Cooking & Nutrition

Nourishing the Body for Health and Wellness

When trying to help a woman and her family during her journey through breast cancer by providing food, there are a few things to keep in mind. There is no single “cancer diet” yet the American Cancer Society suggests a varied assortment of healthy foods, emphasizing plant sources.

  • Nutrition is paramount
  • Understand the lifestyle of the woman and her family
  • Meals need to be easy to reheat
  • Not everyone likes casseroles
  • Avoid fatty and sugary foods
  • Include fruits and vegetables in your menu

Fruits and Vegetables provide vitamins and minerals, which include antioxidants (cancer fighting compounds). Fruits and vegetables can be eaten raw, cooked, canned, or in the form of juice.

Meat and protein foods include beef, chicken, fish, pork, turkey, milk, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, peanut butter, dried beans, and tofu. These foods provide protein our bodies need to maintain strength and energy, fight infection, and heal itself.

Grains and starches include bread, pasta, rice, and cereal, and they provide our bodies with carbohydrates and B vitamins that our bodies use for energy.

Milk and dairy products provide us with protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, and the best sources of calcium, which is essential for healthy bones.

Healthy Sample Menus

Day One

  • Breakfast burrito
  • Roast beef sandwich with baked potato wedges
  • Stuffed broiled salmon with broccoli
  • Diced cantaloupe
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Day Two

  • Hot cereal
  • Taco Salad
  • Spinach lasagna
  • Almonds, raisins, and pineapple
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Day Three

  • Cold cereal
  • Tuna fish sandwich with pear
  • Roasted chicken breast with salad
  • Yogurt and dried apricots
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Day Four

  • English muffin, egg, and grapefruit
  • White bean and vegetable soup
  • Rigatoni with meat sauce
  • Low-fat yogurt
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Day Five

  • Cold cereal, banana, and toast
  • Smoked turkey sandwich with apples
  • Grilled steak and carrots
  • Low-fat yogurt
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Day Six

  • French toast with grapefruit
  • Vegetarian chili on baked potato
  • Roasted chicken breast with salad
  • Whole wheat crackers, hummus, and fruit cocktail
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Day Seven

  • Pancakes and melon
  • Manhattan clam chowder
  • Vegetable stir-fry
  • Banana, sunflower seeds, and yogurt
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