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Practical Advice From the Front Lines

By Caroline Fuller

Here are eight ideas that come from cancer patients and caregivers, those who have been on the front lines of using better nutrition to fight against cancer. We recommend you try them one at a time because, as we said, it isn't easy to change eating habits. Yet we know the best way to change any habit is by starting small and taking baby steps. Perhaps you can commit yourself to trying one of the following ideas each week. If the one you try works for you, give yourself a gold star for progress. If it doesn't, move on to the next suggestion!

Fresh foods are the best foods. The less processing that food undergoes, the more nutritional value is left in the food. Whenever possible spend most of your grocery store time in the produce section. Today more varieties of fruits and vegetables are available year-round than ever before. Be sure to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consuming.

When in doubt, eat a plant. Steaming fresh vegetables or cooking them lightly in stock or broth instead of fats is a good strategy. Adding a light cheese sauce or cottage cheese to fresh vegetables adds flavor and nutrients.

Drink lots of water. You've heard it before and you're hearing it again. At least eight glasses of water a day are essential. Lack of water inhibits the immune system. The lymph system, a key component of your immune system, requires adequate water to allow it to operate at its highest capacity. Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of pure water each day.

Try new types of food. Are you a meat and potatoes type of person? If so, some quick healthy recipes can often be found a little off the beaten track. How about some black beans rolled up in a corn tortilla with cheddar cheese and mild Mexican salsa? Takes minutes to prepare and will provide protein, carbohydrates and taste!

Don't forget dessert! It's not often you hear that admonition, but if you choose the right things, dessert can give you an extra nutritional benefit. Fresh fruits and fruit-based recipes are probably the best foundation for healthy desserts and will provide vitamins and other nutrients. Other great desserts include regular and frozen yogurt, custards, puddings and nutritious muffins and breads. I have a friend who mixes Ensure (a liquid packed with vitamins and minerals) and a scoop of vanilla frozen yogurt in her blender. It's sinfully nutritious!

Eat with awareness. Take the time to enjoy food. Chew food thoroughly. This aids in digestion. You might even imagine the energy contained in each bite and how it can be used to fight off those nasty cancer cells.

Prepare and share a meal with family or friends. If you are up to it, being a part of the preparation and serving of food can be a fun activity that allows for quality time spent with your loved ones. Choose a simple menu and share the fun of preparing it. Special touches on your table can add to the feeling of contentment that comes from sharing a home cooked meal.

Use the team approach to good nutrition. Your doctor and nutritionist can be "coaches" by giving you specific game plans to help you accomplish your goals. You and your family and friends are the players. If you don't have a lot of energy, you can split the group into "special teams" of menu planners, table setters, shoppers and preparers. A local "meals on wheels" program may be another way to assure you're getting a square meal at least once a day.

Don't give up. Every new day gives you a new slate on which to write your day's food choices. So remember, if you don't eat all the right things today, there's always tomorrow and the next day to try again. Changing habits is a step-by-step process.

So that you can try one suggestion at a time, we recommend you print this page and post it as a reminder that eating right is possible if you take it one-step-at-a-time.

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