cover image What to Eat During Cancer Treatment: 1100 Great-Tasting, Family-Friendly Recipes to Help You Cope

What to Eat During Cancer Treatment: 1100 Great-Tasting, Family-Friendly Recipes to Help You Cope

Jeanne Besser, Kristina Ratley, Besser Jeanne. American Cancer Society, $19.95 (158pp) ISBN 978-1-60443-005-9

Author and Atlanta-based food columnist Besser (The First Book of Baking, The Great American Eat-Right Cookbook) teams up with three registered dieticians to create this handy reference guide for cancer patients and caregivers. More than 100 recipes are included, classified by the side effects they help abate-nausea, weight loss, taste alterations, digestive issues, difficulty swallowing and others (most dishes apply to multiple symptoms). Besser emphasizes the familiar and comforting (chicken noodle soup, shepherd's pie, tuna melts, mac and cheese), but dozens of suggestions for each symptom ensure patients will find something satisfying. A simple Honey-Teriyaki Salmon may jolt taste buds out of a funk; Rosemary Beef with Shallot Cream provides valuable protein and nutrients for the underweight, while a lush, creamy roasted cauliflower soup soothes a sore mouth. Each recipe is written clearly, with nutritional information as well as suggestions for substitutions and leftovers (extra mashed potatoes from Mashed Potato-Chicken Patties? Use them in a Shepherd's Pie). Besser closes with thoughtful ideas for a portable survival kit, including drinks, crave-busting snacks and tips for dining out. Approved by the American Cancer Society, this collection serves as a welcome reference and comfort for those living with illness.