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Tips for Combating Cancer Side Effects: Weight Loss

June 7, 2017 By Julie Lanford MPH, RD, CSO, LDN

Weight loss can affect healing and recovery, as well as result in the need to stop treatment, if weight loss becomes too severe.

Be sure to get adequate protein and calories. Eating small, frequent meals throughout the day can help with this because it helps you get the calories you need without overwhelming your system or making you tired from eating.

See our post on Poor Appetite for more information on this.

Eat when you feel hungry! There are times you will feel hungry and times when you don’t. Be sure to optimize on the moments when you are hungry. If you’re hungrier in the morning than at night, have a larger meal in the beginning of the day and a smaller meal at the end of the day. This results in a balance of calories rather than a calorie deficit.

Add protein-dense and calorie-dense foods to your regular meals and snacks. If you’re a smoothie person, blend nut butter or avocado into your smoothie. If you like soup, add yogurt for a protein boost and a creamy texture or extra beans for nutrients and a chunky chili.

You can also try nutritional supplement drinks, puddings, and bars. These can be handy when you’re tired and need calories and protein but don’t have the energy to prepare a snack.

Check out my youtube channel for recipe videos with nutrition supplement drinks!

To make sure when you DO eat you’re getting all your nutrients, consume beverages between meals and snacks, not with them. Having drinks with your meal can make you fuller faster. You need to make sure you’re getting as many nutrients as possible before you get full, so save that green tea for in between meals and snacks.

RECAP

  • Eat when you feel hungry
  • Eat 5-6 small meals a day to get your nutrients without getting tired from eating a large meal
  • Keep high calorie, high protein snacks on hand
  • Use nutrition drinks like Boost, Ensure, and Carnation Instant Breakfast to get in nutrients, calories, and protein
  • Consume beverages between meals and snacks, not with them

Eat Well!

-Julie

Tips for Combating Cancer Side Effects: Constipation
Tips for Combating Cancer Side Effects: Fatigue

Filed Under: Cancer Side Effect Tips

This post may contain affiliate links for products I recommend. This means if you click on a link and purchase a product, Cancer Services, Inc. will receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. We use these proceeds to support cancer patient direct services and community education in the Triad area of North Carolina. For more information, view our disclosure policy.

Comments

  1. Judy Ginder says

    January 7, 2019 at 7:46 pm

    Please help.!! Mom is turning thinner and thinner with leukimia. I, trying your tips but it seems not enough. Her cancer center has no solution. Please offer me more suggestions or recommendations how to help her. It’s unbearable for me to see her withering away thank you!

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