During cancer treatment, your body needs even more calories and nutrients than usual. But those same treatments can often tank your appetite, making it difficult to reach your nutrition goals.

To ensure people with cancer get the nutrients their bodies need to recover, Kimmel Cancer Center dietitian Gabrielle Judd recommends smoothies to boost calorie, protein and micronutrient intake.

Additionally, chemotherapy and radiation may have side effects that make eating difficult, including:

• Nausea
• Dry mouth
• Sore throat
• Taste changes
• Pain and inflammation of the mouth’s mucus membranes (like the gums)
• Difficulty swallowing

“For patients suffering from these side effects, a smoothie’s cool, velvety texture can be very soothing,” says Judd. She shares helpful tips and easy recipes to get started.

Smoothie Building Blocks

To build a nutritious, tasty smoothie, approach your recipes with these four components in mind:

Protein

Protein is an essential nutrient that keeps muscles strong, helps with surgical healing and nourishes the body. Examples include:

• Protein powder or protein supplement (e.g., whey protein or plant-based protein)
• Dairy milk
• Soy milk
• Greek yogurt
• Silken tofu
• Cottage cheese
• Dry milk powder

Liquid

Liquid ingredients help to loosen the texture, making smoothies easy to drink. They also provide additional fluid to help your body and cells stay hydrated. Examples include:

• Dairy or plant-based milk (e.g., oat or almond)
• 100% fruit juice
• Oral rehydration solution (e.g., Pedialyte)
• Oral nutrition supplements (e.g., Ensure, Boost)
• Water
• Coconut water

Flavoring

Flavoring ensures your smoothie won’t feel like a chore to drink. Flavoring is especially important for those who experience taste changes from their medication, which can make many foods taste bland or metallic. In contrast, the bright, sweet flavor of smoothies is often a welcome change-up. Flavoring examples include:

• Fresh or frozen fruits or vegetables
• Chocolate or caramel syrup
• Spices (like cinnamon, ginger, turmeric)
• Cacao powder
• Vanilla or other extracts
• Citrus zest
• Instant coffee

Booster

Boosters can help enhance flavor, macronutrients or micronutrients, making your smoothie work better for your nutrition goals. Examples include:

• Nuts or nut butter
  • For extra fats and protein
• Coconut milk or oil
  • For extra fats
• Medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) supplement
  • For extra fats
• Collagen supplement
  • For extra protein
• Powdered seeds (like flax or hemp)
  • For extra protein and fats
• Chia seeds
  • For extra fiber and protein
• Fruit jam
  • For extra carbohydrates
• Spirulina
  • For extra protein and antioxidants
• Oats
  • For extra fiber
• Ice cream
  • For extra carbohydrates
• Honey
  • For extra carbohydrates

Smoothie Recipe Ideas

Smoothies are incredibly versatile, and the possibilities are endless. Use these examples as a guide to get started, but feel free to come up with your own recipe. For example, if you are lactose intolerant, choose lactose-free dairy, soy, or plant-based milk instead of regular dairy milk. And if you grow tired of a specific taste, switch it up to ensure your smoothie is always enjoyable.

Follow this formula to mix and match your components:

1. In a blender, combine your protein and liquid with as many flavorings and boosters as desired.
2. Blend until smooth.
3. Adjust amounts of liquids and solids for your desired consistency (more liquids produce a thinner smoothie; more solids or frozen foods produce a thicker consistency). 

Chocolate Cherry Smoothie

• Protein: 1 scoop chocolate whey protein powder
• Liquids:
  • 1 cup 2% chocolate milk
  • ¼ cup 100% cherry juice
• Flavoring: ½ cup frozen, pitted cherries
• Nutrition facts: 380 calories, 32 grams protein

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie 

• Protein: 1 serving of vanilla plant-based protein powder
• Liquid: 1 cup vanilla soy milk
• Flavoring: 1 banana
• Booster: 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• Nutrition facts: 530 calories, 36 grams protein

Creamsicle Smoothie

• Protein: ½ cup vanilla Greek yogurt
• Liquid: 1 cup 100% orange juice
• Flavorings:
  • 2 mandarin oranges, peeled
  • ½ cup frozen cauliflower
• Boosters:
  • 1 cup vanilla ice cream
  • 2 tablespoons orange marmalade
• Nutrition facts: 700 calories, 21 grams protein

How to Incorporate

“Another benefit of smoothies is that they can be enjoyed any time of day. Use smoothies as a snack, supplement to a meal, or in place of a meal depending on your goals and the recommendations of your medical team,” advises Judd.