Eating can become challenging during cancer treatment. Cancer itself and certain treatments may affect your appetite, make food taste different or cause nausea and other side effects that make eating less enjoyable. An estimated 50–75% of people undergoing chemotherapy experience changes in their sense of taste.
These challenges may make it hard to get enough nutrients to stay nourished and support your recovery. A registered dietitian who specializes in cancer may be able to help you find practical solutions — from modifying flavors and food textures to suggesting new meal ideas — so you can keep your body fueled and feel better during treatment.
In this article, you’ll learn more from Holly Lovett, M.S., R.D., C.S.O, L.D., clinical oncology dietitian at City of Hope® Cancer Center Atlanta, who shares tips on the following topics:
- Mucositis: What to eat with mouth sores
- Tips for eating if you have trouble swallowing
- What to eat when chemo makes food taste bad
- What to eat when feeling nauseated
If you or a loved one is concerned about possible signs or symptoms of cancer and would like an initial appointment or a second opinion, call us 24/7 at 877-460-4673.
Mucositis: What to Eat With Mouth Sores
Some cancer treatments — such as everolimus, a medicine used to treat various tumors and prevent organ transplant rejection — may cause mouth sores. Also called oral mucositis, these small, painful spots or ulcers can form on your tongue, gums or inside your cheeks. When your mouth is sore, drinking water or eating food can sting or burn.
“Mouth sores can make it hard to eat enough to fortify your body, especially if foods taste different or chewing is uncomfortable,” says Lovett. “But choosing gentle foods and avoiding irritating ones can help your mouth heal and make eating a little easier.”
Lovett recommends the following foods and beverages to eat and drink — and avoid — if you have mouth sores.
Foods and Drinks That May Make Mouth Sores Worse:
- Spicy foods, like hot peppers or chili
- Acidic foods and drinks, such as tomatoes or orange juice
- Sharp or dry foods, like chips or crackers
- Very hot foods or drinks
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Carbonated drinks
Foods and Drinks That May Be Easier on Mouth Sores:
- Soft, smooth foods like yogurt, pudding, cottage cheese, oatmeal or mashed potatoes
- Mild, moist dishes such as scrambled eggs, smoothies or soups (served warm, not hot)
- Cool or cold foods like ice cream, smoothies, milkshakes or chilled applesauce
She also recommends drinking through a straw if it helps avoid sore spots and rinsing your mouth often with a mild saltwater or baking soda solution (if approved by your care team).
Your care team may prescribe a mouth rinse to help ease pain and discomfort — intended not only to address the sores, but also to help you eat regularly. Importantly, avoid using mouthwashes containing alcohol.
Lovett recommends using Biotene oral rinse or mixing 4 cups of water with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon baking soda for a homemade solution.
Tips for Eating if You Have Trouble Swallowing
Some people with cancer have trouble swallowing, a condition called dysphagia. This may happen if cancer affects the throat or esophagus, or as a side effect of radiation therapy, chemotherapy or other treatments. You might feel pain when swallowing, feel like food is getting stuck or find it challenging to eat certain textures.
“When swallowing is difficult, you may struggle to reach your nutrition goals — but small changes can make eating safer and more comfortable,” says Lovett. “Focus on foods and liquids that are high calorie, high protein and easy to swallow.”
She shares the following tips to make swallowing easier.
Choose soft or moist foods. Foods like oatmeal, yogurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes or smoothies are easier to swallow than dry or crunchy ones.
Add moisture to meals. Use sauces, gravies or broth to help foods go down more smoothly.
Take small bites and chew well. Eating slowly helps prevent choking or discomfort.
Try different textures. Pureed or blended foods can be easier to swallow.
Drink between bites — not during. Sips of liquid between bites can help clear your throat, but too much liquid while chewing can make swallowing harder for some people.
Avoid hard-to-eat foods: Steer clear of foods that are tough, dry or sticky, such as crackers or peanut butter.
Sit upright while eating: Don’t recline while eating and stay upright for 30 minutes afterward to reduce the chance of food “going down the wrong way.”
When it comes to kitchen products, Lovett encourages patients to put crock pots and blenders to work.
“Crock pots are a great way to modify and moisten meat texture, making it easier to swallow, while blenders can quickly prepare a calorie-boosted smoothie with a nutritional drink base, frozen fruit, nut butters and other flavors of choice,” she says.
What to Eat When Chemo Makes Food Taste Bad
Dysgeusia occurs when cancer treatments — such as chemotherapy and mouth or throat radiation therapy — cause a bitter or metallic taste in your mouth. This change in taste is common, especially when taking certain drugs like carboplatin and cisplatin, and can make eating less enjoyable.
But, as Lovett points out, there are ways to overcome this side effect, including:
- Trying plastic utensils instead of metal ones to reduce a metallic taste
- Using herbs, spices, lemon or mild marinades (if your mouth isn’t sore) to add flavor to foods
- Eating sweet fruits alongside meals and drink sweet and sour beverages like lemonade, apple juice, cranberry juice and sweet tea
- Serving foods cold or at room temperature to avoid stronger smells that often come from hot foods
- Choosing proteins that are mild in flavor, such as eggs, dairy, beans or nut butters, if meat tastes unpleasant
- Rinsing your mouth with a mild saltwater or baking soda solution to help remove lingering tastes before eating
- Staying well hydrated — dry mouth can make taste changes more noticeable
If taste changes are making it hard to eat enough, a dietitian who specializes in cancer care may suggest foods, supplements or recipes that work for your specific needs and treatment plan. These changes are usually temporary and most people find their sense of taste improves once treatment ends.
What to Eat When Feeling Nauseated
It’s common to experience nausea at some point in your cancer journey, especially if you’re receiving certain types of chemotherapy. Sometimes radiation therapy, certain medications or the cancer itself may also cause nausea.
“It can become hard to eat or drink enough when nauseated, but getting some nourishment is vital during treatment,” says Lovett. “That’s why I tell patients to consider food as medicine.”
To help manage nausea, she recommends:
- Taking nausea medicine as prescribed
- Eating small meals or snacks often to avoid an empty stomach, which may worsen nausea
- Choosing bland, easy-to-digest foods like crackers, toast, rice, applesauce, bananas or plain pasta
- Sipping clear fluids — water, tea, ginger ale, broth or electrolyte drinks — slowly throughout the day to help prevent dehydration
- Avoiding strong smells and greasy, spicy or fried foods
- Trying cold or room-temperature foods instead of hot ones
- Choosing foods with different textures or temperatures, like popsicles, gelatin or hard candies with ginger, lemon or mint
- Resting while sitting upright for at least an hour after each meal
Lovett also advises patients to pay attention to when they feel most like eating. “If your appetite is stronger at a certain time of day, try to eat more during that window,” she says.
If you or a loved one is concerned about possible signs or symptoms of cancer and would like an initial appointment or a second opinion, call us 24/7 at 877-460-4673.