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Nutrition and daily life

Eating with mouth sores: a practical menu

With mucositis eating hurts and weight can fall fast. Section “Mouth sores (mucositis): making eating easier” covered mouth care; this section focuses on a practical menu and ways to keep up energy.

Last updated: ~1 min read
Yogurt, mash and kissel.
Figure 1.A cool menu — Eating with mouth sores: a practical menu

01Short answer

Ideas for a day: morning, warm milk porridge with butter; snack, cool yogurt or kissel; lunch, puréed soup and mashed potato; snack, a milkshake through a straw; dinner, a soft omelette or cooked fish with sauce. Pain relief can be taken 20–30 minutes before meals as your doctor advises. Enrich food so you get more energy from less volume. Avoid acidic, spicy, salty, crunchy and very hot foods. If you cannot eat and drink properly for 2–3 days, tell your team; a nutrition drink or other support may be needed.

02Simple explanation

Cool, smooth.

Pain relief before meals.

Enrich food.

Not eating for 2–3 days? Tell us.

03Scientific explanation

ESPEN: in severe mucositis food intake drops sharply; texture-modified food, pain control and, if needed, tube or intravenous feeding are recommended.

ESPEN: enough energy and protein matter for preventing weight and muscle loss in people with cancer, and nutritional status should be assessed regularly.

NCI: practical eating tips exist for treatment side effects such as nausea, taste changes and mouth sores.

04What happens in the body?

Straws

Drinking through a straw helps fluid bypass the sores.

A glass by the bed — Eating with mouth sores: a practical menu
Figure 2.A milkshake with a straw.

Ice

Ice should be made from safe water.

Ice in a small bowl.
Figure 3.Ice chips — Eating with mouth sores: a practical menu

Dietitian

If you are losing weight, have no appetite or need a special diet, ask to see the hospital dietitian.

Food safety

Food-safety rules for neutropenia (see “Handwashing: the simplest protection” and “Eggs and dairy: safe choices”) apply at every stage.

05Nutrition: four steps

Assess, swap the risky, cook safely, eat regularly.

Assess — Weight and appetite.1AssessWeight and appetite.
Swap — A safe choice.2SwapA safe choice.
Cook — Hot throughout.3CookHot throughout.
Eat regularly — Small portions.4Eat regularlySmall portions.
StrengthEnergy.
ProteinFor muscle.
SafetyFood rules.

06Key points at a glance

TopicIn brief
StrawsDrinking through a straw helps fluid bypass the sores.
IceIce should be made from safe water.
DietitianIf you are losing weight, have no appetite or need a special diet, ask to see the hospital dietitian.
Food safetyFood-safety rules for neutropenia (see “Handwashing: the simplest protection” and “Eggs and dairy: safe choices”) apply at every stage.

07Key terms

Mucositis
Inflammation and ulceration of the lining.
Enriching
Adding energy and protein to food.
Dietitian
A nutrition specialist.
Protein
A nutrient for repairing muscles and tissues.
Neutropenia
Low neutrophils.

08Key points

  • A soft menu.
  • Control pain.
  • Ask for help.
  • A diet is not a treatment.
  • Talk to a dietitian.

09Frequently asked questions

Is ice cream OK?

Factory-sealed ice cream is usually fine and soothing.

How do I add flavour without spice?

Butter, cheese, dill, parsley.

Can a special diet cure leukemia?

No. Good nutrition helps you cope with treatment, but it does not cure.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

  1. Is ice cream OK?

  2. How do I add flavour without spice?

  3. Can a special diet cure leukemia?

My questions

12Sources

  1. National Cancer Institute. Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment
  2. ESPEN. ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical Nutrition in cancer (2021)
  3. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Food and Nutrition
  4. World Health Organization. Healthy diet fact sheet
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Listeria (Listeriosis): People at Risk
  6. U.S. FDA. Talking About Juice Safety: What You Need to Know
  7. IDDSI. Framework
  8. FDA. Refrigerator Thermometers
  9. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Infection and Neutropenia during Cancer Treatment
  10. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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