TREATMENT COMPENDIUM - Issue No. 8 - Research, Resources, and Recipes to Help People During Cancer Treatment and Recovery

Sep 27, 2026

Meal planning and preparation strategies support nutrition during cancer treatment and recovery. The issue emphasizes choosing enjoyable food types, building a flexible weekly plan with backup options, and taking inventory to reduce waste through organized grocery lists. Practical guidance covers stocking a pantry and freezer, streamlining dinner prep, batch cooking meal components, and simplifying plates with balanced proportions of vegetables/fruit, whole grains, and lean proteins. It also introduces pre-chemotherapy readiness, hydration, and healthy eating routines to reduce anxiety and improve nutritional status.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Meal Planning

Start by thinking about the types of food you and your family enjoy eating

Create a flexible plan that allows for life to happen

Take inventory of what you have on hand

Keep a well-stocked pantry and freezer

Streamline dinner time by prepping ahead of time

Consider batch cooking several components at the start of the week

When in doubt, keep meals simple

Getting Ready for Chemotherapy

Establish hydration and healthy eating patterns before treatment

™ TREATMENT COMPENDIUM | Issue No. 8 RESEARCH, RESOURCES, AND RECIPES TO HELP PEOPLE DURING CANCER TREATMENT AND RECOVERY » MEAL PLANNING » GETTING READY FOR CHEMOTHERAPY » 2 DELICIOUS RECIPES [CancerNutrition.org](CancerNutrition.org) RESOURCE ~~ ~~ Mae Reilly, MS, RD, LDN What’s for dinner? It’s a question we are all too familiar with and one that seems overwhelming and complicated at times. However, once you Meal Planning find a strategy that works for you, you will soon find that meal planning can help save time and energy, cut down on food waste, and decrease the stress and uncertainty around eating because you already have a plan in place. Here are several strategies for planning and prepping balanced meals: START BY THINKING ABOUT THE TYPES OF FOOD YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ENJOY EATING You can think of it by cuisine type like Italian, Mexican, or Thai. You can also think of it by type of food for example, soup, pasta, tacos, or crock pot meals. Make a list of some of your go-to quick and easy recipes that fall into these categories and that you feel confident making. Use this list as a starting point when planning out your week. CREATE A FLEXIBLE PLAN THAT ALLOWS FOR LIFETO HAPPEN Some people find it helpful to assign meals to specific days of the week, but that doesn’t have to be set in stone. Maybe it feels better to just write down four or five dinner options on a piece of paper and not assign them to specific days. Either way, having a plan that is flexible is key. It’s also helpful to have a backup plan in case whatever you had planned doesn’t work out for whatever reason. Breakfast for dinner is the perfect example of a backup plan you can implement any day of the week. Think of things like omelets or frittata with some leftover roasted vegetables. It may also be helpful to build in a day or two for leftovers so that you are cooking once and eating multiple times. TAKE INVENTORY OF WHAT YOU HAVE ON HAND and make your grocery list from there. Think about what needs to be used up in the refrigerator or freezer and brainstorm ways to incorporate those things into your plan for the next week. This will help reduce food waste. It can be helpful to go into the grocery store with a list organized based on your store’s layout. For example, have produce in one column, dry pantry goods in the next, followed by dairy or refrigerated foods, and then a section for frozen items. This can help you navigate the store efficiently with less chance of forgetting something. KEEP A WELL-STOCKED PANTRY AND FREEZER This can be a game changer for busy nights. If you are making soup, make a double batch and freeze half as a future gift to yourself. Keep frozen vegetables on hand for a quick and easy side dish. Keeping a well-stocked pantry with versatile basics can help you create meals even when you feel like there is nothing in the house to eat. SOME STAPLES TO CONSIDER ARE: 􀀝 􀀝 􀀝 􀀝 􀀝 Olive or avocado oil Broths or stocks Grains such as brown rice, quinoa, farro or whole wheat pasta Beans and lentils Nuts, nut butters, and seeds STREAMLINE DINNER TIME BY FINDING A FEW MINUTES TO PREP THINGS AHEAD OF TIME Chop up vegetables, make a sauce or a dressing, marinate your chicken or start thawing something from your freezer. Doing these things earlier in the day or the night before can make dinner time run more smoothly for everyone. CONSIDER BATCH COOKING SEVERAL COMPONENTS OF MEALS ATTHE START OF THE WEEK For example, make a large sheet pan of roasted vegetables. Cook a batch of whole grains. Bake or grill a few extra chicken breasts. By doing these things ahead of time, you now have several components ready to incorporate into other recipes throughout the week or simply assemble into something like a grain bowl instead of having to cook each night. Curious about how to make a grain bowl? Start with a base of whole grains like quinoa, farro or brown rice. Next, add some vegetable t

FAQs

How can patients plan balanced meals during cancer treatment while saving time and reducing stress?

Use a strategy that fits the patient and family, including listing favorite cuisines and dish types, creating a flexible weekly plan with backup options, and using leftovers to cook once and eat multiple times. These steps reduce uncertainty and make mealtimes easier.

What steps help reduce food waste when building a grocery list?

Take inventory of what is already in the refrigerator and freezer, then brainstorm how to use items in plans for the next week. Organize the grocery list by store layout to shop efficiently and avoid forgetting items.

What does “keep meals simple” recommend for plate composition?

Build plates with 50% colorful vegetables or fruit, 25% whole grains, and 25% lean proteins. This approach emphasizes plant-based foods and includes examples of each food group.

Sep 27, 2026

Uploaded by Quinn Holloway