What Shall I Eat If I Feel Sick?


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Sickness may be due to your illness or may be caused by your treatment. It's often only temporary, but you might find the following hints helpful:

Take small frequent meals throughout the day or six small meals may feel better than three large ones.

Make the most of it when you do eat, so you do not have to worry when you feel unwell. Do not feel that you have to stick to particular meal times, eat what you like when you feel like it.

Avoid very sweet, fatty, greasy or spicy foods.

Try to keep meals fairly dry. Do not drink with a meal, but have one 30 minutes before or after .

If you feel sick in the morning, try to eat something dry, preferably before you get up, e.g. toast, plain biscuits, cream crackers.

The sight or smell of food might make you feel worse, let a friend or relative cook if they offer.

Cold foods and drinks do not smell as strong as hot foods. Nutritious meals do not have to be hot; ask the dietician for some ideas.

Sipping a still drink, such as weak fruit squash, through a straw often helps. A fizzy drink that has gone flat, can have the same effect, e.g. soda water, lemonade or ginger ale.

Some people find that peppermint tea or a drop of peppermint oil in hot water can help settle the stomach.

If possible, take a short walk before meals and eat in well-ventilated room.

Try to rest for 30 minutes after meals, but avoid lying flat.

Avoid wearing tight clothes.

Doctors can prescribe anti-sickness pills if your symptoms persist.

If you are vomiting, it is important to keep up your energy and fluid intakes. Solid fluids may be easy to manage, e.g. fruit sorbet or jelly. Non-milky drinks may be more, refreshing and you might find some of the following suit you:

Clear soups or consomme;
Marmite, Bovril, Oxo drinks;
Yoghurt and yoghurt drinks;
Weak fruit squash;
Weak tea with lemon or milk

While these will help to keep up your fluid intake, they do not contain enough nutrients to be relied upon for more
than a day or two. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

If you wish to discuss your eating problems with the dietician, please ask your doctor, nurse or radiographer for a referral.