Recipes while on chemotherapy, Healthy Veg Recipes for Cancer Patients

Carrot, Tomato and Beetroot Juice

Though the needs may vary depending on the type of cancer, age and other illness of each patient, nevertheless the best would be to have energy and nutrient dense wholesome foods and stay steer off fats and sugary foods. 

Fresh Fruit Raita ( Calcium Rich Recipe )

 5 goals to achieve through diet for cancer patients on chemotherapy

1.    Feel Right and Be Energetic. 

This is most important. You need to think right for your body to work right. Be optimistic to the treatment – only then it helps you heal. Work on your diet with your dietitian. You need to eat small and frequent meals rather than large meals. Concentrate on good carbs from whole grains and protein from curd, eggs, pulses, dals and sprouts. 

Brain Booster, Carrot Apple Beetroot and Spinach Juice

Never miss out the first meal of your day – the breakfast. This is a must to kick start your metabolism and keep you energetic through the day. Focus on healthy grains like  jowar, bajra, buckwheat, ragi, oats and barley, quinoa etc.

Nutritious Jowar and Tomato Chila

while avoiding breaking your fast with bread and biscuits daily. Try nutritious options like Sprouts Palak Idli,  bajra roti and Nutritious Jowar and Tomato Chila. 

Barley Feta and Spinach Salad, Healthy Salad

Adding veggies to your breakfast would further enhance its nutrition count. They provide vitamins and minerals necessary to build immunity to fight infections.

Chana Dal Pancakes

We have added handful of methi leaves to chana dal and made Chana Dal Pancakes and some chopped spinach leaves to create a South Indian delicacy – Jowar Palak Appe. You can create your own combos. 

Jowar Palak Appe

Form main meals – lunch and dinner - try and combine a cereal and pulse as we have done in the recipe of Wholesome Khichdi and Bajra and Moong Dal Khichdi. This gives a good quality protein. This is a classic example of wholesome food. 

Bajra and Moong Dal Khichdi

2.  Pile up on Antioxidants

Antioxidants are the substances that help in fighting the potentially harmful substances called “free radicals” and cancer cells in our body. They help in enhancing your body’s immunity and prevent or stop cell damage. You are in a stage where you need to focus on this the most. 

Buckwheat, Moong and Vegetable Khichdi

You might have been prescribed multi-vitamin tablets but fresh fruits and vegetables are the best way to pack antioxidants by way of diet. Vitamin A, vitamin C, anthocyanins, lutein, zinc, indoles etc. are some antioxidants to be included in your diet. 

Blueberry Orange and Yoghurt Smoothie

Few suggestions that we have for you to include fruits in your diet are Fruity Chana Salad, Date and Apple Shake and Blueberry Orange and Yoghurt Smoothie. 

Veggies are the most easiest to include in the meals… be it a chunky soup like Oats and Vegetable Broth or soup like Nourishing Barley Soup.

 Pear and Pomegranate Smoothie

You can be a more creative and combine both fruits and veggies and make a healthy bowl like Cabbage, Carrot and Lettuce Salad too.

3.  Overcome Diarrhea and Nausea if Any

Diarrhea is one the side effects of chemo. Many experience it, while some may not. If you face its occurrence, the best things to avoid are sugary foods, fat laden foods, caffeine, all roadside foods, alcohol, milk, uncooked fruits and vegetables, pickles and canned foods and fermented foods as well. 

Low Cal Tomato Soup

Prefer simple home cooked food with just a tinge of spice probably. Try basic soups, watery dals, oats, banana, apple and other fruits without skin.

Opt for Healthy Low Cal Tomato Soup or something simple like Apple Stew. These are soothing for the gut. 

Quinoa Red Chawli Leaves Khakhra

For nausea, prefer sipping on nourishing drinks (Muskmelon and Mint Juice and Sweet Lime Pomegranate and Apple Juice) or have small portions of dry snacks (Moong Dal Nimki and Quinoa Red Chawli Leaves Khakhra).

These help to reduce the feeling of nausea. Avoid strong odour foods along with caffeine and alcohol. Also prefer cool soothing foods than hot foods. 

Date and Apple Shake ( Healthy Snacks Recipe)

4.  Relieve mouth sores

Chemotherapy sometimes also cause mouth sores.

This is one of the most difficult situation as the aim is to serve tasty food with minimum spices, to heal the sores while providing the key nutrients to nourish your cells as well. 

Apple and Oats Milkshake

Keep sipping. This helps to keep the mouth moist throughout the day. It avoids further dryness. Avoid the canned juices and sugary drinks. Have soothing and cooling drinks like Date Honey Banana Shake and Apple and Oats Milkshake. These energy drinks will fill you and deliver nutrients to keep you going too.  

Cold Cucumber Soup

It’s a good idea to avoid hot foods including the soups too. This would make the sores more painful. If you wish to have a soup, you can try the Cold Cucumber Soup.

Pear Basil Guava Infused Water

5.   Hydrate well

Drinking plenty of water will prevent dehydration. Water is required for…

Hydrating Energizing Smoothie

·        Transport oxygen and nutrients

·        Maintain body temperature

·        Lubricate joints

·        Maintain heartbeat

·        Create saliva, and

·        Protect organs

Dehydration, nausea and vomiting are often noticed in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments. This shows signs like dry skin, dryness of tongue, constipation, weakness and so on… 

Coconut Water with Coconut Meat

You need to drink at least 10 to 12 glasses of water. Always keep a bottle of water with you all the time and keep sipping on it through the day.

You can be a little resourceful and buy a Fruit Infused Bottle, to sip on flavoured water like Pink Guava Apple Infused Water if this interests you. Coconut water is also a good way of making up for your nutrient and water needs. Try Sweetlime Infused Coconut Water and Coconut Water with Coconut Meat are some ways to have the pleasing coconut water. 

Super 7 Stress Reliever, Stress Reliever Carrot Tomato and Beetroot Juice

You can also discover a treasure of other drinks like Carrot, Tomato and Beetroot Juice, Apple Carrot Drink and Papaya and Green Apple Smoothie etc., in this section. These are truly a tasty experience! 

Jamun Smoothie

Enjoy our Recipes while on chemotherapy. What to eat while on chemtherapy  and other Cancer recipe articles below.