By Elyse Notarianni –

When going through cancer treatment, maintaining good nutrition is one of the most important things you can do to keep your body and immune system strong. You’ve grown up learning about healthy eating and the food pyramid, but nutrition can look different for cancer patients.

Treatment can change the way your body processes food, so nutritional requirements may change. Some people need more protein or calories than they used to. Eating healthy can help curb treatment side-effects, lower the risk of infection, prevent other health issues, maintain a healthy weight and keep you feeling your best. Talk to a nutritional health specialist about what foods will best benefit your body.

In general, a CSC page on Nutrition and Cancer Treatment suggests that cancer patients should:

• Eat lots of (washed) fruits and vegetables
• Eat dark, green, leafy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and kale
• Limit red meat
• Avoid sugar and high-fat foods
• Eat grains and legumes
• Avoid alcohol
• Drink lots of fluids
• Avoid raw meat, fish, eggs, and shellfish

Embrace your nutritious diet with a week’s worth of healthy meals that we have created! (These are just suggestions for delicious and healthy meals to try. Please consider your own dietary needs and restrictions.)

MONDAY

Breakfast: Kale and Egg Breakfast Cups

Lunch: Honey Lime Quinoa Fruit Salad

Snack: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Granola Apple Bites (Make sure to use dark chocolate for the antioxidants)

Dinner: Creamy Sundried Tomato and Parmesan Chicken Zoodles (Just buy a spiralizer for a healthy, tasty pasta alternative)

TUESDAY

Breakfast: Spinach and Egg white Omelet

Lunch: Honey Roasted Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Feta

Snack: Sea Salt and Garlic Kale Chips (Don’t let the kale turn you off, they’re actually easy to make and surprisingly satisfying)

Dinner: Four-Ingredient Chicken and Rice Casserole (Just swap out the white rice with brown)

WEDNESDAY

Breakfast: Savory Oatmeal with Cheddar and Fried Egg

Lunch: Kale and Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Snack: Garlic Roasted Asparagus

Dinner: Brown Rice Stir-Fry with Vegetables

THURSDAY

Breakfast: Fried Egg and Avocado Toast

Lunch: Black Bean & Sweet Potato Tacos

Snack: Cinnamon Apple Chips

Dinner: Toasted Brown Rice with Mushrooms and Thyme

FRIDAY

Breakfast: Double Berry Breakfast Parfaits

Lunch: Veggie-Stack Pita Pockets

Snack: Frozen Yogurt Covered Blueberries

Dinner: Roasted Winter Vegetable Soup

SATURDAY

Breakfast: Pepper Ring Omelet

Lunch: Apple, Peanut Butter, and Granola Sandwiches

Snack: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Dinner: Butternut Squash Barley Risotto

SUNDAY

Breakfast: Sun Butter, Banana and Chia Seed Toast: With 100% Whole Wheat Bread

Lunch: Roasted Vegetable Power Bowl with Cream Avocado Dressing

Snack: Cholate-Dipped Almond Butter Banana Bites

Dinner: Pesto, Mozzarella, Baby Spinach, Avocado Grilled Cheese Sandwich

For other recipes, check out cookbooks geared specifically towards cancer survivors like Cancer Fighting Kitchen and One Bite at a Time.