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What foods worked best during chemo & radiation for throat cancer?

Posted by jxssicascott @jxssicascott, Dec 23, 2025

Hi all! I’m looking for suggestions on how to help my dad eat more during his treatments for throat cancer. He’s getting chemo & radiation on his neck/throat area, and he’s not eating nearly as much as he used to as food tastes metallic & it’s hard for him to swallow certain foods. We’ve already ruled out any spicy or acidic foods, those are just too harsh on his mouth & throat. I also ordered him some “miracle berries” that are supposed to help change the taste of certain foods & flavors, but he hasn’t tried them yet. So if you’ve gone through the same treatment & struggled with eating or everything tasting metallic, what foods worked best for you? Or was there anything you did to help alleviate the metallic taste? Thank you for any help!!!

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jxssicascott | @jxssicascott | Jan 7 12:45pm
In reply to @stephenrfleury "Smoothies Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie – High Calorie, High Protein ½ cup whole milk OR a..." + (show)
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Smoothies

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie – High Calorie, High Protein

½ cup whole milk OR a nutrition drink
1 frozen banana
¼ cup peanut butter
½ cup whole fat yogurt
¾ scoop protein powder
2 packs Stevia or a tablespoon of honey
2 tbs cream or half-and-half
Salt (just a pinch)

The recipe as it’s written was good early in treatment, but it got too thick for Steve around week 4. You can add water or use more milk or nutrition drink to thin it out. Thinning it out makes more volume.
Instead of milk, I often use a bottle of Core Power Elite, chocolate or vanilla (14 oz). That seems to make the perfect consistency for Steve, even though it ends up being 2 glasses of smoothie.

Sometimes I use Boost Very High Calorie, Vanilla (8 oz) instead of milk.

I add the cream or half-and-half at the end and stir it in by hand. I’m not sure, but it seems that blending it made the cream get too thick.

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Mango Smoothie – high calorie

1 cup frozen mango
1 cup whole milk or a nutrition drink
¼ cup yogurt
1 tbl honey or 1 pkg stevia
1-2 tbs heavy cream or half-and-half
1 scoop protein powder

I add the heavy cream at the end and stir it in by hand. It seems to get too thick if I blend it in the blender.

I often use Boost Very High Calorie Vanilla flavor instead of milk.

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Mixed Berry Smoothie

1 ½ cups Naked Juice (Berry Blast)
1 Frozen banana, sliced
1 ½ cups Mixed frozen berries
¾ cup Greek yogurt (5% fat)
1 tbl Honey

Sometimes I have to add water to thin it out enough.

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@stephenrfleury thank you for the recipes!!! I’ll be going to get ingredients for these this weekend! Dad’s been saying that he wants something to actually swallow instead of solely relying on the feeding tube, so I’m hopeful he will enjoy these!

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jxssicascott | @jxssicascott | Jan 7 12:46pm
In reply to @queenie9556 "My husband had chemo and radiation for tongue cancer last year. First off document everything he..." + (show)
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My husband had chemo and radiation for tongue cancer last year. First off document everything he puts in his mouth. You'd be suprised how few calories he takes in if you're not keeping track. He ate alot of the Jimmy Dean Breakfast Bowls,canned soups, Mac n cheese, yogurt. I would put 7 16 Oz bottles of water on the table everyday so we knew how much he was drinking. Supplement with Ensure,etc .and a milkshake several times a week. Keep a calorie total daily ! This too shall pass!!

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@queenie9556 yeah we have been keeping track of his calorie & water intake so that we know he’s getting enough!!

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jxssicascott | @jxssicascott | Jan 7 12:48pm
In reply to @colleenyoung "@jxssicascott, I added this discussion to the Head & Neck Cancer support group as well. How..." + (show)
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@jxssicascott, I added this discussion to the Head & Neck Cancer support group as well.

How is you dad doing? Are you his main caregiver?

