It's extremely important for children getting cancer treatment to have good nutrition. Research shows that helping children eat nutritive meals during cancer treatment may have several benefits:

 

• Better tolerate chemotherapy or radiation with fewer side effects

• Heal and recover faster

• Have less risk of infection

• Have better strength and energy

• Maximize their quality of life​

​

Managing Treatment Side Effects and Maintaining Proper Nutrition

Your child's cancer treatment may cause side effects that make it hard to eat enough food. These are some of the common side effects and ideas for managing them.

​

Poor Appetite

• Try smaller, more frequent meals and snacks.

• Offer high-calorie, high-protein meals and snacks.

• Don't force your child to eat. This may make his or her appetite worse.

​

Mouth Sores

• Offer soft foods that are easy to chew.

• Avoid foods that irritate the mouth, including:

  • Citrus fruits or juices (such as orange, tangerine, grapefruit)

  • Spicy or salty foods

• Cut foods into small pieces.

• Serve foods cold or at room temperature. Hot foods may irritate the mouth and throat.

• Use a blender to make foods softer and easier to chew.

• Add sauces or gravies to food to make them easier to swallow.

​

Taste Changes

• Offer salty or seasoned foods.

• Try serving foods at different temperatures.

• Keep your child's mouth clean by rinsing and brushing.

​

Dry Mouth

• Try sweet or sour foods and drinks such as lemonade (but not if mouth sores are a problem).

• Offer hard candy, popsicles, ice chips, or chewing gum.

• Offer softer foods that may be easier to swallow.

• Keep your child's lips moist with lip balm or Vaseline.

• Offer small, frequent sips of water.

• Offer foods that have more liquid in them.

​

Nausea and Vomiting

• Try easy-to-digest food such as clear liquids, gelatin, bread, rice, dry cereals, and crackers.

• Avoid foods that are fried, greasy, very sweet, spicy, hot, or strong-flavored.

• Offer small, frequent meals.

• Offer sips of water, juices, electrolyte drinks, or other beverages throughout the day.

​

Diarrhea

• Try to avoid high-fiber foods, including:

  • Nuts and seeds.

  • Whole grains.

  • Dried beans and peas.

  • Raw fruits and vegetables.

• Try to limit greasy, fatty, or fried foods.

  • Limit gassy foods such as beans, cabbage, onions.

• Offer small, frequent meals and liquids throughout the day.

• Limit milk and milk products if lactose intolerance is a problem.

• Offer plenty of liquids throughout the day.

​

Constipation

• Offer high-fiber foods, including:

  • Whole grain breads and cereals

  • Raisins and prunes

• Drink plenty of fluids; hot drinks are sometimes helpful.

​

Tooth Decay

• Use a soft toothbrush and take your child to the dentist regularly.

• Encourage rinsing the mouth with warm water when gums and mouth are sore.

• Encourage gently brushing teeth after eating meals and sweets.

• Limit foods that stick to the teeth, such as caramels, taffy, gummy candy, or chewy candy bars.

 

(Tips Source:  Stanford Medicine Children’s Health )

Send an email to support@237childrenscancerfoundation.org to learn more.