before a meal. These beverages can all help to prevent your nausea from getting the better of you.

→ You can also try eating your food at room temperature or chilled, rather than piping hot. Having food at room temperature or cold can help reduce your nausea and make your food more appealing.

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→ Look for high-fiber foods. Constipation is another common chemo issue, and it may impact your appetite. Aim to eat foods high in fiber such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, to help alleviate constipation, and drink ample amounts of water.

Method 2 - Adjusting Your Eating Habits

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→ Create a meal plan. It can be difficult to find motivation to eat when you have to go to the grocery store for every meal and do not have ingredients on hand. Prepare for your meals by creating a meal plan so you know what you are going to eat for the week. You may collaborate with your partner, your caretaker, or your doctor on the meal plan to ensure you get enough nutrients and variety in your meals. You should then create a grocery list and go shopping at the beginning of the week so you have the ingredients you need on hand.

→ When you make the meal plan, be sure to include foods that you enjoy eating, even if they are not the most healthy. Often, having any food at all while on chemo is better than not eating. Having foods on your meal plan that you like can also make it easier for you to eat when mealtime comes.

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→ Prepare meals ahead of time. You can also make it easier for you to eat when you want or when you feel hungry by preparing meals ahead of time for the week. Perhaps you make a big batch of food like soup, curry, or chilli and freeze it so you can defrost it and eat it for the week. Or maybe you prepare several meals at once and keep them in your fridge to eat as leftovers.

→ You can get a friend, family member, or caretaker to help you prepare meals ahead of time if you are not able to on your own. Have a meal prep get together at your home and work together with someone to prepare food for the week.

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→ Have several small meals throughout the day. Rather than try to sit down for three big meals a day, break them up and have five to six small meals a day. This can help your digestive system ease into eating on a regular basis and ensure you are getting enough nutrients and energy for the day. You may even write out a schedule where you eat small meals at a set time so you know exactly when you are eating.

→ Go for smaller portions when you eat. Put your food on a large plate and make sure you add small portions from several different food groups on your plate. Having a larger plate can make your food feel less overwhelming when you sit down to eat.

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→ Make eating a social event. We tend to eat more when we eat with others in a social setting. Make your mealtimes a social event by having dinner with family or friends. You may set up a comfortable, cozy setting for the meal with nice silverware, centerpieces, and big sharing plates to make eating more appealing in a big group. Having a social element to eating can help you eat more often and with more gusto.

→ You may try planning a dinner party once or twice a week with friends and family. This can add a social element to your eating habits and motivate you to eat.

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→ Remove any smells that are affecting your appetite. Your nausea and lack of appetite may be triggered by certain smells in your environment as you eat. Try removing any smells that make you feel sick so you can focus on your food and enjoy it.

→ For example, you may be triggered by the smell of a certain food or the smell of perfume. You may then remove the trigger, particularly around meal time, so it does not affect your appetite.

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→ Exercise before a meal to stimulate your appetite. Light exercise like a 20 minute walk around the neighborhood or a 15 minute ride on a stationary bike can help to stimulate your appetite and get your body ready to eat. Try adding in light exercise into your routine, such as before a meal or in the morning at the start of the day.

→ Sign up for an exercise class that is tailored to those undergoing chemotherapy at your local gym or at your treatment center.

Method 3 - Getting Professional Help

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→ Ask your doctor about medication to stimulate your appetite. If your appetite does not return or you are struggling to maintain a healthy weight, your doctor may recommend certain medications. Medications such as Megestrol acetate and steroids can help to improve your appetite and encourage weight gain. Other medications like Metoclopramide and Dronabinol can also help to stimulate your appetite.

→ Your doctor may recommend that you get treatment for any symptoms of chemo that may make it difficult for you to eat, such as nausea, dry mouth, or depression. Treating these conditions can help to make eating easier and more appetizing.

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→ Meet with a registered dietitian. If you are struggling with how to eat healthy and regularly while undergoing chemo, you may set up an appointment with a registered dietitian. Speak to the dietitian about your eating issues and work together on an eating plan. The dietitian can also recommend certain foods and certain eating habits you can try.

→ You can get a recommendation for a registered dietitian from your primary care doctor or through your cancer treatment center.