Hi all, Iāve been seeing so many different food tips and recipes that help during cancer treatment I thought it would be a great idea to start a topic for us to discuss in one place.
Food can be triggering to people for many reasons and it can be hard to manage on care free days so adding cancer into the mix is well, a recipe for disaster! Hopefully here in this space we can share some of the foods that actually help through treatment 
From the start of my breast cancer journey food has been the one thing I felt I had control over and during all those dark waiting room days I filled my time with so much food research. I truly believe now that food can be medicine and Id love to try some of your tried and tested recipes
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Ok Iāll jump in to kick us off! My āIām neutropenic but Iām taking controlā smoothie recipe:
One glass of milk (cow or plant or nut), 1 tbsp ground linseed/flaxseed, 1 tbsp 100% cocoa powder, 1 tbsp protein powder (absolutely any type, whatever you like), 1/2 banana and/or a spoon of honey. Whizz it up and get it down you.
For neutropenia also make sure you eat a high protein diet, and leafy greens, kiwis, cranberries/cranberry juice, pomegranate/pomegranate juice, cherries (a little luxury I know, see if you can get frozen or tinned ones!), kefir/Greek yogurt.
The 100% cocoa is (in my view) really helpful in boosting those neutrophils. Itās worked for me anyway - Iāve had no GCSF injections and managed to increase my count despite having weekly chemo.
And final bit of the jigsaw - moderate daily exercise.
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Thank you Sam! I was hoping youād send a smoothie recipe 
Iām giving this a try tomorrow!
I am day 7 post 1st EC chemo round and up until today ive done really well hydrating but today I havenāt managed much at allā¦. I just tried some plain soda water and ive already drunk a pint! My small win today
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I didnāt fancy cocoa today as I had lots of chocolate cake yesterday for motherās day Instead my smoothie was 1 small banana, 1 kiwi (skin left on) some honey, frozen mango, a mix of soy milk/water and 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed. All whizzed up in my ninja nutribullet
Delicious!
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Sounds great @foxgem . The cocoa is only for neutropenia really - I usually dislike it and so itās an effort for me to take it, but I swear itās doing the trick. I had some chia seeds in mine today 
and had a kiwi afterwards.
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Currently having neoadjuvant chemoā¦
I have been having porridge in a morning into which I mix a square of dark chocolate (generally 70% cocoa upwards) plus chia seeds plus raspberries. Or Iāve fancied bran flakes some days! Or Greek yoghurt with mango and passionfruit and homemade granola a friend kindly delivered.
Generally otherwise - Lots of soups and broths including bone broths too, cheese and pineapple (!) xx
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I just devoured a very large handful of dried pitted apricots.
Now Iāve got a lovely bowl of porridge (1 cup soy milk, half cup rolled oats, tablespoon flaxseeds, tablespoon honey, pinch of cinnamon and half a cup of frozen blueberries)
All of this is high in fiber, antioxidants and vitamins A and C, potassium, calcium, iron, omega-3 fats and some protein.
The perfect bone marrow immune boosting breakfast
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Loving the idea of chocolate porridge 
! I adore dried apricots and I even like prunes too. I like to snack on them with a small handful of nuts at the same time (walnuts, almonds). Also love Greek yogurt and kefir yoghurt - amazing with any kind of fruit (am currently working through a tub of pomegranate jewels and sliced kiwis). All super immune-busting stuff. Letās keep it up 
!
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Breakfast today didnāt win any awards for presentation but it was very satisfying Feels great to start the day right. Im adding lots of fiber this week before round 2 chemotherapy this coming Monday. I read that chemo constipation can be helped if you add high fiber before chemo day. Its no use adding it after. So fibre and protein are high on the list this week.
A bowl of malted wheats mixed in with 1 greek yoghurt, 8 pitted prunes chopped up, 1 whole orange chopped into segments, some honey and a heaped teaspoon of ground flaxseed
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Blood test at lunchtime today so I loaded up this morning with a 100% cocoa smoothie with banana, soya milk, soya protein powder and milled flaxseed. Lunch when I got back was a thick slice of homemade wholemeal toast (no Iām not Nigella, I cheat with a bread machine 
), cottage cheese with chives, handful of almonds and an apple,accompanied by a glass of pomegranate juice. Protein, fibre and antioxidants.
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I think I might try a chocolate smoothie right now! I havenāt tried cocoa in them before
1 banana, 1 cup frozen blueberries, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, half milk/waterā¦. Delicious!
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If anyone is veggie or wants to eat less meat, a brilliant way of getting low fat high protein is tofu and tempeh. I know some people donāt like the texture but you can simply crumble it up and fry into meals like you would mince or shredded chicken. It doesnāt have much taste so takes on the flavour of what youāre cooking. Likewise chopped walnuts work brilliantly in place of meat in a bolognaise
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I made a tomato pasta sauce this week as I normally would but I added a tin of large white beans (protein) whizzed it up and the family didnt even know haha
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Talking of tofu I made chocolate mousse yesterday with pack of silken tofu, melted 85% chocolate, cacao powder, and honey. Topped it with berries. Full of good things and delish!
Also made some Quinoi Bread. So many great recipes online.
Another new favourite is lentil dhal with veggies.
Iāve definately embraced beans and pulses post cancer, encouraged by the nutrition sessions over Zoom from the Penny Brohn charity. X
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Some great stuff here!
Just wondering if anyone has decided to or has successfully quit caffeine? I drink decaf tea anyway as I love the taste so this is not a problem but definitely drink coffee for the hit and my intake is getting a bit silly!
Oh I want that mousse recipe! Sounds amazing! I also love dhal, sometime thin like a soup and other times thick. Add a hard boiled egg or some spinach 
. I use a bread maker to make bread so Iāll look for a quinoa recipe. The more protein the better . Thanks!
@mssteel i have two cups of drip/filter black coffee every morning but for some time Iāve been using half caffeinated and half decaf. It really works - and I donāt find it impacts my day or sleep. Decaf tea in the afternoon and evening definitely. I donāt drink cows milk so I have my tea weak with a slice of lemon - sounds weird but itās really refreshing (bizarrely I first had it like that in Poland of all places!). I donāt know what the benefits would be of completely giving up caffeine? Especially if you have it first thing. Iām not sure one cup a day (or equivalent) is too big a problem?
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