Food

Daffodil 1 month ago

7 replies

Dear readers,

I am looking for helpful tips related to food. It has often been said and observed that tastes and appetites can change as much as the ability to retain food or drink when someone is affected by a terminal illness or undergoing treatment (or even 'just' ageing). Many people - and their carers - also struggle shopping for and preparing food, due to loss of dexterity, low energy levels, little time available, etc.

So I would like to open this new topic as a repository for any tips around the topic of food and drink: what have you changed successfully to manage meals? Are there any 'hacks' for food prep, meal times, snacks, etc.? What has been the best advice or help you have been given?

Please post anything you are able to share below. Many thanks!

💛 Anke, a Member of the Marie Curie Online Community Team

Kat22 1 month ago

Hi Daffodil, a Subject I have struggled with since the return of my Cancer. I couldn't eat anything for 6 months, everything I ate came back up. I have had to build a relationship with food again, working from pureed food upwards. I cant prepare meals due to low energy, being unable to stand for periods of time and so I snack little and often. I also eat what I want when I want. If I want an ice cream for breakfast I do. I know that if I fancy it, I will eat it. I was also constantly told about fortisips, which I cannot tolerate. I found my one go to for a while was cuppa soups but not very nutritious. I mentioned this to a nurse who then told me about some fortifying soups, which have 250 cals per cup. I bought some of these and haven't looked back. I don't know if any of the above helps but falling out of love with food is devastating and gaining that love again takes time, whilst youre desperately trying to build your weight back up. Slow and steady is my advice. Regards, Joanne.

Daffodil 1 month ago

Hi Joanne,

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with food as someone who is currently living with cancer. It sounds like it was really hard and upsetting to lose your ability to prepare food, eat, and eat with pleasure.

Y our efforts to try different things - and your encouragement to keep trying different things at a gentle pace - will be useful to readers of this thread. We really appreciate your taking the time to share this.

With all best wishes,

Anke

Yvonne1 1 month ago

Good morning Ladies

I read with interest your comments Kat22, and can totally relate to your difficulties in being able to eat/retain foods during your illness.  I trust you are now on the mend.

I had similar problems following gastric surgery for Cancer, and whilst part of the recovery is a good nutritional diet - food just did not seem appealing in any way.  It was suggested to me to try various calorie loaded drink supplements but I just couldn`t tolerate their taste.  Through trial and error, a bit like yourself, I found soups, pureed fruits and yes, ice cream beneficial in the early days.

Its a tough journey, but gradually could introduce more solid foods.  Eating at certain times of the day helped too and not sticking to the "three meals a day".  Eat when you feel like it but avoid taking foods later in the evening as laying down can bring on reflux.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards

Yvonne

Kat22 1 month ago

Daffodil, Yvonne1, thank you for your replies. Things get better each day and yes, eating later on is not good due to reflux. I also meant to add, i know if youre laid up in bed it's not easy but always try to walk around after something to eat. It helps massively with digestion. Regards, Joanne x

Marla 9 days ago

Hello ladies

My name is Marla; I am a nurse on the Information and Support line. I have been reading your posts with interest, I have found the information you have offered useful and helpful, as I am sure others who read them will. I would like to add a couple of suggestions that may also help.

@Daffodil, shopping for and preparation of food can be exhausting and tiring when you have little energy or time. May I suggest taking up offers from friends and loved ones who are wanting and willing to help. Whilst we often feel we do not want to burden others with our own needs, our friends and loved ones want to help and by doing tasks such as shopping or providing a meal they often feel they are.

@Kat22, you give very good suggestions on building up your appetite and nutritional intake. In my experience, eating what you fancy when you fancy is a good way of getting calories in, particularly when you have little or no appetite and taste . Whilst supplement drinks such as fortisip are not always liked or enjoyed they can be taken in different ways. Getting ice cube or ice lolly moulds and eating them like this may give a different texture and more enjoyable experience. Adding them into milk shakes or home-made smoothies may also help, homemade smoothies are also a good way of getting additional nutrition and calories in.

As @Yvonne1 has suggested, eating when you feel like it and not sticking to the ‘three meals a day’ routine can really help. Thank you for sharing your experience and suggestions with the Online Community. The Information and Support Line is a space where you can talk freely and share your feelings should you wish to, you can call us on 0800 090 2309. Take care.