Eating well: Information for people who are undergoing or have finished their cancer treatment

The benefits of eating well

Eating well can: 

• provide your body with the nutrients it needs to work well 
• improve your energy, strength and overall health 
• give you a sense of control 
• help to reduce the risk of a new cancer or other diseases, such as diabetes and stroke. 

Food groups diagram

We recommend that you eat a healthy balanced diet, if possible. This chart can help you to work out the amount of each food type that you should try to eat. 

The NHS recommends that you: 

• eat at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day 
• base meals on higher fibre starchy foods like potatoes, bread, rice or pasta 
• have some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soya or nut-based drinks) 
• eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other protein 
• choose unsaturated oils and spreads (such as vegetable oil and margarine), and eat them in small amounts 
• drink plenty of fluids (at least six to eight glasses a day) 
• limit foods and drinks that are high in fat, salt and sugar. 

To read more about the NHS recommendations click here.

Food labels

To help you make healthy choices when buying food, look at nutrition labels on packets. These give you information about what the food contains. Many packages use a traffic light system, like the one in the image below. It tells you how many calories and how much sugar, fat, saturated fat and salt is in the product. Green shows low levels, amber shows the food has neither high nor low levels, and red shows the food has high levels. Try to avoid foods which have red labels. 

Tips for eating well

• Plan meals in advance. 
• Eat regularly and don’t skip meals. 
• If you’re out and about, take healthy snacks with you. 
• Use a slow cooker. 
• Prepare and freeze food when you’re not fatigued. 

Remember:

• frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables are as good as fresh
• cupboard foods, such as tinned tuna or beans keep for a long time. 

Where can I get accurate information about eating well?

You may find lots of information in the media, and from friends and family, about what you should and shouldn’t eat when you have cancer. It can be confusing to know what information to trust. You can get up-to-date information about diet and cancer from Cancer Research UK website. You can also get advice from a UCLH dietitian. Ask your hospital doctor, nurse or a support and information specialist to refer you.

Coping with treatment side effects

When you’re having cancer treatment you may not always be able to follow the advice in the food groups diagram. Talk to your healthcare team if any treatment side effects cause you eating problems. They can refer you to a dietitian if you need specialist advice.  

Coping with nausea

If you have nausea, the following tips may help: 

• Take small sips of fluids often. 
• Eat small amounts regularly. 
• Eat a small meal before chemo.
• Do not prepare food when you feel sick. 
• Avoid foods with strong smells. 
• Sit by an open window while you eat. 

Food/drink that can help: 

• Ginger and peppermint.  
• Dry foods like toast.  
• Lighter food such as a thin soup. 

Coping with diarrhoea

If you have diarrhoea, make sure that you drink plenty of fluids. Try to avoid alcohol, caffeine, milk products and high-fat foods. We also recommend avoiding high-fibre foods while you have diarrhoea (such as fruit, vegetables and wholegrains). 

Coping with constipation

If you are constipated, it is important that you drink plenty of fluids. You can also try the following tips: 

• Eat more high-fibre foods (such as fruit, veg and wholegrains).  
• Do regular gentle exercise, such as short walks. 

Coping with taste changes

If foods taste different, the following tips may help: 

• suck sugar-free sweets 
• try sorbets 
• try a variety of foods to find out what tastes best. 

Coping with fatigue

If you’re too tired to cook or eat, the following tips may help: 

• Use ready meals. 
• Have a smoothie. 
• Prepare and freeze food when you’re not fatigued. 
• Ask friends and family to help.

Other support

Cancer Research UK 

cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/diet-and-cancer 

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre 

mskcc.org/experience/patient-support/nutrition-cancer 

Macmillan Cancer Support 

To order booklets on healthy eating, building-up diet, eating problems and cancer or managing weight after cancer treatment, visit be.macmillan.org.uk 

Macmillan Support and Information Service at UCLH 

• Health and wellbeing resources: uclh.nhs.uk/msis-hwb 
• Prehabilitation resources (resources to help you to prepare for, and cope during, cancer treatment): uclh.nhs.uk/prehab 

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust videos about diet and cancer. 

royalsurrey.nhs.uk/dietandcancervideos 

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust cannot accept responsibility for information provided by external organisations. 

Contact us

Macmillan Support and Information Service Helpline: 020 3447 3816 

General enquiries: 020 3447 8663 

Email: uclh.supportandinformation@nhs.net 

X (formerly known as Twitter): @supportandinfo 

Website: uclh.nhs.uk/msis