Eating Well After Treatment

Once you are done with cancer treatment, you may wonder what you should eat to support your health. This will depend on how you feel and any changes your body has gone through during treatment. Learn how you can improve your health by eating well.

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Why it’s important to eat healthy after treatment
Tips for healthy eating after cancer treatment
Managing weight changes

Why it’s important to eat healthy after treatment

Eating a healthy diet after you finish treatment can help you regain strength and energy and feel better overall. It can also help lower the risk of your cancer coming back (recurrence) and of getting a second cancer. Eating healthy can also help prevent or manage other health problems, like heart disease and diabetes.

The American Cancer Society has a Nutrition and Physical Activity Guideline for Cancer Survivors. These guidelines suggest that you:

Try to get to and maintain a healthy weight and increase your muscle mass through a healthy diet and physical activity.
Follow a healthy diet that gives you the nutrients you need and lowers your risk of health problems.

If you aren’t having trouble eating and drinking after treatment, 草莓影视 recommends following the healthy diet plan outlined in its Guideline for Diet and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention.

A healthy diet includes:

A variety of vegetables in different colors
Fruits, especially whole fruits, in a variety of colors
Plant-based protein sources, like beans, lentils, and peas
Chicken, turkey, fish, and seafood
Whole grains, like whole-grain breads and cereals
Low-fat dairy, like milk and yogurt

It is best to avoid or limit your intake of:

Red (beef, pork, or lamb) and processed meats
Sugar-sweetened beverages and refined grain products

Also limit or avoid alcohol. If you drink, limit the amount to no more than 1 drink per day for women and 2 for men.

Tips for healthy eating after cancer treatment

Before you make changes to how you’re eating, check with your cancer care team. Some people develop changes in how they eat and drink after treatment, like trouble swallowing or dry mouth. In these cases, you may need to avoid foods that cause trouble swallowing or digesting. If your immune system is weak after treatment, you may need to avoid raw or undercooked meat.

If you don’t have any food restrictions, try these tips:

Don’t be afraid to try new foods. Your tastes may have changed during treatment.
Try to buy a different fruit, vegetable, low-fat food, or whole-grain product each time you shop for groceries.
Choose different plant-based protein foods. Try eating tofu, eggs, beans, lentils, or peas a few meals each week.
Look for recipes that feature vegetables, lean protein sources, and whole grains.
Add nuts or nut butters to dishes like salads, soups, or dips for fruits and vegetables.
Choose fruits or fruit-based desserts instead of baked goods.
Use different healthy fats when preparing food, like olive, canola, vegetable, or peanut oils.
Try different seasonings in your food to make them more interesting to eat.
Stock your kitchen with healthy foods for snacks and meals.

If you have trouble figuring out how to eat healthier, ask to meet with a registered dietitian (RD). They can help you create a nutritious, balanced eating plan.

Managing weight changes

Changes in your weight are common during cancer treatment. As you recover, you might need to take steps to get to a healthy weight.

If you’ve lost weight

If you’ve lost weight during treatment, you might need to gain some to heal and recover. You might need to find ways to add more protein and healthy calories to your diet. Try to:

Have several small meals or snacks throughout the day, rather than 3 larger meals.
Choose snacks that are high in protein and calories, such as nuts, trail mix, dried fruit, granola, peanut butter, hard-boiled eggs, or cheese.
Drink smoothies, milkshakes, and nutritional supplements or bars to put more calories and protein into your diet.

If you gained weight during treatment, you might need to lose some to get back to a healthy weight. Talk to your primary or cancer care team to develop a plan to lose weight. You can ask about working with an RD to help you come up with a healthy eating plan.

If you’ve gained weight

You can also try to:

Cut back on drinks sweetened with sugar. Drink more water and non-sweetened drinks.
Choose healthier, lower calorie foods, such as fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains.
Read food labels to become more aware of portion sizes and calories.
Be as active as you can, after checking with your cancer care team.

Losing weight isn’t easy, but your health care team can work with you to develop a plan to help you be successful.

Written by
References

The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team

Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as editors and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.

Jatoi A. The role of parenteral and enteral/oral nutritional support in patients with cancer. UpToDate. 2024. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/the-role-of-parenteral-and-enteral-oral-nutritional-support-in-patients-with-cancer on October 13, 2025.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Survivorship. Version 2.2025. Accessed at https://www.nccn.org on October 13, 2025.

Rock CL, Thomson CA, Sullivan KR, et al. American Cancer Society nutrition and physical activity guideline for cancer survivors. CA Cancer J Clin. 2022. Accessed at https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3322/caac.21719 on October 13, 2025.

Last Revised: October 21, 2025

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