Maintaining a healthy body weight and making good food choices that give your body the right nutrients can sometimes be a challenge. But if you’re preparing for cancer treatment, now more than ever is the time to focus on your body’s nutritional needs. The fact is that maintaining a healthy body weight may contribute to your recovery and the success of your treatment plan.

Keep in mind that a thin, underweight body may not be able to tolerate the stress of cancer treatment. At the other end of the spectrum, there is evidence that being overweight may increase the chance of cancer recurrence. So whether your goal is weight loss or weight gain during treatment, you’ll want to be sure that you’re getting the nutrients your body needs to heal while carefully eliminating foods that no longer serve you.

Quinoa Tabouli Salad
Fresh parsley, mint, and lemon juice are the bright flavors that make this Lebanese dish so popular. Quinoa cooks quickly; it is easy to digest, high in fiber, and fairly high in protein. It’s also delicious!
1 cup cooked quinoa
1 green onion, minced
1¼ cup minced parsley
½ cup fresh mint, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil
1 teaspoon cumin
white pepper to taste

Precook quinoa, following the instructions on the package. It’s very simple and takes only minutes to prepare. Combine all ingredients and chill. Serves 4.

White Bean Salad
1 can white beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 fresh tomatoes, chopped
½ red onion, minced
juice of ½ a lemon
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
¼ teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon extravirgin olive oil

Mix all ingredients and serve or chill.
Serves 4.