A Patient's Guide to a Lung Cancer Diet
Diet and nutrition are essential topics to talk about after receiving a lung cancer diagnosis. How can we find a healthy balance between eating right and enjoying the food we eat?
Finding balance and avoiding over-restriction
I'm no sugar expert! I also want to make something clear: I am not here to debate if sugar drives cancer. That conversation is for another time and place (my vice is Mountain Dew!) I want to show that restricting the food you desire is no fun and can be done in moderation. Eat the cookie - but maybe not the whole package. Part of a sustainable lung cancer diet is allowing yourself some grace.
Realizing my diet's role in the cancer journey
After I was diagnosed with lung cancer, I thought I needed to go on a juice diet and completely change how I ate. To me, it was like my diagnosis was directly related to what I ate. I'm not sure what your story is, but I was diagnosed with lung cancer due to sheer bad luck. It had nothing to do with my diet! Once I realized that, I began to think about how my lung cancer diet would play a role in this journey toward healing.
Sharing responsibilities in the kitchen
My husband and I share the meal prep and cooking duties in the house. He makes breakfast on the weekends and some meals during the week. I pick up the slack! We're both responsible for our lunches. We have a shared note on our iPhones with dinner ideas, which helps us keep track of what we have on hand - or if we need to go to the store this way. Sometimes even grocery shopping can be too much!
Using meal prep to manage treatment side effects
Prepping meals ahead of time is a game-changer on those days you may be feeling a bit more fatigued. When I was actively getting chemotherapy treatments, I could figure out what days impacted me the most. I had a lot of help, but I also enjoy being independent. Find the day that you feel the best and meal prep! Pinterest has so many great options for lung cancer diet-friendly ideas.
Quick cooking with the Instant Pot
I have found that using an Instant Pot for nightly dinners has been very helpful. The meals cook quickly, and there are so many options. My favorite thing to make is a lemon chicken quinoa soup with spinach! - It’s a perfect staple for a nutritious lung cancer diet.
Balancing nutrition and treatment side effects
Many people think you need to change your diet after a lung cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately, you do, but NOT in the ways you may think. You need to make sure that you are getting your fruits and veggies. Juicing was helpful during times when I couldn't eat solid food due to treatment side effects. You also need to plan your meals around your treatment days. This is even more helpful if you're on a TKI. If that is the case, you may need to adjust the foods you eat based on the side effects you encounter, like nausea or appetite loss.
Did you change your diet after being diagnosed with lung cancer? How do you handle meal prep while in active treatment? Let us know in the comments.
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