You Play an Important Role

It’s not easy to be a caregiver to a friend or loved one who has cancer.
But your encouragement and involvement can make a real difference.
One of the best ways to help is to be informed.

Making sure a person with cancer gets enough to eat is a common challenge for caregivers. Loss of appetite, fatigue, depression, and pain can all contribute to inadequate calorie and nutrient intake. To encourage your loved one to eat more, experts suggest reducing mealtime distractions and simplifying food presentation.

These basic tips may help your friend or loved one maintain a healthy diet. This is just a start; if you have questions, follow up with your loved one’s healthcare professional.
 

Making Nutritional Improvements

As a caregiver, you are in a unique position to notice if the person you are caring for has medical or physical problems that interfere with eating. You can take three steps immediately to enhance and help prevent nutritionally based threats to health.

1. Increase nutrient and calorie intake
2. Modify food consistency
3. Supplement the diet

• Offer smaller meals more frequently.
• Try to serve the most nutritious of the person’s favorite foods as frequently as you can.
• Include ProSure as a snack.
• Add milk powder to soups, puddings, casseroles and milkshake-type drinks.
• Add cheese or olive oil or butter/margarine to soups or use them to top vegetables, rice or eggs.

• Substitute high calorie, high protein food and drink for no calore or convenient calorie foods.
• Instead of tea and toast for breakfast or snacks, offer milk with bread and butter or cooked cereal with milk or cream and fruit, or sliced cheese and crackers.
• For desserts or snacks, dish up ice cream or custards topped with sauces or fruit, or try a milkshake (blend his/her favorite flavor of ProSure with ice cream and fresh fruits).

If the person has difficulty swallowing, has a sore mouth or has lost teeth:

• Puree vegetables, fruits and meats; add calories and nutrients using the suggestions above.
• Make pudding with milk or ProSure.
• Soften or moisten foods with thick liquids.

• Offer several small meals each day rather than 3 large ones. Keep a supply of yogurt, ice cream, cheese and other high-calorie, high-protein, appealing snacks within easy reach.
• Create relaxing and enjoyable surroundings at meal times.
• Make food look as attractive as possible – a little parsley, lemon wedge or tomato can brighten your plate and may tempt appetite.

• Suggest sipping fluids frequently between meals and offer drinks that contain calories each day. Chilled or frozen fluids are often easier to keep down.
• Limit serving greasy, fatty or fried foods.
• Suggest letting the healthcare team know if the patient can’t keep food down; there are a number of anti-nausea treatments available.

• Try offering moist and pureed foods rich in calories and protein like fish, meat, yogurt, puddings, creamy soups, cheese and milk.
• Offer high-calorie fluids such as milkshakes, fruit juices, smoothies or cream soups.
• Avoid salty or spicy foods that may irritate the mouth.
• Try offering flavored ice or Popsicles prior to eating.
• The healthcare team can provide advice on mouth and throat problems and may be able to provide medication to help.

• Suggest carrying a favorite calorie-containing drink around in a water bottle.
• Use lots of fluids with meals to help keep food moist.
• Keep gravies and sauces available to add to food to increase moisture.
• A nurse or doctor may be able to recommend a lip balm to keep lips moist.

• Many people with cancer find that the taste of food changes, which may be temporary. Offer a variety of foods on a regular basis and he or she may find new favorites.
• Try new herbs and spices to season food.
• If some drinks taste too strong or sweet, try watering them down or adding milk.
• Some people find cold or cool-temperature foods tastier than hot foods.

• Offer plenty of fluids.
• Suggest increasing physical activity as tolerated.
• Gradually introduce high-fiber foods into the diet, such as raw fruits and vegetables, whole grain foods and legumes.

• Limit high-fat and greasy foods.
• Limit caffeine-containing food, such as chocolate and coffee.
• Offer small amounts of foods and liquids throughout the day.