There are so many misconceptions about the benefits of eating tofu (taste preferences aside). It’s had a bad rap that needs to be cleared up!

Tofu is an amazing nutritional protein that can benefit you in many ways. Lots of great recipes make this much more interesting than you might think.

Conquer magazine offers this great article from Julie Lanford (Cancer Dietician) that clears up the different ideas about tofu. Check this out!

Mary Foley, PhD, RD, LDN developed a specific Mediterranean diet using research on how food can be used as medicine, specifically focused on the consumption of extra virgin olive oil which she has been researching since 1998. She founded The Olive Oil Health Initiative that has a mission of educating the public and medical community on the health benefits of extra virgin olive oil and implementation of the Mediterranean diet.

Her site has nutrition details, easy to use recipes, and information on how food can help manage a variety of potential health issues.

“As a result of 50 years of research, we have a better understanding of how eating patterns may prevent cancer and improve cancer survivorship.”

Data from a global research effort called the Continuous Update Project offers dietary and lifestyle recommendations for patients with cancer.

The Project makes general recommendations, like staying active to the best of one’s ability, and eating vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Recommendations and other common questions about supplements are included in this link and talk specifically about Vitamin D3, Omega-3 fatty acids, and Turmeric.

It’s hard to know how much to eat of various foods to get the nutrition you need. This links you to a page that compiles specific details about how much protein, fat, carbohydrates, etc. that can help you build a plan for getting back on track.

This excellent document is a nutrition and wellness guideline that gives great advice on how to care for yourself post-cancer. They title it for breast cancer survivors but it applies to anyone who is seeking a healthier lifestyle.

Why organic food?

Maintaining healthy weight

How to manage calories

Finding peace of mind

Includes links to some great books and websites that are helpful too.

You may be in that place of “Don’t want to eat”, or “Can’t eat that it tastes terrible” , or “I can’t eat enough and feel like I’m wasting away.” Or something else.

That’s when you need a food strategy.

I listed some ways that I finally got enough calories in so I didn’t feel so weak, and found things that tasted pretty good and were easy to make. Click on the link below to get to that page under Stories and hopefully some of these suggestions will help you as well.

It’s tough when you don’t want to eat but worse still when you don’t have much energy to prepare the food!

This page gives a printable set of recipes that are simple and delicious and set you up for 2 weeks of meal prep.

Good nutritional food will make a huge difference in how you feel and how well you can recover. Try some of these options and see if it makes a difference.

You can’t underestimate how important good food will help you when undergoing treatments and beyond. What you put inside your body will be how you sustain your energy, beat back fatigue, and restore your appearance and hair/nail growth.

This page from the American Cancer Society offers a good list of sources for protein, carbs, and snacks to help you get more calories and nutrition into each day. Take this moment during treatments and following to get the right nutrients so your body has a fighting chance.

During chemo, I had difficulty eating most forms of protein—mostly meat. So in order to get the right nutrients and increase protein to help rebuild muscle, shakes became my best friend. You can control the sugars, add fruit (raw or cooked), and blend with any kind of milk you like. This is a great product and easily digestible!

Chocolate—vanilla—pumpkin spice—chocolate peppermint

Julie Lanford, MPH, RD, CSO, LDN

Julie’s site and email newsletter is packed with great advice on nutrition, making food that tastes good and battling the difficulties of eating as a result of chemo and radiation.

Her recipes were a huge help in finding creative ways to eat without getting bored with the same thing or feel that the recipes are too complicated. Keeping food simple and healthy is a trick—Julie’s site can help.

During your treatments, or even over the months following, it is often necessary to practice safe food handling. This Lifespan blog offers suggestions on how to best prepare fresh produce and meat for safe consumption.