Tips for diet problems
Speak to your healthcare team if you have a problem with diet, digestion or weight loss. They can refer you to the hospital dietitian for help. Many cancer units and hospitals now have dietitians for people with cancer. They work with your doctor to decide together on the best way to manage your diet problems.
There are ways to deal with diet problems such as taste changes, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, constipation and sickness (nausea).
Foods to try:
- Try foods that have a strong smell, as your sense of smell is linked to taste.
- Choose foods that have strong flavours if all your food tastes the same. Try adding garlic, lemon juice, herbs and spices, and marinades.
- Try different textured foods like creamy or crispy foods.
- Have warm and cold foods together, like a warm fruit pie with ice cream.
- Tart foods have a strong taste. Consider lemons, limes, oranges and gooseberries, lemon yoghurt, lemon cheesecake, orange mouse, lemon sorbet and stewed gooseberries (avoid if you have a sore mouth).
- You might find you prefer stronger versions of your favourite foods such as smoked ham or bacon or strongly flavoured cheese.
Preparing your food:
- Marinate foods overnight or for a few hours (even 10 minutes will make a difference). Make a marinade with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, and whichever herbs or spices you fancy. Add a splash of wine or some lemon juice if you like.
- You could use a dry marinade, also called a rub. Mix up spices and herbs and rub onto uncooked meat or fish with clean hands.
- Gravies and bottled sauces can help to add flavours to a meal.
- Use chutney, pickle or relish to add flavours to food.
- Italian dressings, sweet and sour sauce and sweet fruit juice will enhance flavours.
Things to avoid:
- Avoid foods that taste strange to you, but try them again every few weeks as your taste may have gone back to normal.
- You may want to avoid your favourite foods and drinks during chemotherapy so there is no danger of going off them for good. This is particularly useful for children.
- Avoid hot (spicy) foods if you have a sore or infected mouth.
- Avoid very cold or hot foods.
- If your food tastes metallic use plastic utensils and avoid food and drinks from cans. This can help reduce the metallic taste
Other ideas:
- Keep your mouth clean and brush your teeth well.
- Rinse your mouth with water before you eat.
The video below is from the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust. It has more tips for when you have taste changes because of cancer or its treatment. The video is 2 minutes and 46 seconds long.
This video provides tips when you have taste changes during your cancer treatment and are struggling to find foods to eat.
Some cancer treatments may affect the cells in your mouth changing your saliva or causing a dry mouth. Food and drinks can then taste strange. Your taste will also change if your tongue becomes coated, you develop thrush or your mouth is sore or infected. You may lose your taste, or it may be different from normal. You might find you prefer sweet or savoury foods.
If your food tastes odd, experiment with different flavours, textures and temperatures to see what works for you. Suck mints or boiled sweets to refresh your mouth. If tea and coffee taste unpleasant try peppermint or fruit teas instead.
Make sure you brush your teeth regularly. Speak to your medical team if you have a coating on your tongue or a sore mouth since they could prescribe a something to help.
If you have no taste, use stock instead of water and add herbs, spices, chilli, ginger, mustard, or garlic to cooking. Add flavours to vegetables, for example small pieces of bacon, ham, onion or lemon juice. Pickles, relishes and chutneys can help with the taste of meals. Try marinading meat, poultry or fish in wine, cider or fruit juice before cooking and use dry rubs to add flavour.
If all your food tastes sweet avoid puddings and sweet treats and choose savoury foods instead.
Choose unsweetened fruit juices and tinned fruit in natural juice. Add lemon juice to foods that taste sickly sweet. Avoid foods and drinks containing artificial sweeteners.
If your mouth is very dry make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day.
Add sauces and gravy to meals and choose soft moist foods that are easier to chew and swallow. You may also find it helpful to use sugar-free chewing gum to stimulate your saliva.
For more information and to see all of our videos, please visit our website at
If you find you have a loss of appetite, some of the following suggestions might help.
Preparing your food:
- Prepare and store small servings of your favourite foods ahead of time, so there is always something to eat when you feel hungry.
- Ask friends and relatives to help prepare meals for you. Cooking your own food can sometimes put you off eating.
- Have a stock of convenience foods in the cupboard, such as tinned soups and puddings.
Looking after yourself:
- Avoid getting over tired. You will find everything more difficult to cope with if you are exhausted.
- Don't give yourself a hard time if you really don't feel like eating for a few days after treatment. It is important to drink, but you can make up for lost calories between treatments.
- Try to focus on what you have managed to eat or drink rather than worrying about what you haven't. Keep in mind that everybody has good days and bad days.
Foods to try:
- Add extra calories and protein to any food that you eat (using butter, milk, cream, sugar, honey and cheese).
