What are the best foods to eat when having chemo?

October 6, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the National Cancer Institute, proper nutrition can be a vital component of coping with cancer treatment side effects and maintaining your strength. Discovering what are the best foods to eat when having chemo can help manage common issues and ensure your body gets the support it needs during this challenging time.

Quick Summary

Focus on consuming small, frequent meals of bland, easy-to-digest, nutrient-dense foods to counteract chemotherapy side effects such as nausea and appetite loss. Maintaining consistent hydration is essential, and adjusting food temperature and texture can make eating more comfortable.

Key Points

Prioritize Nutrient-Dense Foods: Focus on maximizing calories and protein with small, frequent meals of foods like lean meats, eggs, avocados, and smoothies to combat fatigue and appetite loss.
Choose Bland, Mild Foods for Nausea: Crackers, dry toast, plain rice, and ginger-flavored items can help settle an upset stomach, while avoiding greasy, spicy, or strong-smelling foods is crucial.
Stay Hydrated Consistently: Sip clear liquids like water, broth, or herbal teas throughout the day to prevent dehydration, which can exacerbate other side effects like nausea and constipation.
Adapt to Taste and Smell Changes: If food tastes metallic, use plastic utensils. If flavors are muted, experiment with new spices or tart foods like lemon juice or sugar-free candies to stimulate taste buds.
Select Soothing Foods for Mouth Sores: Opt for soft, mild, and cool foods such as mashed potatoes, yogurt, popsicles, and scrambled eggs, and avoid anything spicy, acidic, or hard-textured.
Manage Diarrhea with the BRAT Diet: The bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast diet can help during episodes of diarrhea, along with clear fluids and electrolyte-rich drinks.
Address Constipation with Fiber and Fluids: Increase your intake of high-fiber foods like whole grains and dried fruits, and ensure you are drinking plenty of liquids, to manage constipation.

Managing Common Chemotherapy Side Effects with Food

Chemotherapy's impact on appetite and digestion can be significant and varied, making food choices a critical part of managing treatment. The key is to adapt your eating habits to your body's changing needs, focusing on high-protein, high-calorie, and hydrating foods that are easy on your system. A balanced approach can help maintain your strength and energy, and improve your overall quality of life during treatment.

Combatting Nausea and Vomiting

One of the most frequent side effects of chemotherapy is nausea. To help mitigate this, experts often recommend eating small, frequent meals and snacks throughout the day, as an empty stomach can make nausea worse. Bland, low-fat foods are often the best choices.

Dry, starchy options: Plain toast, saltine crackers, pretzels, and dry cereals are easily digestible and may help settle your stomach.
Cool foods: Cold foods like yogurt, sherbet, popsicles, and gelatin often have less odor than hot foods, which can be a trigger for nausea.
Ginger: Ginger ale, ginger tea, or ginger chews are known to have nausea-reducing properties.
Hydration: Sipping clear liquids like apple juice, broth, or non-caffeinated soda throughout the day is crucial for preventing dehydration, which can worsen nausea.

Addressing Loss of Appetite and Fatigue

Chemotherapy-induced fatigue and lack of appetite can lead to weight and muscle loss, making it harder for your body to heal. The goal is to pack the most nutrients into smaller, more manageable meals.

Nutrient-dense shakes and smoothies: Blend fruits, vegetables, yogurt, protein powder, and nut butters for a high-calorie, high-protein drink that's easier to consume than solid food.
High-protein foods: Eggs, fish, lean chicken, and cottage cheese provide essential protein for tissue repair and strength.
Healthy fats: Incorporate avocados, nuts, and seeds into meals to boost calorie intake without adding much volume.
Smaller, frequent meals: Instead of three large meals, eat five or six small ones or snacks every couple of hours to keep your energy levels steady.

Navigating Taste and Smell Changes

Chemo can alter your sense of taste, causing food to taste metallic, bitter, or simply bland.

For metallic taste: Use plastic or bamboo utensils and avoid canned foods. Marinate meats in sweet sauces like barbecue or teriyaki to mask the taste.
To enhance flavor: Experiment with strong-tasting condiments, herbs, and spices. Add lemon or lime juice to food and water, or suck on tart, sugar-free candies.
Try new proteins: If red meat tastes different, opt for other protein sources like chicken, fish, beans, or eggs.

