Recipes
Here are some great healthy and nutritious recipes for when you’re going through chemo… or just life in general! Mind you, most of these recipes are very bland but provide you with essential components your body will need while on chemotherapy. It’s also VERY important to try to eat as organically as possible so ALL of my recipes below use organic ingredients.
When I had the energy I did cook, or I cooked in preparation for the coming round of Temo and would either freeze portions or eat it within the first couple of days. Here’s what got me through the week:
Veggie Bowls:
I make this at least twice a week! It’s healthy, filling, and very nutritious!
1 cup rice or quinoa
Veggies of your choice! I use broccolini, carrots, fennel, onions, mushrooms etc. Just make sure you have at least 4 different veggies
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt/Pepper (to taste)
Purple cabbage
Vegan ranch
Feta
Avocado
Preheat the oven to 400F.
In a small pot cook the rice or quinoa.
Chop the veggies of your choice in equal sizes and spread them out on a sheet tray. Season with salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Cook the veggies to your preferable done-ness. I like them to be a little crunchy so I usually cook them for 15-20 minutes (but this really depends on your choice in veggies.)
Finely slice the purple cabbage.
Once the rice is done, add a portion of it to a bowl and top it with the cooked veggies.
Garnish with the sliced purple cabbage, vegan ranch, feta and half an avocado and enjoy!
Vegan Chana Masala:
Sometimes this was a little too flavorful and I would just forgo the curry powder but its quick, very nutritious and cozy:
12oz can of chickpeas
12oz can of diced tomatoes
1 half white or yellow onion
1 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp of yellow curry powder
1 pinch salt
Cilantro or spring onion for garnishing
Dice the onion and set aside.
Drain the chickpeas and set aside as well.
In a medium sized pot, add the olive oil and onions and sauté for 1-2 minutes (you want the onions to be crunchy)
Add the can of diced tomato, drained chickpeas, salt, and curry powder (if that sounds good, I think it provides a nice touch of flavor thats not too powerful).
Serve over a bowl of steamed white rice and garnish with cilantro or finely sliced green onions. Voila!
Lemon Orzo Chicken Soup:
This is what I prep a day or two before I start my chemo round. Otherwise it is too much effort when I am fatigued. I’ll share a super easy soup recipe you can make while you’re not feeling your best right after this one.
1 package of chicken breasts or thighs (optional)
3 carrots
1 medium yellow onion
3 cloves garlic
3 celery stalks
2 32 fl oz cartons of chicken stock
1/2 cup orzo
Dill (add as much—or as little—as you want!)
3 lemons
1 tbs extra virgin olive oil
Dice the carrots, onion, and celery and set aside.
In a large pot, add the diced carrots, onions, and celery with the olive oil and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent.
Add finely diced garlic and salt. Sauté for 1 more minute.
Add the stock and if adding the chicken add the chicken whole once the stock comes to a boil.
Simmer for 20-30 minutes. The longer the simmer, the easier the chicken is to shred. Max 1 hour.
Remove chicken and shred with a fork in a small bowl and place back into the pot.
Add 1/2 cup orzo and finely diced dill and the juice of 3 lemons.
Simmer until the orzo is fully cooked.
Serve and enjoy!
Italian Penicillin Soup:
This is the easiest soup recipe I can think of! I’ve made it a lot and its great.
3 carrots
1 medium onion (peeled and halved)
3 celery stalks
lemons (optional)
small pasta of your choosing (orzo or any type of pastina!)
2 32 fl oz cartons of chicken bone broth (can use stock but bone broth is preferable since it is more nutritious)
In a large pot add the chicken bone broth, whole carrots, whole celery, and onion.
Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 1 hour.
Removed the cooked vegetables and blend them with some of the stock.
Transfer the blended veggies back into the stock pot.
Add the orzo or pastina to the pot and cook until the pasta is soft.
Add lemon—if you want—or whatever herbs you would like to add. Enjoy!
Let me know if you would like more easy recipes!
