Most of the recipes included in this booklet are designed to be quick and easy to prepare, as well as tasty and nutritious to eat. This means that even if you feel sick, tired, or generally unwell, it should be possible to prepare meals which are good for you and your family with the minimum of fuss and effort.

Celebrity chef recipes

We are very excited that Brian Turner has specially created some of the recipes included in this section. These recipes are accredited at the bottom of each page.

Getting the quantities right

Most of the recipes in this booklet contain quantities for four people. If you are cooking for fewer or more people, or you want to freeze some for later, adjust the quantities accordingly.

Altering the recipes to suit your taste

Many of the recipes are designed to be versatile, allowing you to substitute ingredients which you have in your vegetable rack or store cupboard. You can also miss out foods that you do not like or don't feel like eating on a particular day. Some of the recipes include spices, which can help if your taste buds are sluggish and need some excitement. However, if highly flavoured foods make you feel sick, you can make these dishes more bland by missing out spicy ingredients or adding yoghurt.

Adding supplements to the recipes

If you are losing weight, or have a poor appetite, you may find the recipes that include supplements are a useful way of increasing the protein or energy content of your diet. These supplements, which are usually available on prescription, can also be used as drinks or snacks between meals. A full list of these supplements is shown in the building-up diet section. You can also add calories and protein by modifying your own recipes. For suggestions, see the information on everyday foods.

Alcohol

Alcohol in moderate amounts may help to stimulate your appetite. If your appetite is poor, or you feel sick, a small glass of wine or sherry before your meal may stimulate your appetite and help you digest your food better. So if you fancy a glass of wine or sherry with your meal, then go ahead and enjoy it. If you are taking any medicines, check with your doctor or pharmacist that it is OK for you to drink alcohol.

Food hygiene

Be particularly careful about food hygiene. If your immune system is not working well, you may be more susceptible to food poisoning. If your body is weakened by the cancer or its treatment, you may be less able to cope with the symptoms of food poisoning at this time.

Hygiene tips

• Wash your hands before you touch food, and keep pets out of the kitchen.
• Clean cooking utensils and chopping boards thoroughly.
• Wipe worktops with an antibacterial detergent, and wash or replace kitchen cloths frequently.
• If you decide to store food to eat later, let it cool completely and store it in the fridge. Only reheat food once. Whichever method you use to reheat food, make sure that it is piping hot right through before you eat it. Take care not to burn your mouth or tongue if food is reheated in the microwave, as it may stay extremely hot on the inside even though it has cooled on the outside.

Foods to avoid

If your immunity is low, you should avoid cheeses made from unpasteurised milk (and other foods or drinks made from unpasteurised milk); liver pate; live yoghurt; fresh salads; raw fish; raw or undercooked eggs and undercooked meats, especially poultry.

Cancerbackup recipes can be ordered from Cancerbackup or viewed online.