Except for the fact that cancer patients should always consume the most nutritional foods available, there are other influences as well. Chemotherapy treatment might leave a person without appetite, nauseous, with mouth sores or with a loss of sense of taste. Advanced cancers might even cause difficulty in swallowing. This doesn’t mean that Christmas dinner/lunch has to be dull and dreary. Much effort has been put into tasty recipes for cancer patients.

Certain foods always need consideration whilst planning your menu. Bananas, peanut butter, frozen yoghurt, ice-cream, cow’s milk or lactose free milk, custard (e.g. Crème Brule), soups, nuts, fish, salads and added natural fibre are all beneficial. Apricots, prunes and raisins are especially good for the colon. The most popular ‘drink’ would be some kind of shake - E.g. liquidising one banana with milk and a dash of vanilla. Liquidised vegetable soups are also one of the most nutritious, easy to swallow foods one can offer. Take care not to add meat, salt and stock with preservatives. (Minestrone soups are always packed with nutrition.) Salads can be crammed with as much variants possible. Fish should rather be steamed or grilled. Turkey may be offered, but without the fatty skin.

There are some exceptionally good natural ‘gifts’ for cancer that you can use as flavouring. Add oyster mushrooms to soups and sauces. Ginger, raw garlic, rhubarb and turmeric (Indian saffron) are very beneficial. (Just take care not to give turmeric to patients receiving chemotherapy). Don’t forget the cabbage! Add raw wheat grass and apple juice to a shake, or offer decaffeinated green tea. For salads one can replace olive-or sunflower oil with grape seed-or linseed oil. To spice things up, cayenne pepper would be the way to go. And for dessert, try gooseberries, cranberries and cinnamon with frozen yoghurt or vanilla flavoured ice-cream.

One may offer light wine or champagne, as one glass will not harm a cancer patient. Make a special toast to life! Bear in mind that most patients have low energy levels. Having a drawn out meal at the dining room table will be tiring and unpleasant. Patients can also not get through that much food at a given time. Serve the starter and have a short break by moving to the lounge for a chat. After the main meal it could be time to open gifts, have song dedications and making your toast. Dessert should only be served about an hour after the main meal. Have a comfortable spot for the patient to sit and enjoy the occasion. Be ready with a blanket, fire-place and a hot drink. If it’s a supper, dim the lights, and keep those excited toddlers calm!

Once you know the advantage in certain foods, your Christmas dinner or lunch should be a breeze. A cancer patient doesn’t have to get alienated by a separate menu, as all your guests will benefit from cancer-friendly foods.

PASTEURIZED EGG NOG RECIPE
IMPORTANT: Never used cracked eggs (bacterial risk) and always wash eggs before cracking them.
What You need:
1x quart (1L) full cream milk
6x large eggs
1/4 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla (extract)
1/8th teaspoon nutmeg (freshly ground)
Method:
. In a sauce pan, beat together the eggs and sugar untill the colour lightens.
. Add 2x cups milk, and stir continuousely over low heat.
. Remove when mixture thickens.
. Stand mixture for 5 minutes - this will kill bacteria as the temperature will
be around 160'F (70'C)
. Stir in the remaining milk, vanilla and nutmeg.
. Chill for 4 hours.
. Serve within 24hours.