Many eating problems should improve once you finish treatment, such as decreased appetite or mouth sores. Some issues, such as changes in taste or weight loss, extend beyond the duration of treatment but reconcile over time. If you have experienced surgeries that impact digestion processes, such as removing organs, you may experience life-long changes to appetite, weight, or ingestion/digestion. Eating healthy post-treatment can help with regaining strength, rebuilding tissue, and increasing energy.
Develop a post-treatment meal plan that is right for you. Here are some tips to consider:
- Eat a variety of foods – reminder: no single food has all the vitamins and nutrients you need.
- Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, including both raw and cooked vegetables, fruits, and fruit juices.
- Eat whole wheat, high fiber, or whole grain carbohydrate products such as whole wheat bread, oats, brown rice, and grain cereals.
- Limit foods and drinks high in fat, salt, and sugar.
- Eliminate or significantly limit alcohol, smoked foods, and processed meats.
- Limit red meat to 2 servings or less per week.
- Use low-fat cooking methods, such as broiling, steaming, grilling, and roasting.
Remember to prepare simple meals that you like and are easy to make. You can cook 2 or 3 meals at a time and freeze the extras to eat later – by stocking up on healthy frozen dinners and buying or preparing pre-cut vegetables and fruit, you reduce the likelihood of skipping meals or overeating less healthy food options. Meal preparation is key to success!