When my mom went through skin cancer about twenty years ago, she ate tons of spinach and said it made her feel loads better. She did get over the cancer, though I doubt there was a direct correlation. Still. Said it worked for her.

I would agree with maybe bringing something other than dinner foods. Maybe a home made granola and dried fruits? Something that would keep for awhile and be easy to snack on or throw together with something else like yogurt.

Chili (vegetarian or meat based) and a hearty stew are all things that taste great this time of year and freeze beautifully.

Becareful with the fresh greens and fruit. When my mother was going through treatment, the doctor advised her to stay away from anything that hasn't been pasturized and processed. She was specifically advised to only eat cooked vegetables and canned fruits as she has a lowered immune system and minor germs on the fresh stuff could really set back her progress.

Perhaps also prep some food and have it available for them to cook. Clean and chop some carrots, celery, onion, etc so that if they want to cook something they don't have to worry about prepping the food before hand.

Something like a quiche may be good, too. You can have a quick slice of it and get lots of nutrients, it's eggy and so perhaps the kids would like it?, and it stores really well.

To be honest, it's great that you want to bake a dish, but for something outside the box, get her a gift certificate to a cleaning service. With two young kids, I'm sure she'll appreciate it.

Also, this is a great organization in the Philly area dedicated to helping mothers battling cancer: http://www.cuddlemykids.org/

Might I suggest asking what the family would like the best? Between the sometimes unpredictable tolerances of someone experiencing chemotherapy and two young children, it might be most helpful to send a quick note that says, "I'd love to lend a hand. What can I bring?"

Also, a full meal can sometimes be a good way to go, as in - a loaf of bread, a pre-made salad with a container of dressing on the side, a container of pasta sauce, and a box of noodles. Including a dessert and a couple of pretty napkins will also make it seem more like a gift than a favor or an act of pity, as well. (I've had some friends who experienced frustration with feeling as though they were being pitied when ill with a serious disease.)

Check first if she has neutropenia. I did when I had cancer, and I couldn't eat a lot of different foods, not just fresh/uncooked but also some particular juices, like grapefruit, and kimchi, anything fermented, etc. Be very careful.

What about dried mixes? Like, just add hot water and POW! Soup! Cake! Mac n Cheese! That way, if her freezer is already overburdened, she can stash it in the pantry.

Well, asking is great, but give her time to think about it, because right now, she may be getting lots of help and may need some in a week. The relief efforts I took part in had someone organizing them and we were allocated one meal to deliver and it was great. So if there is a group, communicate so there isn't overlap. Soup on cold days, with a loaf of bread and salad would be heaven, if she can't have, at least the family is fed. How about a four pack of Ensure and other liquids supplements for just in case?

When my mother had cancer with five children at home, she preferred things that were pretty bland, as chemo often causes nausea. This was a big change for her, since she normally loves spicy, flavorful foods. Children usually do well with bland foods too, so I'd recommend something bland-ish like chicken and rice, pot pies, etc. Nothing too acidic or spicy--something similar to what you'd eat if you were just getting over the flu.

I would check to see if certain foods are bothing her right now - things don't taste right or give you heartburn during treatment. I couldn't eat chocolate (!) and got heartburn from any tomato based foods.

as a person who went through chemo, i'm going to recommend that you don't bring anything with strong smells, especially right after treatment. also remember that she may be neutropenic so no raw fruits or veggies that can't be peeled. finally, a lot of chemos require that you don't eat grapefruit and some others have really weird dietary restrictions as well. bland food works well, and definitely avoid spicy food-- there's no saliva to wash it out of your mouth, so it's REALLY spicy. i had a hard time with garlic too just because the taste would linger for so long.

good luck! and wish her the best.

Make the family something warming for winter... like a nice white bean, and sweet potato soup with sage and a drizzle of olive oil and shaved Parmesan for garnish. I usually serve this soup with an arugula & beet green salad with goat cheese, beet root, walnuts, and apples.

Including lots of antioxidant rich foods is very good to help fight against cell damage.... so the beets & sweet potatoes provide a nice dose.

I am sending positive vibes to your acquaintance... it is always heartbreaking to hear about families with young children fighting illness.

The worst thing for someone when they are sick, esp. cancer is any type of grain. Grains cause inflammation, and unfortunately, America's over indulgence in "bad" foods, including grains, have a huge contribution to the cancer epidemic.

Some of the best healing foods are REAL broths, made with real bones. You know how they say "chicken soup cures a cold"? Well, they are not talking about Campbells! Make real broth with bones, some veggies and meat. It's the marrow that causes the healing!

I would also avoid dairy. God bless you and your friend and the family! Be Well.

Find out what she enjoys too. When my mother went through chemo she was only interested in fatty foods. I am told this isn't uncommon. This way you may be able to bring something for the family - and also something she may be craving but does not have the energy to make herself. You might also consider offering to babysit on one of her radiation days if you are willing to make a larger commitment. I wish her a fast and full recovery.

My appetite changed on a nearly daily basis when I went through chemo, so I think the food thing is tricky.

A gift certificate to a restaurant that delivers to your friend's home might give the family more flexibility. Don't worry about the dollar amount -- just the fact that you're thinking about her will no doubt mean a lot to her.

