Food Ideas for a New Mom Who Will Be Having Chemo

Updated on October 30, 2014
J.G. asks from Chicago, IL
20 answers

A lady in my co/op had a cancerous tumor. They removed it during her c-section last Friday, and she will now have chemo. I'm planning on bringing dinner next Friday. I'm concerned about bringing something she will actually be willing and able to eat.

Any ideas? I was going to make Mexican because that always reheats well, but I'm wondering if I should bring soup and sandwiches instead?

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I'd ask her what she's in the mood for. My mother in law had chemo and she drastically changed food choices. She's the only one who will know what she wants to taste.

2 moms found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I would stick with basic, non greasy/cheesy, non spicy foods, like chicken soup, a simple pot roast, things like that.

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T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I would go with more comfort foods and keep them pretty bland. Her family can always add pepper and spices to spice their portion up.

I happened to be in the mood for some blandish comfort food today and I just made a huge dish of chicken tetrazinni with cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup, homemade chicken broth, sautéed carrots/onion/diced greed pepper, artichokes and topped with slivered almonds. My hubby likes more spice so he'll had the cayenne to his portion.

Just a note.... I saw on FB the other day about an organization , (I forget the name) that helps moms going through chemo. As long as they have confirmation from a Dr. that you are going through chemo, they come in at least once a month and clean your house at no charge. Someone on here has probably heard if it.. I'll go back through my FB history and see if I can find the link.

3 moms found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from Tampa on

I agree with Osohapi. You need to check with her directly. There are a lot of things she is not allowed to eat. Protein, certain kinds, are probably allowed. The only way to be sure is to ask. She will be touched by your kindness. Also, just wondering...is this being set up by your church or by neighbor friends, etc....only reason I ask is you can set up an account with "Take Them a Meal" or sign up genius and list things that are ok and things to stay away from. This can be updated, too, as she completes her treatments (foods, can be added, etc).

3 moms found this helpful

O.H.

answers from Phoenix on

Please just ask her directly and don't assume anything. I had meals delivered to me and my family last month and honestly, got some crazy things like a lentil casserole. My kids still ended up eating Spaghetti-Oh's. So if you are doing something to "help" her and want to make sure it's something she can eat, then you need to ask her. I would not even assume "soup and sandwiches" are ok unless you know what kind. It's nice of you to do this for her. Good luck.

3 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

It's so individual, and the nausea gets worse as the chemo goes on for many people, so what's good today may not be tasty in a month or two. I work with a lot of people with varying stages of cancer, and there really isn't a rule that everyone follows. You won't know, and she won't know, until she gets into the course of treatment. She may not even be all that tired right now - the chemo is cumulative so in the beginning she may be fine. More likely she will be overwhelmed with the newness of the diagnosis, the recovery from surgery and the c-section, and the fear, not to mention having a new baby.

The main thing is to make small portions, a variety of foods and textures, and to use disposable containers so she doesn't have to deal with washing dishes and returning them.

One thing your co-op might like to look into is the free website called Lotsa Helping Hands. It's a way to organize volunteers, enter in the family's preferences, and set up a schedule so that the woman herself does not have to talk to everyone and make all the arrangements herself. Look it up and let me know if you have questions - we've used it a lot for many people who have some serious illness. You can coordinate everything including meals (not just dates, but food preferences), errands, child care, yard work, housework/laundry, everything they need and nothing that they don't. You can even see what others are cooking on their assigned nights so you don't duplicate.

2 moms found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

Usually, they really lose the taste of anything.

So on those days it is best to ask, "what do you think you would like to eat today? "

My friend one day announced, "I would love some fried chicken and mashed potatoes from Hyde Park Cafe." We were all over it. She did not eat much, but she said she was glad to be craving something. I also purchased some apple pie that she enjoyed.

Another day she asked me to stop at a local pizza place, for those of you in Austin, it was "Conans". This was the last meal she was able to eat out at. She said it still tasted as she remembered it before.

