Nausea has a way of making even simple foods feel complicated. For people with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), it can turn eating and drinking anything into a daily challenge.
When nausea interferes with meals, it helps to think smaller. Your stomach may not be ready for a full plate, but it might tolerate a few bites of something simple or a few sips of something cold. Here are some tips that might make your diet easier to manage.
Eat small amounts more often
It can be hard to eat three meals a day when nausea makes the thought of food difficult. The Breast Cancer Network Australia recommends that you eat small amounts every few hours rather than aiming for a full meal all at once. Smaller portions are easier to digest because your stomach has less to deal with in a single sitting. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, going too long without eating can make nausea worse, so even a small snack between meals can help.
Start with bland, dry or simple foods
Rich or heavy food is usually the last thing you want when your stomach is unsettled. Cancer Research UK recommends sticking with light, bland options such as plain toast, crackers or biscuits when nausea is at its worst. These are gentle on your stomach and don’t take much energy to eat. You can always build from there once things settle.
Cut down on smell triggers
Nausea and strong food smells don’t mix well. Fried, fatty and heavily seasoned foods can be especially hard to handle. You may find it easier to stick with cold or slightly warm food because it gives off less odour than a hot plate. If cooked meals are hard to face, eating at room temperature or straight from the fridge might be more appealing.
Focus on what feels manageable, not on a proper meal
When nausea is bad, the pressure to eat a full meal can make everything feel harder. It helps to let go of that expectation. Whatever you can get down, whether it’s a few spoonfuls of yoghurt, some dry cereal or a small piece of fruit, is better than nothing at all. Normal eating can wait until you’re feeling more like yourself.
Sip fluids throughout the day
A full glass of water can be just as hard to face as a plate of food when you are experiencing nausea. Instead of trying to drink a lot at once, keep something cold nearby and take one sip at a time. You might also find that ginger ale or soda water sits better than plain water, since the carbonation tends to be gentler on your stomach. One thing worth keeping in mind is that drinking a lot right before a meal can fill your stomach and make nausea worse, so try to space things out.
Eat slowly and give yourself time
Eating too fast can make nausea worse. Take your time with whatever you’re able to eat and chew it well, even if it’s just a few mouthfuls. Staying upright for a little while afterward can also help digestion and reduce the stress on your stomach.
Use medication and call your care team if needed
Changing what and how you eat can help, but medication is still the main line of defence against nausea. The Canadian Cancer Society recommends taking anti-nausea drugs as prescribed, even when you’re feeling well, because it’s much harder to manage nausea once it’s already started. If what you’re taking isn’t helping enough, your doctor can switch to a different option. If nausea or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours, or if it stops you from keeping food or fluids down, reach out to your care team right away.