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Nutrition and daily life

Desserts — food card: sweet joy, sensible choice

Pakhlava, shekerbura, firni, compote and baked apples: a sweet table is a symbol of celebration and hospitality. During treatment, sweets can revive appetite and provide calories. This card explains which desserts are safer.

Last updated: ~1 min read
Cooked desserts are safer
Figure 1.Cooked desserts are safer.

01Short answer

Baked and cooked desserts such as pakhlava, shekerbura, firni, baked apple and compote can usually be eaten during treatment. During neutropenia avoid desserts with raw egg or fresh cream, machine soft-serve ice cream and loose sweets. Steroids can raise blood sugar, so eat sweets in small portions. Keep creamy desserts in the fridge and eat them soon.

02Simple explanation

Cooked desserts are safer.

Raw egg and fresh cream: not during neutropenia.

Ice cream: sealed factory pack.

Small portions, especially on steroids.

03Scientific explanation

The LLS and ACS advise people with weak immunity to avoid raw-egg products, cream pastries and soft-serve ice cream.

MedlinePlus: steroids such as prednisone can raise blood sugar.

NCI: when appetite is poor, calorie-rich favourite foods, including desserts, can help.

04What happens in the body?

What is safer?

Pakhlava, shekerbura, gogal, biscuits, firni, milk porridge, baked apple, compote and sealed factory ice cream.

Left, a cream cake; right, a baked apple with cinnamon.
Figure 2.A baked apple instead of fresh-cream cake.

What to avoid

Tiramisu, homemade mousse, raw dough, fresh-cream cake and machine ice cream during neutropenia.

A baked apple with cinnamon steaming in a ceramic dish.
Figure 3.A baked apple: a warm, simple dessert.

Storage

Keep creamy and milk desserts in the fridge and eat them within 1–2 days.

Sugar

Eat sweets after a meal, in small portions.

05Desserts: four steps

Sealed, swap machine ice cream, bake, keep cold.

Sealed pack — Factory-made.1Sealed packFactory-made.
Not machine — Packaged ice cream.2Not machinePackaged ice cream.
Bake — Firni, apple.3BakeFirni, apple.
Keep cold — Eat soon.4Keep coldEat soon.
JoyA sweet table.
CaloriesFor appetite.
SafetyCooked.

06Key points at a glance

TopicIn brief
What is safer?Pakhlava, shekerbura, gogal, biscuits, firni, milk porridge, baked apple, compote and sealed factory ice cream.
What to avoidTiramisu, homemade mousse, raw dough, fresh-cream cake and machine ice cream during neutropenia.
StorageKeep creamy and milk desserts in the fridge and eat them within 1–2 days.
SugarEat sweets after a meal, in small portions.

07Key terms

Dessert
A sweet dish after a meal.
Soft-serve
Ice cream from a machine.
Steroids
Medicines that can raise blood sugar.
Neutropenia
Low neutrophils.
Pasteurisation
Heat treatment that kills germs.

08Key points

  • Choose cooked desserts.
  • Avoid raw-egg desserts.
  • Ice cream in sealed factory packs.
  • Keep creamy desserts cold.
  • Sweets in small portions.

09Frequently asked questions

Can I eat pakhlava?

Yes, baked and cleanly packed; a little if your sugar is high.

Is ice cream allowed?

In a sealed factory pack, usually yes; not from a machine.

Is honey allowed?

During neutropenia some teams advise avoiding unpasteurised honey; ask yours.

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. Can I eat pakhlava?

  2. Is ice cream allowed?

  3. Is honey allowed?

My questions

12Sources

  1. Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Diet Guidelines for Immunosuppressed Patients
  2. U.S. FDA / USDA. Food Safety for Older Adults and People with Cancer, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Organ Transplants, and Autoimmune Diseases
  3. American Cancer Society. Food Safety During Cancer Treatment
  4. National Cancer Institute. Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment
  5. MedlinePlus. Prednisone (steroid) side effects: high blood sugar
  6. FoodSafety.gov (U.S. HHS). Egg safety
  7. CDC. Salmonella and Eggs
  8. NHS. Milk and dairy in your diet
  9. CDC. Raw Milk
  10. ESMO Open, 2021. Arends J et al. Cancer cachexia in adult patients: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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