General Nutrition
What are carbohydrates?
On a Nutrition Facts label, always check this number first — it tells you how many servings are in the entire package.
What is servings per container?
This macronutrient is essential for repairing tissues, supporting immune function, and maintaining muscle mass during and after cancer treatment.
What is protein?
To ease nausea during cancer treatment, dietitians often recommend eating foods that are bland, low-fat, and served at this temperature.
What is room temperature (or cool/cold)?
This portable, naturally sweet yellow fruit is a quick energy source and pairs well with nut butter for a balanced snack.
What is a banana?
Nutrition experts recommend filling this fraction of your plate with non-starchy vegetables at every meal.
What is one-half (50%)?
The % Daily Value on a food label is based on a diet of this many calories per day.
What is 2,000 calories?
For most cancer survivors, experts recommend consuming this range of grams of protein per kilogram of body weight each day.
What is 1.0-1.5 g/kg?
When mouth sores make eating painful, you should AVOID foods with this texture that can scratch and irritate sensitive tissue.
What are rough or scratchy foods (chips, crackers, hard bread)?
Oatmeal is a top energy-boosting breakfast because it is rich in this type of carbohydrate that releases energy slowly and steadily.
What are complex carbohydrates (or soluble fiber / beta-glucan)?
This eating pattern - rich in olive oil, fish, legumes, and colorful vegetables - is linked to reduced inflammation and lower cancer recurrence risk.
What is the Mediterranean diet?
A food labeled 'high in fiber' must contain at least this many grams of fiber per serving.
What is 5 grams?
These two plant-based foods are considered 'complete proteins,' meaning they contain all nine essential amino acids.
What are soy (tofu, edamame, tempeh) and quinoa?
This mineral — found in bananas, potatoes, and orange juice — is especially important to replenish when diarrhea is a treatment side effect.
What is potassium?
These tiny seeds — popular in smoothies and yogurt — are packed with omega-3s and fiber, and can absorb up to 10 times their weight in water to support hydration.
What are chia seeds?
There are three macronutrients your body needs.
What are carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
These two types of fat listed on the Nutrition Facts label should be limited because they can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol.
What are saturated fat and trans fat?
This creamy, tangy dairy product packs 15–20 grams of protein per serving and is easy to tolerate during treatment.
What is Greek yogurt?
Chemotherapy can cause a metallic taste. Switching to utensils made of this material can help reduce that unpleasant flavor.
What is plastic (or bamboo / non-metal utensils)?
Iron-deficiency anemia is a common cause of fatigue. Name one animal-based AND one plant-based food that are rich sources of iron.
What are lean red meat/chicken (animal) and lentils/spinach (plant)?
Many cancer survivors are deficient in this fat-soluble vitamin, produced when skin is exposed to sunlight, which plays a key role in immune function and bone health
What is Vitamin D?
This label claim means a product contains less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving — but does NOT mean the food is calorie-free or healthy.
What is 'sugar-free'?
This condition — characterized by involuntary loss of muscle mass and weight — makes adequate protein intake especially critical for cancer patients.
What is cachexia (muscle wasting)?
This condition — sometimes caused by radiation to the abdomen — impairs the intestine's ability to properly absorb nutrients from food.
What is malabsorption?
B12 and folate are critical B vitamins for energy. Cancer survivors following this type of diet are at the highest risk for B12 deficiency because B12 is found almost exclusively in animal products.
What is a vegan or fully plant-based diet?