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Consultation with a member of the Nutrition Services team is offered to all U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center patients. Arrange an appointment by calling 877-907-0859.

Managing Side Effects and/or Late Effects of Treatment
Cancer Nutrition Services: Managing Eating Problems

Comfort Foods
Eat for your health

TIP: Use pureed vegetables or potatoes instead of cream to thicken soups.

by Nancy Burke, R.D., Danielle Karsies, M.S., R.D., and Melissa Shannon-Hagen, R.D., CSO
U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center Symptom Management and Supportive Care Program

Although food is fuel for our bodies, most of us eat for the pleasure of taste and experience. A creamy bowl of macaroni and cheese may make you think of lazy days with grandma.

A few slices of cheesy pizza with golden crust may remind you of all the good times you had at sleepovers or in college. During cancer treatment and survivorship, these feel-good foods can provide the comfort we need and be a great source of nutrition.

Traditionally, many comfort foods are high in calories and fat and low in nutrient-dense vegetables and whole grains. This can be easily modified so you can reminisce without remorse.

Cooking Tips

Instead of:	Try:
1 cup of cream	1 cup evaporated skim milk
Cream to thicken soups	Pureed vegetables or potatoes
Oil base for marinade	Citrus juice or flavored vinegar
White rice	Brown rice, bulgur, quinoa or whole-wheat couscous
Bread crumbs	Toasted wheat germ or whole-wheat bread crumbs

Baking Tips

Instead of:	Try:
1 egg	2 egg whites or ¼ cup of liquid egg substitute
Frosting	Pureed fruit or a light dusting of powdered sugar
Pastry pie crust	Phyllo or graham cracker crust
½ cup butter or margarine	¼ cup applesauce or prune puree + ¼ cup of canola oil, butter or margarine
1 cup all-purpose flour	1 cup finely milled whole-wheat flour (also called whole-wheat pastry flour)

If you're currently undergoing cancer treatment and losing weight, now is the time to indulge in comfort foods. Macaroni and cheese, chicken noodle soup, meatloaf, mashed potatoes and ice cream can be great options as their high calories, creamy textures and low-fiber content make them easy to chew and digest. Indulging in these foods without modifications can help you to get the calories and protein your body needs to get you through your treatment. The nostalgic feelings are just an added bonus.

Visit Comfort Food Tips for more ideas on modifying some of your favorite comfort food recipes without sacrificing taste or experience.

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This article first appeared in the Fall, 2012 issue of Thrive.

Print Fall, 2012