Holiday Eating Tips
Mass General Cancer Center clinical nutritionists Alicia Anskis and Carol Sullivan provide some healthy eating tips for this holiday season.
Contact Information
Phone: 617-726-1920
Nutrition is an important part of cancer treatment. Staying well-nourished is essential for maintaining energy and strength, healing the body, and fighting infection. Our team of registered dietitians provides evidenced based, expert nutrition counseling to patients and their caregivers as an integral part of cancer care. Their guidance can help you manage side effects and optimize wellness both during and after cancer treatment. They will work with you around your diet preferences to create an eating and hydration plan based on issues you may be experiencing, including:
Our dietitians are available for consultation at the Boston, Newton-Wellesley, Waltham and Danvers locations.
Tips for Eating Well During Cancer Treatment
Eating well while undergoing cancer treatment can be challenging. While not all patients experience symptoms, common side effects such as poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, bowel irregularities, and taste changes can interfere with your ability to get the nutrition you need to feel your best and heal from treatment.
Here are some tips for making it easier to get the nutrition you need when you experience common treatment side effects.
If you are losing weight or have no appetite:
If you have nausea and/or vomiting:
Resources:
If you have diarrhea:
Resources:
If you have constipation:
Resource:
If you have taste changes:
Açai Smoothie Bowl - Recommended for: Taste Changes, High Calorie, High Protein, Nausea/Vomiting, Poor Appetite.
Asparagus-Kale Salad with Lemon-Garlic Dressing - Recommended for: Constipation, Taste Changes.
Avocado Alfredo Pasta - Recommended for: High Calorie, High Protein.
Beet Hummus - Recommended for: Difficulty Swallowing, High Calorie, Taste Changes, Poor Appetite, Dry Mouth, Diarrhea.
Banana Oatmeal Protein Pancakes - Recommended for: Diarrhea, Nausea/Vomiting, High Protein, Taste Changes, Difficulty Swallowing
Berry Lemon Chia Pudding - Recommended for: Nausea, Constipation, Taste Changes, High Protein, High Calorie.
Black Bean Soup with Cilantro Lime Crème - Recommended for: Difficulty Swallowing, Taste Changes, High Calorie, High Protein, Constipation, Poor Appetite, Dry Mouth.
Cherry Chocolate Smoothie - Recommended for: High Calorie, High Protein, Poor Appetite, Beverage, Dry Mouth, Diarrhea, Difficulty Swallowing, Sore Mouth.
Creamy Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup - Recommended for: Constipation, Diarrhea, High Calorie, Taste Changes, Difficulty Swallowing.
Chocolate Hazelnut Avocado Mousse Recommended for: High Calorie, Poor Appetite, Difficulty Swallowing, Sore Mouth, Diarrhea, Dry Mouth.
Gingerbread Granola - Recommended for: High Protein, High Fiber.
Gingerbread Oatmeal - Recommended for: Constipation, Diarrhea, Nausea/Vomiting, Difficulty Swallowing, Taste Changes, High Calorie, High Protein.
Granola Trail Mix - Recommended for: High Calorie, High Protein, Constipation, Poor Appetite.
Healthy, No-Bake Honey-Almond-Coconut Granola Bars - Recommended for: High Calorie, High Protein, Constipation, Poor Appetite.
Fruit Infused Water - Recommended for: Beverages, Taste Changes, Dry Mouth.
Lemon Lentil Salad - Recommended for: Taste Changes, High Calorie, High Protein, Constipation.
Omega-3 Granola - Recommended for: Constipation, High Calorie, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea.
Pesto Fried Egg Over Sourdough Ricotta Toast - Recommended for: High Calorie, High Protein, Taste Changes
Savory Healing Cake - Recommended for: High Calorie, Poor Appetite, Constipation.
Savory Oatmeal – Coconut Curry Delight - Recommended for: Taste Changes, High Protein, High Calorie, Difficulty Swallowing, Constipation, Dry Mouth.
Simple Tuna Niçoise Salad - Recommended for: High Calorie, High Protein, Poor Appetite.
Spring Salad - Recommended for: Taste Changes, Constipation.
Staple Item Stir-Fry - Recommended for: High Calorie, High Protein, Taste Changes
Summer Salmon Salad with Creamy Lemon Vinaigrette - Recommended for: High Calorie, High Protein, Taste Changes.
Tropical Matcha Green Smoothie - Recommended for: Difficulty Swallowing, High Protein, High Calorie, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Nausea/Vomiting, Beverages, Dry Mouth.
Whole Grain Pesto Pasta with Vegetables - Recommended for: High Calorie, High Protein, Constipation.
Zesty Ginger Turmeric Carrot Cake - Recommended for: High Calorie, Difficulty Swallowing, Constipation, Nausea/Vomiting, Taste Changes, Dry Mouth.
Zucchini Basil Soup - Recommended for: Diarrhea, Poor Appetite, Difficulty Swallowing, Sore Mouth, Taste Changes, Dry Mouth.
Carol Sullivan, MS, RD, CSO, LDN
Ashley Draviam, MS, RD, CSO, LDN
Ann Marie Gennari, MEd, RD, LDN
Our team of Registered Dietitians at the Mass General Cancer Center provides evidence-based, expert nutrition counseling to patients and their caregivers as an integral part of cancer care. Kiss 108's Billy Costa sat down with Carol Sullivan, MS, RD, CSO, LDN, to learn more and share nutrition tips for during and after cancer treatment.
View our library of integrative therapies and nutrition videos.
A cooking guide from the American Institute for Cancer Research
A guide from the American Cancer Society
A patient guide from the NIH National Cancer Institute.
From Harvard Health Publishing and the Harvard School of Public Health.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s database of natural supplements.
Our support programs can help patients and their families cope with the challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
View inspiring cancer survivor stories from Mass General Cancer Center’s community of patients, families, and staff.
Mass General Cancer Center clinical nutritionists Alicia Anskis and Carol Sullivan provide some healthy eating tips for this holiday season.
In this video, Amy Comander, MD, Carol Sullivan, RD, and Samantha Bateman, RD review evidence-based nutrition recommendations for cancer survivors, and discuss how food can be used to strengthen your body during treatment and beyond.
Many cancer treatments cause changes in bowel movements and frequency. In this webinar led by clinical dietitians Samantha Bateman and Meagan Currell, you'll learn how to improve constipation and diarrhea with changes in your diet.
Learn acupressure techniques you can do at home as well as nutrition tips and suggested foods to ease nausea.
Mass General Cancer Center clinical nutritionists Alicia Anskis and Carol Sullivan provide some healthy eating tips for this holiday season.
In this video, Amy Comander, MD, Carol Sullivan, RD, and Samantha Bateman, RD review evidence-based nutrition recommendations for cancer survivors, and discuss how food can be used to strengthen your body during treatment and beyond.
Many cancer treatments cause changes in bowel movements and frequency. In this webinar led by clinical dietitians Samantha Bateman and Meagan Currell, you'll learn how to improve constipation and diarrhea with changes in your diet.
Learn acupressure techniques you can do at home as well as nutrition tips and suggested foods to ease nausea.