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Netherlands: Local food for patients

During treatment, appetite, taste and digestion can change. Dutch cooking has many soft, simple dishes that may suit this period.

Last updated: ~1 min read
On a dark navy background, warm porridge.
Figure 1.Oat porridge — Netherlands: Local food for patients

01Short answer

With nausea, mouth sores or poor appetite, many patients find simple, warm and soft food easier. The Dutch table offers such dishes: havermoutpap (oat porridge made with pasteurised milk), broth, beschuit (rusks) with appelmoes (apple sauce), soft stamppot, vla and pasteurised yoghurt. This is not a personal diet; your dietitian and doctor give the specific eating plan.

02Simple explanation

Soft: for mouth sores.

Simple: for nausea.

Little and often.

03Scientific explanation

Side effects: the NCI notes that eating problems are common during chemotherapy and a dietitian can help.

Safety: the WHO five keys apply to home cooking too.

04What happens in the body?

Warm porridge

Oat porridge is soft; the milk should be pasteurised.

Vla

Choose pasteurised vla in a sealed pack and eat it soon after opening.

On a dark navy background, custard in small cups.
Figure 2.Vla — Netherlands: Local food for patients

A light choice

Broth, beschuit and appelmoes are a light choice with nausea.

On a dark navy background, broth and beschuit.
Figure 3.Broth and rusks — Netherlands: Local food for patients

05On hard days

Four steps.

Nausea — Simple food.1NauseaSimple food.
Mouth sores — Soft food.2Mouth soresSoft food.
Little and often — Frequent.3Little and oftenFrequent.
Dietitian — A plan.4DietitianA plan.
EnergyEating continues.
ComfortThe stomach is not overloaded.

06Key points at a glance

TopicIn brief
Warm porridgeOat porridge is soft; the milk should be pasteurised.
VlaChoose pasteurised vla in a sealed pack and eat it soon after opening.
A light choiceBroth, beschuit and appelmoes are a light choice with nausea.

07Key terms

Havermoutpap
Oat porridge.
Beschuit
Rusks.
Appelmoes
Apple sauce.
Vla
Custard.

08Key points

  • Eat little and often.
  • Choose soft food.
  • Pick pasteurised dairy.
  • Talk to a dietitian.
  • Report weight loss.

09Frequently asked questions

Can I make vla at home?

Yes, freshly with pasteurised milk, kept in the fridge.

Has your taste changed?

This is common; a dietitian can suggest ideas.

Nutrition drinks?

Only if a dietitian or doctor recommends them.

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 make vla at home?

  2. Has your taste changed?

  3. Nutrition drinks?

My questions

12Sources

  1. World Health Organization (WHO). Five keys to safer food
  2. FoodSafety.gov (U.S.). Food Safety for People with Cancer
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Food Safety for Older Adults and People with Cancer, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Organ Transplants, and Autoimmune Diseases
  4. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Infection and Neutropenia during Cancer Treatment
  5. Voedingscentrum (Netherlands Nutrition Centre). Official website (in Dutch)
  6. North Estonia Medical Centre. Hematology Centre (in Estonian)
  7. Jauns.lv (LETA). More than 300 people helped since bone marrow transplants began in Latvia, 2020 (in Latvian)
  8. Dienas Bizness. Stem cell transplantation unit opens, 2006 (in Latvian)
  9. Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos. Hematology, Oncology and Transfusion Medicine Center: bone marrow transplantation (in Lithuanian)
  10. Kauno klinikos. The 500th hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, 2026 (in Lithuanian)
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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