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@colleenyoung thank you!! He’s doing okay, he’s in his last 2 weeks of treatment so it’s taking a toll on him but he’s hanging in there! His biggest issue is struggling with keeping his blood pressure up & getting dizzy often, but his cancer treatment center is giving him fluids everyday so it helps! And I’m not, he has my mom, sister, & I all helping him!

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jxssicascott | @jxssicascott | Jan 7 12:50pm
In reply to @robertpeters "One thing not often mentioned is that esophageal stricture can be a factor. An ENT would..." + (show)
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One thing not often mentioned is that esophageal stricture can be a factor. An ENT would be able to address the question.

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@robertpeters yes!! His nutritionist mentioned this & he does have that problem a lot of times when he tries to eat solid foods. It’s like his body won’t allow him to swallow certain foods, but some things he has no issues with!

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anndri3 | @anndri3 | Jan 8 7:19am

To alleviate the metallic tastes, try using nonmetallic silverware. I used wooden/bamboo and plastic (IKEA ) cutlery when things tasted metallic. Premier Protein drinks had more protein and way less sugar/corn syrup than other brands. Instant mashed potatoes was something I could tolerate and also cream of wheat when swallowing felt like having razor blades in my throat. Dipping toast or dry foods like a cookie in coffee or tea helped me swallow. Ginger infusions, herbal teas with ginger and turmeric helped with the metallic taste of things. Sipping cups of ginger honey crystals — hot or cold (Prince of Peace brand) helped with nausea and the metallic taste of things. Now I see there is also a lemon ginger flavor.
Your dad is blessed to have you and your mom and sister providing such good care for him.

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jonesja | @jonesja | Jan 8 8:51am

I drank an Ensure shake with protein powder added every morning . Boiled egg minched up on the side. My lunch was creamy peanut butter and jelly ( to make it go down)and Banana if possible. Dinner was eggs anyway, soups, baby food. very creamy mashed potatoes with butter, etc This was my menu for my entire treatment . I tried to make anything I ate count so to speak. I would take me 45 minutes to eat each meal very slowly. He may find something that he can tolerate. I still lost 20 pounds but held fairly steady at that point. God Speed. I will get better. Today I am eating anything I want.

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robertpeters | @robertpeters | Jan 8 1:33pm
In reply to @jxssicascott "@robertpeters yes!! His nutritionist mentioned this & he does have that problem a lot of times..." + (show)
Profile picture for jxssicascott @jxssicascott

@robertpeters yes!! His nutritionist mentioned this & he does have that problem a lot of times when he tries to eat solid foods. It’s like his body won’t allow him to swallow certain foods, but some things he has no issues with!

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@jxssicascott The stricture(s) are not cured or eliminated and may need repeated dilations. But they may enable more intake,

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azsunshine7 | @azsunshine7 | Jan 8 3:23pm

Not much tastes good when you are on chemotherapy. One soup that seemed easily digestible because of the rice noodles was pho. If you can find a restaurant who can make a non salty, no chili spice added he might enjoy a bit.
I hope he feels better soon!

All my best 💕

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slmoore0626 | @slmoore0626 | Jan 9 8:58am

My throat and tongue were on fire. I froze high calorie Boost and ate it like ice cream. Kept me off of a feeding tube and not drastic weight loss.

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jersey3422 | @jersey3422 | 5 days ago
In reply to @jxssicascott "@hrhwilliam not trying to force feed him at all or make him eat anything he doesn’t..." + (show)
Profile picture for jxssicascott @jxssicascott

@hrhwilliam not trying to force feed him at all or make him eat anything he doesn’t want to, I just know that he WANTS to try & eat something instead of solely relying on a feeding tube so I’m looking for suggestions for something he can tolerate for those rare moments that he does want to eat! That’s all!

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@jxssicascott I'm sorry I just reread my response and it did sound accusatory. I apologize. I didn't mean for it to sound like you were not compassionate. I realize how frustrated you must be because you are trying to help and care for your husband and can't. I pray you find some foods he likes and that you get some peace during this difficult time. Again sorry!

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