- Choose foods that appeal to your sense of smell and eat cold or slightly warm food if the smell of cooking puts you off eating.
- Softer foods like scrambled eggs or pasta are sometimes easier to eat.
- Choose nourishing fluids. Drinks that are dairy based have more energy and protein than many other drinks such as water, tea, coffee and squash.
- Eat puddings and desserts. Foods with fat or sugar are good sources of calories.
- Don't be afraid to try out new foods and tastes. You may be surprised at what you like.
- With your doctor's permission, small amounts of your favourite alcoholic drink might boost your appetite.
- Try to eat small amounts of high protein and calorie foods every 2 or 3 hours instead of 3 large meals a day. High protein foods include meat, fish, eggs, dairy foods, beans and pulses.
Other ideas:
- Avoid filling your stomach with a large amount of liquid before eating. Drink fluids after your meal.
- Don’t put too much food on your plate. This can put you off eating.
- Chew food well and eat slowly.
If you are worried about losing weight, ask your doctor about high calorie drinks.
The video below is from the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust. It has more tips for when you've lost your appetite because of cancer or its treatment. The video is 2 minutes and 1 second long.
This video provides tips when you have lost your appetite and just don't feel like eating during cancer treatment.
Cancer and many cancer treatments can lead to a loss of appetite meaning that you just don’t feel like eating. This is very common but it is really important that you stay well and keep your weight stable through cancer treatments. There are many symptoms that may affect your appetite. These include nausea, pain, diarrhoea, constipation or a sore mouth. Many of these symptoms can be managed with medications so please talk to your doctor or specialist nurse who will be able to help.
We have some top tips if you don’t feel like eating.
Eating ‘little and often’ through the day is often easier. Try not to go long periods without eating and aim to have something every two three hours during the day.
Larger meals can be off putting if your appetite is not good. Having smaller meals more frequently and including snacks is a good way to get all the nutrients you need
If you don’t feel like eating it is often easier to drink. Try full fat milk, smoothies, milkshakes, yoghurt drinks, hot chocolate, fruit juices and cordials.
It can seem strange to go away from healthy eating guidelines but if you don’t feel like eating avoid low fat and diet products.
For more information and to see all of our videos, please visit our website at
- Eat smaller meals and more snacks.
- Try not to eat too much greasy or fatty food.
- Try starchy foods which are low in fibre, such as white bread and rice, pasta, and mashed potatoes.
- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Aim for 8 to 10 cups each day.
- Try to avoid caffeine or alcohol. These can make your symptoms worse.
- Avoid food or drink containing artificial sweetener such as sorbitol, mannitol or xylitol. These can make diarrhoea worse.
- Ask your doctor to prescribe anti diarrhoea drugs.
The video below is from the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust. It has more tips for when you have diarrhoea because of cancer or its treatment. The video is 2 minutes and 39 seconds long.
This video provides tips when you have diarrhoea during your cancer treatment and do not know what to eat.
Diarrhoea is a common side effect of many cancer treatments and some cancers. It can also be a sign of infection so it’s important to check your temperature and speak to your doctor if you are concerned and you are passing loose motions more than 4-6 times each day. They can prescribe medications to help. If you are taking antibiotics these may cause diarrhoea and if you have been constipated, taking laxatives can mean your stools are looser while you ‘clear out’ your system.
Diarrhoea in the cancer setting is not usually caused by the food that you eat.
It is important to stay well hydrated if you have diarrhoea. Aim to drink at least 2 litres of fluids per day. This includes water, tea, squash, fruit juice and milky drinks.
Sip drinks slowly throughout the day. If your symptoms are severe avoid coffee and alcohol since these can stimulate the bowel to work and can make things worse. Isotonic sports drinks or rehydration medications like Dioralyte® can also be used to help.
Persistent diarrhoea can lead to weight loss. It’s important to keep eating even if you appetite is poor, and eating slowly can help. You may find that eating lots of smaller meals and snacks throughout the day is better for you. Choose lighter foods such as fish, eggs or pasta and rice dishes. There is no evidence to say that you need to stop eating fruit and vegetables, but if you eat a lot of fibre, reducing the amount may be helpful. Especially foods like beans, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, bran and raw vegetables.
Cutting down on greasy, fatty foods like burgers and chips, and spicy foods such as chilli will be more gentle on your system, so are best avoided until you feel better.
For more information and to see all of our videos, please visit our website at
- Drink 10 to 12 cups of fluid each day if possible. Water, prune juice and orange juice can all help.
- Eat foods high in fibre such as fruit, vegetables, lentils, beans and wholegrains (unless you have a blockage in your bowel).