On other days, she enjoyed homemade soup. Her husband made a vegetable soup. I took over some chicken soup with vegetables , and another neighbor made a potato soup.

My friend did like very thin crisp cookies. So I took a variety of them to her.
She also enjoyed the whole food cheese puffs. I think the crunchy texture helped her feel fuller.

You cannot go wrong with basic foods. Simple chicken or beef. Simple vegetables without sauces and not spicy. Simple small rolls with roasted turkey breasts so she can have small sandwiches. Small baked potatoes, or sweet potatoes. Hard boiled or soft boiled eggs.

She will be encouraged to eat lots of small meals.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.W.

answers from San Francisco on

You are a dear! What a generous and thoughtful thing to do.

My first thought is to talk to her caregiver and find out what she is craving and most importantly what she can actually eat. Oftentimes, those on chemo cannot eat fresh fruits and vegetables...maybe even cooked ones too. I can't remember from the time I made dinner for a friend undergoing chemo. So double check.

A large pot of soup and some french bread sounds comforting and cozy for a new mama and especially one going through something so harsh as chemo. Then they can graze on leftovers for the next couple days or freeze and reheat later.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Chicago on

Been there. Done that. I would not bring food unless she has said it is OK. When I went through chemo, we asked people to bring frozen casseroles, frozen spaghetti sauce, frozen soup etc. That way we could heat it up if I felt OK but it wouldn't go to waste otherwise. Many smells bothered me during the worst days which were hard to predict. Everyone is different but I would say a definite no to Mexican food. Also helpful were gift certificates to Peapod for grocery delivery, Noodles and Company, or others.

It is beyond kind of you to offer to help. Food always seems helpful but sometimes during chemo, it isn't.

I hope she does OK with everything.

1 mom found this helpful
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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

So nice of you but I would ask her what she would like first.
She may not be able to eat much or hold things down due to the chemo.
You could offer to take her kids to give her a break or to run errands or
p/u groceries.
Just check with her first. Again....so thoughtful of you

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Santa Barbara on

Is the food for her family so she does not need to worry about cooking?

If it is special for her, I would ask her caretaker.

This is such sad news.

Off topic from your question, but I am curious. How did they find out? Was she in pain and complain or did it somehow show in blood test or ultrasounds she had because she was pregnant? Not sure if the tech would be allow to look at other areas for the pregnancy ultrasound. I recall the hospital/office being very cheap about using the ultrasound machine. They sad they would only use it if they couldn't find a heartbeat (other than the 2 times covered by insurance). The reason was the cost.

1 mom found this helpful
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O.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

Be very aware of what she is and isn't allowed to eat. Must times, uncooked fruits & veggies are out. As are many deli meats, etc.
I'd say you're best bet is a nice soup with so e bread or rolls.
Peoples tastes during chemo really change, so something basic, not spicy, would be best.
Soup
Breaded chicken
Cooked veggies
Mac & cheese

1 mom found this helpful
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H.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

I always consider what I am willing to cook and offer up two or three choices to the family. Otherwise, make something that is freezable and not something they expect to eat that day.

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L.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

My mom is on round 17 of chemo, and we've found that she feels best with very high protein, high nutrient foods. Her tastes change significantly with every new drug, so don't be offended if suddenly she will refuse something she's eaten before. Also, find out if there's anything her doctor has told her not to eat. My mom's cancer feeds on estrogen, so her doctor told her not to eat any plant-based estrogens - NO SOY (which is in everything these days), but also no garbanzo beans, and a bunch of other things.
During chemo my mom doesn't want to eat, so every bite needs to be very nutrient dense. We do a lot of ground turkey breast, quinoa. Roasted chicken, mashed sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower have been some of our go-tos. Also consider something that can be packaged easily for the freezer - chicken & veggie soup, beef stew, etc.
Also, we try to get mom to have a smoothie every day during chemo of greek yogurt, protein powder, berries, kale, and any thing else that sounds good. It's packed with protein, and nutrients, and sometimes is one of the few things that she can just eat without a lot of fuss & effort.

