6 Warm Recipes for Cancer Patients

There are things that seem to fall down the priority list when you are a cancer patient. Diet, menu planning, and cooking can often be the last things on your mind. Cancer drugs can make you lose your appetite, feel nauseous and become exhausted. Finding easy and nutritious recipes for cancer patients can be a challenge. But did you know that certain foods are proven to help support cancer prevention and survival?

No one food can protect you from cancer, but research shows diets high in vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains and other plant foods help lower your risk for many cancers. In both laboratory and animal studies, increased levels of antioxidants have been shown to prevent types of free radical damage that have been associated with cancer development.

Some of these foods that are high in antioxidants and cancer-fighting nutrients include the following:

• Apples
• Asparagus
• Beans
• Blueberries
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Carrots
• Kale
• Lentils
• Peas
• Quinoa
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Sweet potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Whole grains
• Zucchini

Research also suggests limiting the following foods and drinks:

• Alcohol
• Processed meats (such as sausage, ham, bacon, hot dogs or salami)
• Red Meat (like beef, pork or lamb)
• Sugar-sweetened drinks (like soda, sports drinks, milkshakes and powdered drinks)

Whether you're a cancer patient looking for fresh food ideas, or a caring friend or family member who wants to cook for someone who has cancer, we've rounded up six cold-weather recipes that are simple to make and packed with nutrients that can help fight cancer.

Appetizers for Cancer Patients

Sometimes cancer treatments leave patients with little to no appetite. Small meals or appetizers can help keep patients fueled up with nutrition and boost their energy levels.

Baked Sweet Potato Wedges

One sweet potato has 520% of your daily recommended amount of vitamin A. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that helps protect your body from free radicals, which are molecules that might play a role in cancer, heart disease and other diseases. These sweet potato wedges are seasoned with brown sugar, cinnamon and garlic salt, then baked in the oven for a sweet and salty snack that will warm up anyone on a cold day.

Grilled Veggie and Goat Cheese Toasts

Cancer-fighting recipes generally all have a common denominator: nutrients. These grilled veggie and goat cheese toasts combine fresh tomatoes, zucchini and white beans that have been grilled and spooned over slices of multigrain bread with goat cheese. Each serving has 12 grams of protein to help replenish energy and keep your stomach feeling fuller to ward off nausea.

Warm Meals for Cancer Patients

These cancer-fighting dinner recipes are simple to make and loaded with nutrition. Perfect for a cold day, and great as leftovers, these can be made and rewarmed throughout the week.

Slow Cooker Chicken, Mushroom and Spinach Quinoa Risotto

This recipe from the American Institute of Cancer Research was specially created to support cancer prevention and survival. Loaded with whole-grain quinoa, spinach and garlic, this one-pot meal is easy to make, tastes great and leaves you with plenty of leftovers to warm up throughout the week.

Turkey Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust

A warm, spiced sauce and fresh vegetables make this comfort dish something you can warm up and fill up with from fall through spring. Brimming with carrots and tomatoes, these vegetables have lycopene—a nutrient that has been tied to preventing the spread of cancer.

Drinks for Cancer Patients

Most cancer recipes focus on food, but drinks are a great way to stay hydrated and get added nutrition. Curl up with a favorite book or show and a mug of one of these drinks to rest and rehydrate.

Chai Hot Chocolate

Is there anything cozier than a cup of hot cocoa on a chilly day? Compounds in tea and chocolate can help reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure and play a role in a cancer-protective diet. This recipe calls for a spiced winter twist by adding fresh ginger cloves and cinnamon.

Cinnamon Green Tea

Green tea is linked with lowering cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease and obesity. It is also filled with antioxidants that can help prevent cancer. Make sure to check the antioxidant content of your tea as it can vary brand to brand. This cinnamon green tea can be consumed warm in the winter or chilled for the spring and summer months.

Your oncologist, primary care doctor or registered dietitian can all provide diet recommendations for you, along with other strategies, that can help with your cancer treatment. To schedule an appointment with a provider, call (765) 935-8934 ) or request an appointment online.

Disclaimer: If you have cancer, diet, recipes, and other lifestyle changes can help boost your immunity and prevent cancer, but they are not a cure for cancer. Talk with your doctor about the many strategies you have available to you to fight the disease.