Soothing a Sore Mouth or Throat

For those experiencing mouth sores, chewing and swallowing can become painful. Soft, mild foods are key.

Soft and smooth foods: Mashed potatoes, yogurt, pureed fruits, soups, and oatmeal are gentle on a sensitive mouth.
Cool temperatures: Ice cream, popsicles, and frozen fruit can help soothe mouth pain.
Avoid irritants: Stay away from acidic foods and drinks (citrus, tomatoes), spicy foods, and crunchy or hard-textured foods like chips and raw vegetables.

Side-Effect Management: Dietary Comparison


Symptom	Best Foods	Foods to Limit or Avoid
Nausea & Vomiting	Dry toast, crackers, pretzels, clear broth, ginger ale, plain yogurt, gelatin, cold foods	Greasy, spicy, fried foods, strong-smelling foods, very sweet foods, large meals
Appetite Loss	Nutrient-dense smoothies, high-calorie protein drinks, lean meats, eggs, avocados, nuts	Empty-calorie foods (soda), very filling liquids during meals, fatty foods
Taste Changes	Chicken, fish, eggs, beans, marinated meats, tart candies, lemon/lime juice, new seasonings	Red meat (if metallic), acidic foods, overly sweet or bitter flavors
Sore Mouth	Soft foods (mashed potatoes, yogurt), pureed soups, smoothies, scrambled eggs, ice cream	Spicy, acidic, salty foods, crunchy or hard textures (chips, crackers), very hot foods
Constipation	High-fiber foods (whole grains, fruits, vegetables), dried fruit, prune juice, plenty of water	'Gassy' vegetables (broccoli, cabbage), cheese, low-fiber refined grains
Diarrhea	BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast), bland cereals, baked chicken, broth	High-fiber foods, milk and dairy products, spicy, greasy, or fried foods

Conclusion

Maintaining proper nutrition during chemotherapy is a dynamic process that requires a personalized approach. By focusing on nutrient-dense foods, staying hydrated, and adapting to side effects like nausea, appetite loss, and taste changes, you can help your body stay strong throughout treatment. Small, frequent meals, a variety of textures and temperatures, and listening to your body's signals are all valuable strategies. Always consult with your medical team or a registered dietitian to create a plan that is safe and effective for your specific needs. For further guidance and resources on managing your diet during cancer treatment, consider exploring patient education materials from reputable sources like the National Cancer Institute.(https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/eating-problems) Adjusting your diet to manage side effects is not just about eating, but about providing your body with the fuel it needs to heal and recover.

Frequently Asked Questions

Focus on eating several small, frequent, nutrient-dense snacks and meals throughout the day rather than three large ones. Consider high-calorie, high-protein shakes or smoothies that are easier to consume. Don't wait until you feel hungry to eat; eat on a schedule.

To manage nausea, eat bland, low-fat foods like crackers, toast, or rice. Avoid spicy, greasy, or strong-smelling foods. Many people find that cool or room-temperature foods are more palatable. Ginger ale or ginger tea can also help.

If you have mouth sores, choose soft, moist, and cool foods. Options include yogurt, smoothies, pureed soups, mashed potatoes, and scrambled eggs. Avoid acidic, spicy, salty, and hard-textured foods that could cause irritation.

Yes, especially if your immune system is compromised. You should avoid raw or undercooked meat, poultry, and fish, unpasteurized dairy products, and unwashed fresh fruits and vegetables. Processed foods, excessive sugar, and alcohol are also best limited.

Try using plastic or bamboo utensils instead of metal silverware. Marinate meats to alter their flavor, or swap red meat for poultry or fish if the metallic taste is an issue. Adding tart flavors, like lemon or lime juice, or sucking on sugar-free hard candies can also help.

Hydration is extremely important. It helps flush toxins from the body and prevents dehydration, which can worsen other side effects like nausea and fatigue. Aim for 8-10 glasses of fluid daily, and consider options like broth, herbal tea, or electrolyte drinks.

For diarrhea, try eating bland, low-fiber foods like the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast). Drink plenty of clear liquids and broth to replenish lost fluids and electrolytes. Limit high-fiber foods and dairy until symptoms improve.

Yes, increasing your fluid and fiber intake can help. Options include whole grains, fresh or dried fruits, legumes, and prune juice. Light exercise, if approved by your doctor, can also help stimulate bowel movements.