Cancer is a life-threatening disease caused by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in any organ. Once diagnosed, it needs immediate treatment, which is a long-term process. However, along with treatment, it is also important for cancer patients to follow a nutritional diet.

Cancer treatments can include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and hormone therapy. They come with many side effects, including malnutrition, weight loss, and many other issues. During or after the treatment, dietary habits play an important role in helping patients overcome these side-effects and speed up recovery.

There are varieties of snack options for cancer patients, but food with the following properties should be considered to ensure proper nutritional value in the snacks:

• Easily digestible food without spices
• High-calorie and protein-rich food
• Whole grains and fiber-rich food
• Low-fat dairy

1. Food to eat

• Both the chronic illness and the treatment weaken the body and immunity, so it is important for cancer patients to eat easily digestible food to prevent pressure on the digestive system. It’s better to avoid deep-fried foods and red meat like lamb, beef, and pork as they are heavy and difficult to digest.
• Protein is important for the proper functioning of the body, and the body requires 45-60 grams of protein per day. However, the requirement will be higher for a cancer patient to boost recovery, and including fish, poultry, eggs, milk, peanut butter, sprouts, and beans in the snack diet can help meet the increased requirement.
• During cancer treatment, a patient’s calorie intake also should be increased, and they can opt for frequent intake of small amounts of protein-rich, high-calorie snacks throughout the day.
• Carbohydrate intake is also important for cancer patients, and natural carbs or sugar can be obtained by adding fruits, vegetables, and dairy products to their snack diet. Potato, rice, lentils, beans, and quinoa are also some sources of starch or complex carbs that can be included in the diet.
• Fibrous food is important for cancer patients as it lowers the risk of constipation and aids digestion. Whole-grain foods like beans, lentils, brown rice, barley, and oats are rich in fiber, and dark green vegetables and fruits are also good sources of fiber.

2. Instant and nutritional snack options for cancer patients

• Whole grain cereals with low-fat milk
• Dry fruits
• Puddings
• Grilled chicken or grilled fish
• Chicken soup
• Toast or poached eggs
• Fresh juice from seasonal fruits
• Fruit or plain yogurt
• Whole-grain muffins or pancakes with strawberry sauce
• Crackers with cheese
• Pieces of bagels with peanut butter
• Freshly cut fruits like apples, bananas, kiwi, pears, oranges, and strawberries
• Freshly cut vegetables like carrots, celery, bell peppers, and broccoli
• Baked beans
• Popcorn without butter
• Smoothies and milkshakes

These are some considerable choices of nutritional snacks for cancer patients to keep them energetic and healthy and to boost the recovery process. However, it is advisable to consult a dietician to formulate a diet plan to meet the nutritional requirements during and after cancer treatment.