The best post-cancer diet

Or how I stopped worrying about food and started enjoying it

First things first. I big shout out to Stachia who is just completing treatment and reached out to me with questions about my diet. She asked what foods have I cut out, which ones I am limiting and which foods I eat regularly. I’m no doctor but I’m happy to share my views on this important topic, keeping in mind dietary choices should be specific to your own situation and your body.

Having said that, I have no hard and fast rules about things I will absolutely no way eat ever. To me, that’s just too harsh, too inflexible. Look, I want to be able to enjoy my life – since I’ve worked so hard to have it! – and saying I’ll never have another bite of this or that doesn’t fit with that personal goal of enjoying the rest of my life, however long it lasts (and I hope it lasts a long time).

So I don’t have rules, I follow my own best practices. I eat foods that improve my body’s efficiency, promote calm and emotional balance, upgrade nutrition and reduce anxiety.

So let’s dive into each of these. First off, like a lot of people I am looking to make my body more efficient. And, that means getting your body to eliminate regularly (yes poop!). To that end, I eat a lot of naturally probiotic foods. My typical breakfast is a big bowel of yogurt (full fat), sliced banana, a handful of walnuts, cocoa nibs, antioxidant-rich Aroniaberries, which I buy frozen, and a small squeeze of honey. If I have some anti-inflammatory pomegranate seeds, I throw those in too. By the way, nuts are the bomb. They make you feel full and they deliver huge health benefits, like Omega 3s. And, by the way, I don’t feel like my veggies or berries have to be fresh. You can save money by buying frozen and the health benefits remain basically the same or better because they are typically frozen at their peak.

Of course, sometimes it’s not just what you eat, but how much you eat. In the years after treatment, I’ve found that I had been eating just way too much food for my body to process. By reducing my intake (but still eating things I love), I reduce the strain and stress on my body. I don’t wake up with that too-full hangover. Plus, I have more energy. This calms me down because I don’t have to worry about not being able to “get up” for a liveshot at work.

One way I try to upgrade nutrition in every meal is by integrating more vegetables. Veggies deliver huge nutrients and we never seem to get enough. I favor broccoli, spinach and carrots, but I eat most any vegetable in season in the summer. And, my husband and I are lucky on this score because we have a place up in the Berkshires and frequent farmers’ markets all summer long.

When it comes to meat, I am not an anti. I’m not vegetarian or a vegan, but I limit red meat and frankly prefer fish and chicken these days, but don’t have it every meal. One thing I started doing during the pandemic is buying an organic whole chicken once a week, slathering it with olive oil and seasoning and throwing it in an old fashioned crockpot four four to five hours and then shredding the meat for salads and sandwiches.   

The truth is that beans can go a long way to fulfilling your protein needs and you can use them in about every dish. I love the legumes, whether it’s cannellini, lentils, navy, cranberry, or just old-fashioned green beans. I am a good ol’ southern girl and can make an entire meal out of green beans, sliced tomatoes and a nice wedge of cornbread (hold the butter).

So for me, and remember, I am no doctor, I avoid processed foods and opt for whole foods, especially fresh veggies and fruits, fish and chicken. I eat bread, but opt for whole grain varieties and only occasionally down an entire chocolate croissant.

There is no real magic here. Consistency is truly the hard part but once you get used to a new diet, you crave it. Even foods you thought you couldn’t do without will become less attractive over time. I stopped eating bacon for a while and found that when I went back to it, it tasted awful.

Happy to hear from any of you about your diet hacks! I feel like I just barely peeled back the topic here. Please, let me hear from you!