AYA Resources

Diet and Nutrition

Nutrition is an important part of your cancer journey.

Cancer and cancer treatments may affect the way your body tolerates food and uses nutrients. Maintaining a balanced diet, including a variety of foods when possible can help you feel better and stronger.

Adequate nutrition during treatment helps to maintain your body weight and muscle mass, improves strength and mobility, decreases risk for infection and promotes healing and recovery.

Below is a list of diet and nutrition programs and services available.

Resources

Group Classes

• Eating Well Throughout Cancer Treatment class
• Cooking for Vitality - Nutrition and Culinary Education for Managing Cancer-Related Fatigue class
• ELLICSR Kitchen Cooking and Nutrition Demonstration class
• Healthy Eating During Breast Cancer Treatment class

Webinar

• Recording: Nutrition and Cancer - AYA Webinar Series
• Slides: Nutrition and Cancer Webinar
• Handout: Healthy Snack/Protein Bars
• Handout: Protein Powder

Cancer Cookbook

The dietitians at Princess Margaret co-wrote a cookbook. The cookbook is called Goes Down Easy: Recipes to Help You Cope with the Challenge of Eating During Cancer Treatment. You can borrow the book from the Patient & Family Library or purchase a copy from Amazon Canada or Indigo ($24.95).

• Learn more about the Goes Down Easy cookbook

Food Safety Video Series

In collaboration with the Cancer Education Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre dietitians have developed a food safety video series to help people with weakened immune systems reduce their risk of getting food poisoning.

• Watch the Food Safety video series for tips on safe grocery shopping and how to handle, store, cook, and prepare foods safely

Diet & Nutrition Articles

• Read the Diet & Nutrition articles
• Health Topics: Nutrition During & After Cancer

Other Resources:

• Eating Well When You Have Cancer (Canadian Cancer Society)
• Increasing Calories and Protein in Your Diet
• Nutrition myths about cancer (Juravinski Cancer Centre)