One of the main goals of a nutritionist is to prepare a plan for patients that provide them with sufficient nutrients. Preparing such a plan can be difficult when it comes to cancer patients, wherein the side effects can be mild or severe. Patients may experience just one or many side effects. Here is a list of readymade or easy to make snacks that can be beneficial for cancer patients.

Nausea/Vomiting
Eat snacks that are light, non-fatty, non-greasy, and odorless.

• Plain toast, crackers, pretzels
• Angel food cake
• Boiled potato
• Broiled or baked chicken without skin
• Plain or fruit yogurt
• Soft fruit and steamed or boiled vegetables
• Bouillon, fruit juices, tea, and water

Keep sipping a few mouthfuls of fluids every half an hour to keep you hydrated. Start with one or two tablespoons of solids as your nausea subsides. If you can hold it, then very gradually increase the portion sizes.

Diarrhea
During a sudden attack of diarrhea, the recommendation is to have fluids only for about 10 to 12 hours. This not only keeps compensates for the loss of fluids but also gives some rest for the system. You can eat these snacks and fluids in very small quantities – a tablespoon or two every hour as the frequency of diarrhea reduces.

• Rice, noodles, potato
• White bread
• Smooth peanut butter
• Fruits without skin
• Fully cooked vegetables
• Boiled egg whites
• Baked or broiled lean meat and fish

You can consume stronger proteins if you do not have diarrhea for a minimum of 2 days.

Constipation
High fiber will help bowel movement. However, please check with your doctor before consuming fiber, as it is may not suit patients suffering from certain types of cancer. Drink about 8 to 10 glasses of water and avoid food that can cause bloating. You can do some mild exercise like walking to help bowel movement.

• Whole grain bread
• Fresh fruit and vegetables with skin
• Oats
• Wheat bran and wheat germ
• Brown rice and Barley
• Dry fruits

Mouth sores
Mouth sores and ulcers make chewing and swallowing difficult. You can eat soft food that is chilled or puree vegetables and fruits so that it is easy to swallow.

• Milkshake and smoothies
• Cooked cereals
• Soft boiled eggs
• Yogurt
• Macaroni and cheese
• Fruit custards and Jell-O
• Boiled and mashed vegetables

Avoid spicy and highly acidic foods. Do not include citrus or tomatoes in your diet until the mouth sores heal. Avoid crispy food like toasts or granola bars.

Loss of appetite
This is another common side effect of chemo. You have to bring yourself to eat something. Your body needs nutrition not only for recovery but also to balance out all the strong medication that has gone in and fluids that can flush out toxins. The help of family and caregivers is crucial here. Try out new types of food, though you might not be able to eat in large quantities. Pamper yourself with ice cream or pudding. If you just do not feel like eating, try liquid supplements for a day because your health will take a beating if you starve. Without nutrition, you also expose yourself to infection.