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S.J.

answers from Des Moines on

I would stick with comfort foods like mac n cheese, spaghetti, casseroles, etc.

S.A.

answers from Chicago on

How sad for a new mom to be battling cancer. I would suggest something more on the bland side would be easier to tolerate than something spicy. There are a million casserole recipes for chicken and noodles, or chicken and dumplings on Allrecipes.com. Bake them in a disposable foil baking pan and they can be frozen and reheated easily too. Even if she can't eat it, her husband and other kid(s) will and that will be helpful to her.

S.T.

answers from Houston on

I've heard from cancer survivors I know the chemo changes their tastes and invariably they will be vomiting what is eaten. Therefore, a lot appreciate trying new foods. If they don't like it, no big deal because they often have diminished appetites anyway. Most critically, though, if they do vomit it up the food, it doesn't forever ruin the memory of a beloved dish. My grandfather in particular suffered mightily with his treatments and before my grandparents figured out the taste memory part, they inadvertently ruined his love of many of his favorite dishes.

For any recovering person I would opt for more bland foods. Soups in particular are well received. They are neither heavy nor demanding. Very flavorful dishes can be overwhelming to all the senses so I would try to steer clear of Mexican, Italian, Indian, etc. Good luck and may your friend recuperate quickly.

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N.P.

answers from Chicago on

my friend just got done with a summer of chemo, the first day they just sleep, their taste buds change and they aren't as hungry or they are wanting salts instead of their normal sweets or only want meat when they normally barely eat it - so the best plan is to think of their family so that they have food to eat while the chemo person sleeps

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S.R.

answers from Kansas City on

When my MIL was going thru chemo, she barely had an appetite and when she could eat, she ate like a bird! I would either ask her what she is up to eating and if there are any restrictions. Another idea would be when she is going thru that few weeks right before chemo and her appetite is back maybe you could get her a gift card so she can go to her favorite restaurant. So sad to hear of someone going through this. :( Breaks my heart.

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E.B.

answers from Denver on

I agree with the others that during chemo she may either not want to eat much, or that her appetite will change frequently.

However, if she has a husband or partner, or if her mom will be staying there to help, that person will need to eat to stay strong during this difficult time. Does she have other children?

If she has a partner (or if someone will be living with her to help out)I would bring some easy-to-prepare foods that could be quickly transformed into a meal. In other words, not the meal, but some good basics.

Some examples are:

1: a rich homemade chicken stock, portioned out in quart- or pint-sized containers, clearly labeled. That could be sipped as a simple comforting broth, or someone could throw some vegetables and chicken in for a quick soup.

2: a marinara sauce, made simply from tomatoes, basil, and maybe some onion and garlic (a good homemade sauce - like Marcella Hazan's or Lidia Bastianich's). That can be served over pasta, made into a quick pizza on English muffins, blended with a little cream for a tomato soup, or it can be combined with cooked sausage or meat and/or vegetables for a hearty spaghetti meal

3: some nice baking potatoes (raw) with some containers full of toppings, such as cooked broccoli, chopped cooked bacon, grated cheese, sour cream. A loaded baked potato is an easy meal, and all they'd have to do is bake the potatoes which isn't hard. And your friend could eat a plain one if all the toppings aren't appealing but someone else might want a loaded one.

4: Some homemade or deli cooked chicken, and some containers of fresh vegetables (tomatoes, sliced red or yellow peppers, fresh mushrooms, sugar snap peas) and a nice homemade vinaigrette dressing for a make-your-own salad.

5. Some Mexican fix-your-own foods would be nice. Refried beans, pico de gallo, already-grated cheese, some tortillas, cooked chicken, seasoned cooked fajita steak and onions and peppers, but pack them in separate containers. Your friend might want to just snack on a tortilla and some cheese, and the other people in the house might love to build a delicious taco salad or fajita.

You can just deliver some items, or you could group some meal components and tape a list to them offering some ideas on how they can be used (useful if they're not cooks, or if they're so stressed due to the illness and the baby that they can barely think straight).

I hope your friend recovers well.

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