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Nutrition and daily life

Eating when you feel sick: what and when

Section “Nausea: small steps, big relief” covered managing nausea. This section is about a practical menu and meal timing: how to eat enough on sick days.

Last updated: ~1 min read
Dry crackers and apple purée.
Figure 1.Crackers and purée — Eating when you feel sick: what and when

01Short answer

Before getting up in the morning, eat a few dry crackers. Through the day choose plain foods cold or at room temperature: rice, potato, cold chicken, pasta, dry toast, apple purée, yogurt. Avoid greasy, fried, very sweet and strong-smelling dishes. Eat more at the times your appetite is best. Eat lightly the day before and the morning of chemotherapy. Do not eat favourite foods on bad days, as you may develop an aversion to them. Drink 30 minutes before or after meals.

02Simple explanation

Morning dry crackers.

Cold, plain food.

Eat more at good times.

Protect favourite foods.

03Scientific explanation

NCI: plain, dry, cold foods and small portions are better tolerated with nausea.

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?

Learned aversion

Food eaten while nauseous can later become off-putting.

Rice and chicken — Eating when you feel sick: what and when
Figure 2.Cold rice — Eating when you feel sick: what and when

Medicine timing

Eating is easier 30–60 minutes after an anti-sickness medicine.

Biscuits and weak tea.
Figure 3.Ginger biscuits — Eating when you feel sick: what and when

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
Learned aversionFood eaten while nauseous can later become off-putting.
Medicine timingEating is easier 30–60 minutes after an anti-sickness medicine.
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

Food aversion
A learned dislike of a particular food.
Antiemetic
An anti-sickness medicine.
Dietitian
A nutrition specialist.
Protein
A nutrient for repairing muscles and tissues.
Neutropenia
Low neutrophils.

08Key points

  • Plain and cold.
  • Catch the good moments.
  • Drink separately.
  • A diet is not a treatment.
  • Talk to a dietitian.

09Frequently asked questions

Do ginger biscuits help?

They help some people and are harmless.

I cannot eat anything?

At least drink, and tell your team.

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. Do ginger biscuits help?

  2. I cannot eat anything?

  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. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Mouth and Throat Problems during Cancer Treatment
  6. World Health Organization (WHO). Hand hygiene
  7. World Health Organization (WHO). Five keys to safer food manual
  8. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Fatigue and Cancer Treatment
  9. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Oral Complications of Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation (PDQ®) – Patient Version
  10. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Nutrition in Cancer Care (PDQ®) – Patient Version
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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