Cooking for someone with a cancer diagnosis can be very different from cooking for someone without cancer. Both cancer and its treatments can cause changes in patients’ dietary needs, from a nutrition standpoint to changes in how certain foods may taste or smell. If you are finding yourself in the role of “chef” during someone’s cancer journey, we have some tips for you.

1. Ask the patient and their cancer care team about nutrition goals.

• Is becoming stronger the most important outcome of the patient’s diet? Is it to gain/lose weight? Knowing which goals are most important will help you choose the right ingredients before you even start looking for recipes.

2. Ask the patient and their cancer care team about food restrictions.

• Are there any foods that the patient should avoid eating? For example, if the patient frequently experiences nausea, certain foods that have strong smells should not be included in their meals. Does the patient have throat cancer and receive radiation treatment to that specific area? If so, they may have trouble swallowing, and therefore should stick to eating soft, moist foods.

3. Ask the patient if he or she has noticed any changes in appetite.

• Cancer and its treatments can sometimes cause appetite changes. If the patient has trouble tasting certain foods, you may want to add extra flavor in the form of spices or a new ingredient.

If you need help finding recipes, swing by our office to get a copy of Eating Well Through Cancer. It's full of great tasting recipes that are specifically designed for cancer patients. We have copies in both English and in Spanish.