U.S. National Institutes of Health

Foods to Help With Side Effects

Part of Chemotherapy and You: Support for People With Cancer

June 29, 2007

Clear Liquids
Liquid Foods
Foods and Drinks That Are High in Calories or Protein
High-Fiber Foods
Low-Fiber Foods
Foods That Are Easy on a Sore Mouth
Foods and Drinks That Are Easy on the Stomach

Clear Liquids

This list may help if you have:

Type	Examples
Soups	Bouillon Clear, fat-free broth Consommé
Drinks	Clear apple juice Clear carbonated beverages Fruit-flavored drinks Fruit juice, such as cranberry or grape Fruit punch Sports drinks Water Weak tea with no caffeine
Sweets	Fruit ices made without fruit pieces or milk Gelatin Honey Jelly Popsicles

Liquid Foods

This list may help if you:

Do not feel like eating solid foods (see Appetite Changes)
Have urinary, kidney, or bladder changes

Type	Examples
Soups	Bouillon Broth Cheese soup Soup that has been strained or put through a blender Soup with pureed potatoes Tomato soup
Drinks	Carbonated beverages Coffee Eggnog (pasteurized and alcohol free) Fruit drinks Fruit juices Fruit punch Milk (all types) Milkshakes Smoothies Sports drinks Tea Tomato juice Vegetable juice Water
Fats	Butter Cream Margarine Oil Sour cream
Sweets	Custard (soft or baked) Frozen yogurt Fruit purees that are watered down Gelatin Honey Ice cream with no chunks (such as nuts or cookie pieces) Ice milk Jelly Pudding Syrup Yogurt (plain or vanilla)
Replacements and supplements	Instant breakfast drinks Liquid meal replacements

Foods and Drinks That Are High in Calories or Protein

This list may help if you do not feel like eating. See Appetite Changes.

Type	Examples
Soups	Cream soups Soups with lentils, dried peas, or beans (such as pinto, black, red, or kidney)
Drinks	Instant breakfast drinks Milkshakes Smoothies Whole milk
Main meals and other foods	Beef Butter, margarine, or oil added to your food Cheese Chicken Cooked dried peas and beans (such as pinto, black, red, or kidney) Cottage cheese Cream cheese Croissants Deviled ham Eggs Fish Nuts, seeds, and wheat germ Peanut butter Sour cream
Sweets	Custards (soft or baked) Frozen yogurt Ice cream Muffins Pudding Yogurt (plain or vanilla)
Replacements and supplements	Liquid meal replacements Powdered milk added to foods such as pudding, milkshakes, and scrambled eggs

High-Fiber Foods

This list may help if you have Constipation.

Type	Examples
Main meals and other foods	Bran muffins Bran or whole-grain cereals Brown or wild rice Cooked dried peas and beans (such as pinto, black, red, or kidney) Whole-wheat bread Whole-wheat pastas
Fruits and vegetables	Dried fruit, such as apricots, dates, prunes, and raisins Fresh fruit, such as apples, blueberries, and grapes Raw or cooked vegetables, such as broccoli, corn, green beans, peas, and spinach
Snacks	Granola Nuts Popcorn Seeds, such as sunflower Trail mix

Low-Fiber Foods

This list may help if you have Diarrhea.

Type	Examples
Main meals and other foods	Chicken or turkey (skinless) Cooked refined cereals Cottage cheese Eggs Fish Noodles Potatoes (baked or mashed without the skin) White bread White rice
Fruits and vegetables	Asparagus Bananas Canned fruit, such as peaches, pears, and applesauce Clear fruit juice Vegetable juice
Snacks	Angel food cake Gelatin Saltine crackers Sherbet or sorbet Yogurt (plain or vanilla)

Foods That Are Easy on a Sore Mouth

This list may help if your mouth or throat are sore. See Mouth and Throat Changes.

Type	Examples
Main meals and other foods	Baby food Cooked refined cereals Cottage cheese Eggs (soft boiled or scrambled) Macaroni and cheese Mashed potatoes Pureed cooked foods Soups
Sweets	Custards Fruit (pureed or baby food) Gelatin Ice cream Milkshakes Puddings Smoothies Soft fruits (bananas and applesauce) Yogurt (plain or vanilla)

Foods and Drinks That Are Easy on the Stomach

This list may help if you have Nausea and Vomiting.

Type	Examples
Soups	Clear broth, such as chicken, vegetable, or beef
Drinks	Clear carbonated beverages that have lost their fizz Cranberry or grape juice Fruit-flavored drinks Fruit punch Sports drinks Tea Water
Main meals and other foods	Chicken (broiled or baked without its skin) Cream of rice Instant oatmeal Noodles Potatoes (boiled without skins) Pretzels Saltine crackers White rice White toast
Sweets	Angel food cake Canned fruit, such as applesauce, peaches, and pears Gelatin Popsicles Sherbet or sorbet Yogurt (plain or vanilla)

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This article was provided by U.S. National Institutes of Health. It is a part of the publication Chemotherapy and You: Support for People With Cancer.

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