I think you will find that what the mother wants to eat while undergoing chemo will be vastly different from what the rest of her family eats. While my mom was battling breast cancer she pretty much lived on won-ton soup broth, matzo ball chicken soup that her co-worker made for her and mac & cheese. Chemo can really wreak havoc on your mouth and GI tract, not to mention the nauseau. Aim for mild, liquid-type foods. Tea is also a good gift! Feel free to bring other food that the rest of the family likes, as cooking is bound to be tough at this time.

My mom always makes custard for her friends. She says that people going through chemo like to have tastes of something sweet, and custard is great because it has protein of the eggs, isn't too sweet, and some fat from the milk. Topped with a little nutmeg. I know this isn't a dinner, but it's what I've done for my friends in need.

I agree with others that you should ask them - one idea might be to have her kids round to dinner/lunch at your place instead of bringing something over - that way the mother can have some needed time and rest by herself.

I loaf of banana bread sliced and frozen works beautifully. It could be a quick breakfast for the kids or a snack for just about any time.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery to your friend.

What a nice idea. I would say that whatever you make should have organic ingrediants. I can't imagine it's good for a cancer patient to be ingesting toxic, carcinogenic pesticides.

It would be really difficult to prepare food for a cancer patient because depending on the treatment, she could be very sensitive. When my uncle was sick, he could only eat things that were completely flavourless or he would vomit. That meant that they couldn't even cook meals in the house because the smell of food was so offensive.

You should probably ask her directly what she wants.

But it's a good idea once you find out, because it would save them from the cooking smells for sure!

I made veggie noodles for a friend in a similar situation and she loved the change.

- cooked soba noodles and tossed them in a a little sesame oil to avoid sticking.
- blanched a bunch of veggies
- made a thin sauce with soy, oyster, sesame oil and scallions. No sugar but a little bit of chilli since she likes spicy foods.

I kept everything separate so that the kids to eat the noodles and veggies alone if they wanted to and the parents could combine three components to their taste.

I wish I had made a note of the sauce recipe because she loved it and I would really like to reproduce it for her.

There is a wonderful book out by Rebecca Katz called "The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen" chock full of delicious recipes and tips for eating while battling cancer. Tastebuds change and nutrient-rich foods are a must, and Rebecca's recipes take both into account. Everything is full of good things, tastes great, goes down with ease, and leaves you feeling healthy and clean.
I highly recommend it. Before my godmother passed, I made her many meals from it, all of which she enjoyed, and so did I! These are foods anyone would love to share with their entire family.
http://rebeccakatz.com/books/cancer_fighting_kitchen.html

When I had breast cancer, I got a lot of wicked intense cravings (red meat, cheddar rice cakes) and also taste changes, from the chemo. (For a while I couldn't taste sweetness, for instance.) Something nice might be breakfast foods, like ready-to-go oatmeal, reheatable waffles, etc. Other people might not think of it, and sometimes the morning is the only time you feel well enough to eat a good meal.

Wow thanks guys! I don't know her that well, so I don't really want to to call her up. Plus I feel like it would be making more of a nuisance about the whole thing rather than a nice gesture.

Lots of great ideas here. Cscanga-I make a great banana bread, love the idea of including this, mostly with her kids in mind. I also kind of like the quiche suggestion and the non-dinner food suggestion. I also just thought of meatloaf. My mom makes an awesome meatloaf and the flavors aren't overpowering or anything. Plus the kids would probably like it.

Thanks!

Check first to see if she has any dietary restrictions due to her treatment.

I'm currently undergoing chemo, and I have a very restricted diet due to my low blood counts, which is a common problem for cancer patients. I have to avoid soy products, aged cheese like cheddar, meat that isn't well done, raw fruits and vegetables, etc.

Talk to her about all her side effects as they can all effect what foods should or should not be eaten: constipation, diarrhea, mouth sensitivity, trouble swallowing, neutropenia (low white blood counts), and medication interactions all cause different dietary needs.

The American Cancer Society has a great online guide that covers each side effect: Nutrition for the Person with Cancer

Good luck to your friend!

good luck to you too akay-

I think you're getting some wonderful advice here so I'm not going to chime in except to say thank you for doing something sweet for this woman and her family.

As others have said, it's hard to say what your friend will be up to eating, but no matter her restrictions, her family still needs to eat.

When I was young, my dad had cancer, and a nice couple from our church brought us a fresh, ready to eat dinner once a week for what must have been months. For my mum to know that for that day of the week, she wouldn't have to worry about dinner, was a huge blessing. I can't remember what exactly the dinners consisted of, but I remember there was always a main course and sides and they were hot and ready to eat. If this is something you could do for your friends, I can only imagine how appreciated it would be.

I wouldn't have thought of the dietary restrictions other people pointed out.

However, I second the option of granola or frozen cookie dough for the kids. That will save her a trip to the grocery shop, and baking cookies sounds homey without being too exhausting. Plus, decorating the cookies with the children can be a quiet activity that hopefully won't make her too tired.
And even though it's not the same thing, offering to pick up groceries or cook in her kitchen will probably be a huge help; that way she can say what she feels like eating (and can eat) without having to do it herself.

It's very sweet of you, I hope your friend gets better soon.

When my husband was fighting cancer, his favorite thing ever was miso soup. Vegetable or chicken soup would also probably be great. She will probably appreciate things her family can eat, even if she can't.