Tips for Healthy Snacking

Christina L. DiSegna, MS, RD, CSO, CNSC, LDN
Senior Clinical Dietitian
Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center

During cancer treatment, adding healthy snacks can be a great way to maintain good nutritional status. Due to changes with metabolism from cancer and cancer-related treatment, energy and protein needs are higher. Often, side effects such as decreased appetite, early satiety, nausea, and bowel issues can make it challenging to meet those increased nutrient needs. Thus, adding snacks in between meals can help better meet nutritional requirements and can often help with combatting side effects.

Increased nutrient needs during treatment can result in decline in nutritional status should intake not be adjusted to account for this. Those who are continuing to eat their normal portions spread over three meals may not be meeting their calorie and protein goals and can lose weight and muscle mass. This may result in decreased response to treatment or affect their ability to receive treatment. Additionally, side effects such as decreased appetite and early satiety make eating large portions challenging. By adding snacks in between meals, this provides additional opportunities for nutrition throughout the day. Aiming to eat every 2-3 hours helps increase nutrient intake and may help combat side effects such as nausea and fatigue. Snacking can also help provide an eating schedule which in turn can improve appetite and help maintain lean body mass.

Not all snacks are created equal! Ultra-processed snack foods such as salty snacks, sugar sweetened beverages, and candy provide calories but overall are lacking in nutrients. Some studies have linked excessive intake of ultra-processed food with increased cancer risk. So when choosing snacks, think of them more as “mini meals” as opposed to choosing traditional snack foods. Aiming to incorporate a protein food along with a fruit, vegetable, or carbohydrate will provide a nutrient-dense and satisfying snack.

Even once treatment is completed, continuing to incorporate snacks in between meals can help speed recovery by ensuring adequate nutrition to promote healing. Additionally, healthy snacks can help support goal of achieving a healthy weight and incorporating a variety of plant-foods, both which are important for survivorship.

Snack Ideas:

• Whole grain crackers or graham crackers and nut butter of choice (peanut butter, almond butter, etc)
• Homemade trail mix: combine mixed nuts and dried fruits of choice (raisins, dried cranberries, etc)
• Apple slices or celery sticks with nut butter
• Toast with nut butter or avocado
• Hummus with vegetables (carrot sticks, bell pepper slices, cucumbers), pretzels, or pita bread
• Guacamole with whole grain crackers
• Cheese with whole grain crackers or fruit
• Greek yogurt with fruit or chopped nuts
• Cottage cheese with fruit or vegetables (cucumber, tomato)
• Oatmeal (made with milk) with nuts or nut butter and dried fruit
• Whole grain cereal with milk
• Edamame
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Roasted chickpeas
• Tuna salad, chicken salad, or egg salad on crackers
• Oven roasted turkey slices on crackers or rolled up with cheese
• Protein shakes (homemade or premade)
• Homemade smoothies (blend Greek yogurt with frozen fruit and ice)