Tackling the challenge of eating, what I have learnt I hope this helps

Morning all,

I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer just over a month and a half ago and eating has been really difficult for me to the point I was struggling even with water and had to really take my time. I started chemo 2 weeks ago and since then I have been doing so much better and I am managing to get over 2000 calories in me a day.  

Eating is the most difficult challenge in our type of cancer. I have seen a lot of people posting in here and I wanted to share with people what I have learnt, as I have been really blessed with the support and nutritional guidance from friends who have tried to help me. Obviously everyone’s experience is different, but I hope this helps.

First of all my body was in crisis and the first thing I focused on was eliminating acidic foods from my diet therefore caffeine and alcohols are a definite no no. My blended diet now is mostly focused on vegetables, chicken and non acidic fruits.

If you haven’t been prescribed them already doctors should be giving you protein drinks to ensure you are getting calories in you. I am drinking fresubin 3 times a day which contain 400 calories each these actually taste great I order the forest fruits, toffee and cappuccino all of which are delicious. I also freeze some and have them as ice lollies when I am not sensitive to cold (The week after chemo, when my cold sensitivity goes away) this is one of the only solids I can eat and is heaven for me.

My friends surprised me with a cold press juicer these are expensive, but are brilliant they blitz fruit and veg, but keep the most nutrition possible the model I have is Kuvings juicer evo 820. If you cannot afford this get yourself a juicer. I make myself 2 juices a day the base of the juices are usually a couple of carrots and apples. Then I add things such as pears, cucumber, celery, avocado, mango. If you are struggling even with juices add water and take your time, that is the key take your time don’t rush things. When you have a juice base you can also add that into a blender with stuff like spinach, oats (drink right away as they expand), parsley and kale.

The other big part of my diet are soups. Again here take your time and if you are struggling with eating look to make thin watered down soups. Soup makers are cheap and easy to use but make sure you add lots of water to keep them fine. My wife makes me a chicken stock from thighs to get as much calories in the stock as possible, if you are not great in the kitchen you can buy chicken stocks. My go to soup which I find easiest to consume is Red lentils, spinach and carrot this is what I revert to when I was struggling to eat. Red lentils are great from your stomach and a great source of protein. We also add rice when we can and chicken blitzing it as much as possible to make it easier to eat.

Two other treats we like are rice pudding demolished with a blender to make a smooth as possible, this is also great frozen as a lolly. We also make lollies with mixed berries and add a shot of protein powder.

A hot cup of Full fat milk with a scoop of milk powder is also a nice little drink to get calories in you.

The most important things to learn though is take your time, don’t run before you can walk I got excited because I was eating better and made scrambled eggs which is struggled down and made myself sick. I learnt that day stick to what I am getting into my body with ease and just eat more of it and take my time. Remember water is your friend and it can make food finer to make things easier. Stress can also increase your eating issues so try to relax, I eat whilst playing fifa every time the ball goes out of play (every couple of mins) a little bit a time.

I hope some of this can hopefully help someone, be careful with my frozen suggestions as this is dependent on your treatment and side effects, but it has worked a dream for me. There are lots of good books out there for juicing and soup recipes.

Juicing recipes provided by my friend who owns a juice shop (if you are struggling just do the juice section or use a siv to make finer. Adding water helps too)

-) Green Delight (great for breakfast or lunch)

cold press juicer: Cucumber, Celery, Apple about 350ml then pour it into the blender

then put a handful spinach, 6-8 mint leaves, some parsley, half an avocado and oats. 

2-)Lean and Mean (in between meals)

juice: cucumber, celery, lime, apple about 450ml and then pour 250ml into the blender.

blend; handful spinach and kale 

and then add the rest of the juice. (the reason we do it this way is because we get less foam) you can also use strainer to take the foam out of it

3-)Red Zing

juice; beetroot, carrot, cucumber, celer, apple 450ml and then pour 250ml into the blender

blend, with handful kale and a bit of broccoli heads.

4-) Balanced

juice; cucumber, celery, apple 375ml pour all into the blender

blend, mango, banana, kale , spinach 

5-) Antioxidant fun; 

juice apple about 350ml and pour all into the blender

blend:Blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, banana,