- Do some exercise each day, even if it is just a short walk.
Let your healthcare team know straight away if you think you are constipated.
The video below is from the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust. It has more tips for when you have constipation because of cancer or its treatment. The video is 3 minutes and 6 seconds long.
This video provides tips when you are constipated during your cancer treatment and are struggling to eat.
Constipation is a common side effect of some cancers and cancer treatments. It can also be caused by some anti-sickness drugs and painkillers. If you are opening your bowels less frequently than usual and your stools are hard and difficult or painful to pass, you may be constipated.
Constipation can cause symptoms such as tummy pain, bloating, feeling full-up quickly, nausea, vomiting and poor appetite.
If your bowels are not opening properly due to your treatment or your medications, then you will need to take laxatives to help. Please speak to your medical team as soon as possible to arrange for a prescription. Dietary changes may not be enough to help with constipation, especially if it is due to your treatment or medications.
Aim to drink at least two litres of fluids per day. This can include water, tea and coffee, squash, fruit juice and milky drinks.
Gentle exercise can help stimulate the bowels. Keep as active as possible through your treatment.
Eat regular meals. This should allow your digestion to fall into a pattern and will help to establish a regular bowel habit.
Always have breakfast to help your bowels move in the morning.
When you feel the urge, don’t delay going! Try resting your feet on a low stool or a bin while going to the toilet, so that your knees are above your hips; this can make passing a motion easier.
Increasing the fibre in your diet may help with constipation but you may also need laxatives to help. Do this gradually. Good sources of fibre include fresh, tinned, frozen or dried fruit and vegetables. Aim for five portions per day. Beans, pulses, nuts, seeds and wholegrain foods are also good choices. A high fibre diet is not suitable for everyone.
Consult your doctor or dietitian if you are unsure about the amount of fibre you should have.
Constipation can affect your appetite. If you are very constipated you are unlikely to eat well until your bowels are properly open. If you are struggling, eat ‘little and often’, have smaller meals but eat regular snacks and puddings. Include nourishing drinks and avoid low fat or diet foods.
For more information and to see all of our videos, please visit our website at
What to eat:
- Try nibbling on dry food like crackers or biscuits first thing in the morning.
- Try cold or slightly warm food if the smell of cooked or cooking food makes you feel sick.
- Have several small meals and snacks each day and chew your food well.
- Light, bland foods, such as plain toast or crackers, might be easier to eat.
- Have a small meal a few hours before treatment (but not just before).
- Eat fresh or tinned pineapple chunks. This helps to keep your mouth fresh and moist.
- Have your drinks ice cold.
- Try sips of clear, sweet liquids, like fizzy drinks or fruit juice.
Things to avoid:
- Try not to eat or prepare food when you feel sick.
- Avoid fried foods, fatty foods or foods with a strong smell.
- Don’t brush your teeth just after eating.
- Don’t fill your stomach with a large amount of liquid before eating.
- It’s best not to do too much activity straight after eating.
- Try and avoid mixing hot and cold foods.
- Avoid drinking orange or grapefruit juice, which may irritate your stomach.
Ginger and peppermint:
Some people find that food and drinks with ginger and peppermint can help with nausea. You could try sucking mints, ginger biscuits, peppermint tea or ginger ale.
The video below is from the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust. It has more tips for sickness (nausea) because of cancer or its treatment. The video is 2 minutes and 20 seconds long.
This video provides tips if you feel sick during cancer treatments.
Feeling sick or nauseous is really common during cancer treatments, particularly chemotherapy.
Constipation, infections and anxiety can also make you feel sick. Always make sure you tell your doctor or nurse specialist if you are experiencing nausea as they can advise on anti-sickness medications or laxatives if you need them. You may need to try several before you find one that suits you. Contrary to popular belief, nausea is not usually linked to the foods that you are eating.
If you are feeling sick there are certain things that may help. Try to eat little and often through the day, being too full or too empty can actually make nausea worse.
The smell of foods and cooking may cause nausea. If this is the case, choose foods that need only small amounts of preparation such as sandwiches, something on toast such as eggs, beans or avocado, jacket potatoes with a filling or cereals, and make sure that the room you are eating in is well ventilated. Avoid foods that are greasy, fatty or fried.
Try eating bland, dry foods first thing in the morning to settle your stomach.
You may find that nibbling a biscuit before getting out of bed helps.
Some studies show that ginger can help with nausea so you could try ginger biscuits.
If you really cannot face solid food keep drinking and try to have nourishing drinks such as milky drinks, fruit juices or smoothies. Fizzy drinks that have gone flat may be easier.
For more information and to see all of our videos, please visit our website at