Comfort Foods: Delicious Holiday Meals for Cancer Patients

As we deck the halls and prepare to gather with those we love, a festive and abundant meal will most likely be part of celebration plans. As a cancer patient or the loved one thereof, it’s best to be mindful of and intentional about the foods we eat and serve. Those with cancer can still use nutrition as a powerful tool for well-being, even during the Holidays. Family members or friends of cancer patients can show support and be strong allies in providing a nourishing and welcoming environment.

What to Eat

For the cancer patient attending a Holiday function, it’s always essential to use any meal as an opportunity to add nourishment and support to your digestive system. Cancer treatments weaken the body as they fight the disease. Many patients experience weight loss, and chemotherapy drugs often alter the taste of foods. It’s important to know what to choose and how to eat when away from the comforts of your own home. Consider some of these easy ideas to make your Holiday gathering experience positively delicious:

Eat before you go. Where this may mean you’ve less appetite at the gathering, you will not go hungry or feel weak should you arrive to discover a lack of options.
Pack for your journey. In your purse or carry bag, bring a few small preferred snacks. A serving of nuts, berries, trail mix, or your preferred pre-made protein shake can bring comfort and sustenance.
Your taste buds may make former favorites seem unfamiliar—to salty or sweet. Crystal Langlois of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America suggests adding neutralizers such as honey or agave nectar, lemon, or lime juice.
Be aware of possible spoilage. With a weakened immune response system, it is best to avoid foods at risk of “turning,” like sushi, deviled eggs, and homemade eggnog. Ask your host if you aren’t sure how long a food has been sitting out. Instead, consider foods like crackers, chips, salsa, nuts, and cookies since they can sit out longer.
Be gentle with yourself. Enjoying a warm bowl of soup is a nutrient-rich option.

Hosting with Care

When hosting a gathering whose guests will include cancer patients, consider these options:

Most cancer patients will readily inform of particular needs or aversions so that the host is sure to include their favorites or avoid their revulsions. But show the courtesy of initiating a discreet inquiry.
Choose healthier ingredient alternatives. For that soup, consider swapping evaporated skim milk for cream, or for that pie, perhaps applesauce and canola oil rather than butter.
Pour on the pomegranates which, studies have shown, contain at least six compounds that may prevent breast cancer growth by blocking aromatase, an enzyme that plays a key role in most forms of breast cancers.

In short, be cognizant of and incorporate optimal ingredients and foods when preparing Holiday meals among loved ones—cancer patients and otherwise.