Feature image For many people, food is meaningful in ways that go beyond carbohydrates, protein and calories. Meals bring us together with loved ones, remind us of cherished memories and connect us to our cultural heritage. For people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer , challenges related to digestion and nutrition […]
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For many people, food is meaningful in ways that go beyond carbohydrates, protein and calories. Meals bring us together with loved ones, remind us of cherished memories and connect us to our cultural heritage.
For people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, challenges related to digestion and nutrition are common, which may make it more difficult to enjoy eating. Sometimes surgery, prescription drugs or the cancer itself can decrease appetite or change the way food tastes. Weight loss, either from cancer treatment or the malabsorption of nutrients, is also often a concern. Some patients who go through surgery for pancreatic cancer may also need to manage a diabetes diagnosis.
Despite these challenges, by modifying ingredients and cooking methods, it’s possible to continue to explore traditional dishes that hold special meaning while maintaining good nutrition.
Here, we explore some of our favorite resources reflecting different cultures and communities – all with tips and recipes to make them healthier or more beneficial for patients facing cancer.
Hispanic Communities
- The American Institute for Cancer Research provides meal tips and recipes in Spanish. All of the recipes are designed to support “cancer risk reduction and survivorship” by incorporating foods like beans, whole grains and a variety of vegetables. Check out options like chilaquiles with beans and corn and pistachio crumble tacos.
- Nuestra Cocina Saludable: Recipes from Our Community Kitchen from the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio is available in English and Spanish. It includes more than 40 recipes “straight from real Latina kitchens,” with modifications by a dietitian to make them healthier.
- The California Department of Health offers a Healthy Latino Recipes cookbook, including breakfast and snack ideas and recipes for dinner and celebratory meals.
Black Communities
- The National Cancer Institute publishes a Down Home Healthy Cooking cookbook that features recipes incorporating the “basic staples of traditional soul food” including dark leafy greens, sweet potatoes, and high-fiber black eyed peas.
- The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine offers plant-based recipes and cooking demos that “honor African American culinary traditions.” Videos offer instruction on how to cook dishes like jerk lentils and mac and cheese, while a blog offers a range of recipes.
- Soulful Recipes, from the California Department of Health, includes guidance on fruits and vegetables as well as recipes focused on building healthy traditions.
Indigenous Communities
- The American Indian Cancer Foundation developed Food & Healing: A Nutrition Guide for American Indian and Alaska Native Cancer Survivors to “help support Native cancer survivors, caregivers, and families of survivors through this emotional and difficult time.” It includes a Native Foods Guide highlighting different healthy foods, including salmon, berries and corn, as well as regional recipes.
- Traditional Foods in Native America, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Native Diabetes Wellness Program, highlights the “traditional foods programs in six culturally and geographically diverse American Indian/Alaska Native communities.” It includes recipes for dishes like squash pie, green corn soup and salmon and nettle soup
Asian American/Pacific Islander Communities
- Chinese Recipes: Recipes for People Affected by Cancer, includes healthy meal options that are “culturally relevant for members of the Chinese community undergoing cancer treatment.” It is published by the University of Tasmania Center for Rural Health.
- The Nourish Project, from the Stanford Medicine Center for Asian Health Research and Education, includes easy to follow recipe videos and guides for a range of cuisines such as Japanese, Filipino, Indian and Korean. All of the resources aim to manage diabetes and promote healthy eating.
Every patient with pancreatic cancer has individualized nutritional needs. It is important to consult with a registered dietitian or doctor before making any dietary changes.
For more information about Diet and Nutrition, including our booklet with specific information for patients with pancreatic cancer, contact PanCAN Patient Services.
