After treatment, food plays a crucial role to help one recover and prevent relapse. It is recommended to have five to six smaller frequent meals rather than two or three large meals. Snacks can help sate sudden pangs of hunger, supply the sudden need for nutrition and calories. Each person’s calorie intake may vary based on their age, weight, and overall health. Cancer can cause an interruption in the metabolic process, which calls for a higher calorie intake. A person’s weight helps calculate how many calories they would require.

Here is a list of high-calorie snacks that are easy to make or easily available

• Cheese toast – 175 calories per slice
• Peanut butter and jelly sandwich – 555 calories
• Bagel with cream cheese with apple juice – 510 calories
• Two slices of cheese pizza – 300 calories
• English muffin with cheese and eggs – 285 calories
• Yogurt – 290 calories
• Chili cheese fries – 615 calories
• Nachos – 560 calories
• Granola bars – 440 calories

Add calories at every opportunity
To increase calorie count, you can also add butter to your food. You can use avocados two or three times a week. Vegetable mayo and salad dressings are also high in calories. You can add sour cream to gravies and curries and condensed milk to desserts. Peanut butter is an instant source of calories. Dried fruits like apricots, raisins, and dates are high in calories. Always carry fruit or a small box of nuts in your car or bag and keep snacks handy even at work so you can eat as you please.

List of protein-rich snacks
Protein helps the body regain strength. After surgery, chemo, or radiation therapy, you are at high risk for infection. Protein helps wounds heal faster. Some of the protein-rich snacks that can help you to recover faster are:

• Animal proteins include chicken, eggs, pork, fish, lamb, turkey, milk, and cheese. You can add them to sandwiches or make patties with ground meat. You can add meat to soups and salads as well. You can get creative with recipes, cook extra portions, and store them properly so that snacks are available to you instantly.
• You can add cheese to sandwiches, omelets, bread, and pasta.
• Use nut butter as a dip for crackers, as it is rich in protein and keeps you fool. Add nut butter to smoothies if you are bored of the usual ingredients.
• Toasted nuts and seeds have high protein and you can have half a cup with your evening coffee or tea.
• Hummus is high in protein as well. The advantage is you can make this in large batches and use it as a dip for vegetables and bread
• There are many protein powder supplements. If you run out of ideas or do not have time, you can add this powder to milk, fruit juices, porridge, cereals, and smoothies.