BY: Connie Giordano Ziembicki, Registered Dietitian, RD, MHSc.
A healthy diet can help you at every stage of your melanoma cancer journey. Eating a variety of foods as outlined in Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating will provide essential nutrients your body needs to boost your immune system, boost your energy and manage side effects such as nausea or fatigue.
Helpful Tips:
Fluid
Fluid helps transport nutrients to give you energy and keep you healthy. If you become dehydrated, you may experience fatigue, muscle cramps, dizziness and nausea. Aim for 8 cups of fluid daily. Fluid is anything that is liquid at room temperature: water, soup, juice, smoothie, popsicles, ice cream, Jell-O®, etc.
Protein
Protein is important in your diet as it helps to boost your immune system, helps your body heal, manage fatigue and strengthen your muscles. Aim for 2-3 servings of protein in a day. Protein foods include eggs, cheese, Greek yogurt, smoothies, pudding, fish, chicken, legumes, meat, peanut nut butter and nuts.
Diarrhea
Choose foods that are low in fibre, fat, lactose, caffeine and spices. Aim for at least 8 cups of fluid daily: water, diluted juices, caffeine-free tea, broths and popsicles. Eat small, frequent meals and snacks throughout the day. Switch to low lactose milk or soy beverage.
Nausea
Eat small, frequent meals and snacks throughout the day. Not eating will make your nausea worse. Try crackers and toast to help settle your stomach. Choose foods that are cold or room temperature. Remain in an upright position for an hour after eating. Lying down after eating can make nausea worse. Try sipping on peppermint tea.
Fatigue
A diet rich in calories and protein can help manage fatigue and boost your energy. Drink 8 cups of fluid daily. If you are hungrier at breakfast, make that your main meal. Add high calorie foods to your meals: avocados, olive oil, and butter. Set alarms on your phone to remind you to eat.
Nutritional Supplements
If you are struggling to eat, try nutritional supplements such as Ensure®, Boost®, Enlive®, Carnation Breakfast Essentials®, or store brands to help maximize your nutritional intake. Drink them between meals, dilute them with milk or water and if they are too sweet try them on ice.
Healthy Eating After Treatment
In 2007, the World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research provided guidelines for diet, weight and physical activity to prevent cancer or cancer recurrence.
These 8 recommendations should be the foundation of healthy eating.
1. Be as lean as possible within the normal range of body weight. Aim for BMI of 18.5-24.9.
2. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily.
3. Avoid sugary drinks and limit energy-dense foods.
4. Eat mostly foods of plant origin. For example, vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains.
5. Avoid processed meat (e.g. bacon) and limit red meat (e.g. beef).
6. Limit alcoholic drinks per day (2 for men and 1 for women).
7. Limit salt and foods processed with salt. 8. Meet nutritional needs through diet alone not pills.
When looking for ideas on improving your diet for better health, ask your healthcare team for a referral to see a Registered Dietitian.
SAVE THE DATE
Ellicsr Cooking Class- October 19th Melanoma Network of Canada will be collaborating with the UHN Ellicsr team at Toronto General Hospital in October on a live wellness cooking class for melanoma patients at their kitchen. The UHN wellness dietitian and chef will be working with us to create 3 recipes (appetizer, entree, and dessert/snack) for patients to mange their symptoms/side effects. A live Webinar will be also be available across Canada.
For more information on this event please email cpereira@melanomanetwork.ca
