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Nutrition and daily life

Eating at home during treatment: a familiar kitchen, new rules

Coming home from hospital is a relief, but the home kitchen also needs new rules. This section gathers practical tips on shopping, cooking, storing and the family’s role.

Last updated: ~1 min read
Soup, bread and cooked vegetables on the table.
Figure 1.A calm home kitchen.

01Short answer

At home food safety matters as much as in hospital. Buy sealed products within date and avoid loose market food. Wash your hands, use separate boards for raw meat and cooked food, cook food fully and refrigerate it within 2 hours. Eat leftovers within 1–2 days. On tired days ask your family for help or use sealed ready-made products.

02Simple explanation

Buy sealed food.

Cook fully.

Refrigerate within 2 hours.

Leftovers: 1–2 days.

03Scientific explanation

FDA/USDA: the four main rules for preventing food-borne infection are clean, separate, cook and chill.

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?

Shopping

Pick chilled items last and get them home quickly; do not buy damaged packs or swollen tins.

Sealed dairy, fruit and tins in a basket.
Figure 2.Sealed products — Eating at home during treatment: a familiar kitchen, new rules

The family’s role

Everyone who cooks should know the rules; a family member who is ill should stay out of the kitchen.

Cooked food above, sealed raw meat below.
Figure 3.The right place in the fridge.

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
ShoppingPick chilled items last and get them home quickly; do not buy damaged packs or swollen tins.
The family’s roleEveryone who cooks should know the rules; a family member who is ill should stay out of the kitchen.
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

Cross-contamination
Germs moving from one food to another.
Leftovers
Cooked food kept for later.
Dietitian
A nutrition specialist.
Protein
A nutrient for repairing muscles and tissues.
Neutropenia
Low neutrophils.

08Key points

  • Clean, separate, cook, chill.
  • Choose sealed products.
  • Teach your family.
  • A diet is not a treatment.
  • Talk to a dietitian.

09Frequently asked questions

Can pets be in the kitchen?

Keep them away from food surfaces and wash your hands after touching them.

Can I order restaurant food?

Freshly cooked hot food with quick delivery, usually yes (see “Fast food — food card: occasionally and with care”).

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. Can pets be in the kitchen?

  2. Can I order restaurant food?

  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. World Health Organization. Brucellosis fact sheet
  6. NHS. The Eatwell Guide
  7. FoodSafety.gov (U.S. HHS). Egg safety
  8. CDC. Salmonella and Eggs
  9. NHS. Milk and dairy in your diet
  10. CDC. Raw Milk
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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