Eating well

This fact sheet is part of a section about childhood cancer. To access the rest of the content in this section, see Childhood cancer.

All children need to eat well to stay healthy and to grow well. Eating well means eating the correct balance of a wide variety of foods. The food pyramid shows the importance of each food group. For children who have cancer, eating well is especially important because it will:

• help to maintain their normal growth
• improve their body's ability to fight infection
• help them cope better with the stress and the side effects of treatment
• help with healing

There are some problems with eating well that are common among children with cancer. See:

• Some common problems for children with cancer

You should always contact your dietitian if your child is experiencing eating problems. If you printed and filled out the Important contacts page, you can find the name and phone number of your dietitian there.

During times of illness, nutritional requirements such as calorie intake may need to be adjusted for individual needs. Your dietitian will provide a guide for these times.

Does anything in food cause cancer?

No. Many parents worry that certain foods eaten by their child may have caused the cancer. There is no evidence that this is true. Some adult cancers are thought to be linked to diets which are low in fruit and vegetables, but there is no evidence that food has any effect in childhood cancers.

Can the cancer be cured with a special diet?

There are claims that certain diets or dietary supplements can cure cancer but the information can be misleading. It is important to discuss information you have about special diets and dietary supplements with your doctor or dietitian who will help you.

What are the best foods for my child who has cancer?

As with any child, your child needs food from each of the groups in the food pyramid. Children having treatment for cancer need more calories and nutrients than they normally would - your dietitian will offer advice.

Some common problems for children with cancer

There are some problems with eating well that are common among children with cancer. The following are links to fact sheets which offer explanations about each problem and suggestions for management:

• Loss of appetite & weight loss in childhood cancer - advice about nutrition
• Nausea & vomiting in childhood cancer - advice about nutrition
• Sore throat & mouth in childhood cancer - advice about nutrition
• Neutropenia - advice about food safety
• Taste changes in childhood cancer - advice about nutrition
• Constipation in childhood cancer - advice about nutrition
• Diarrhoea in childhood cancer - advice about nutrition

Nasogastric and gastrostomy feeding

Sometimes, if a child has lost a lot of weight or has not been eating very well for a period of time, they will need nasogastric feeding. See:

• Nasogastric and gastrostomy feeding in childhood cancer

Where to go for information and support

Acknowledgements

All the fact sheets in the Childhood cancer section of this website have been written by health professionals who work in the field of paediatric oncology. They have been reviewed by the members of the nurses' working group of the Paediatric Oncology Steering Group (POSG) of the Children's Cancer Services in New Zealand. Medical information is authorised by the POSG chair.