There is no doubt in the world that undergoing cancer treatment is difficult. Chemotherapy and radiation can have many side effects, including weight loss, nausea, vomiting, taste changes, and loss of appetite, all of which can make it difficult to maintain your weight during cancer treatment.

Preventing weight loss (or regaining any weight that has been lost) can be very important for keeping your strength up during treatment.

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How to Maintain Your Weight During Cancer Treatment

Here are my three big tips for helping keep your weight up while you are undergoing cancer treatment:

1. Add an Adequate Source of Protein to Each Meal

Protein is so important for helping keep your muscles strong, and will help keep your blood sugar stable.

Protein may not seem very appetizing at times, so keeping a few options around might make it more likely that you will eat it!

Don’t be afraid to use protein drinks if it is easier to drink food that chew and swallow it.

The amount of protein you need per day will vary per person, and your dietitian will be able to help you calculate your needs more specifically.

Some good sources of protein are

• Greek Yogurt- 15 g in 5.3 oz container 
• Cottage Cheese- 1 cup has 25 g protein
• Nut Butters- 2 Tbsp has 8 g protein 
• Protein Powder- this is very dependent on the brand, I recommend a powder with around 20 g per serving 
• Tofu- 1/2 cup has 10 g protein
• Chicken, Fish, Beef or Pork- Also varies greatly depending on the type of meat, but 3 oz usually has around 21 g protein 
• Eggs- 1 egg has 6 g protein
• Hummus 1/4 cup has 5 g protein
• Beans- 1/2 cup has 8 g protein

2. Add in High Protein and High Calorie Snacks

Snacks are a great way to sneak in extra calories and protein if you need help maintaining or gaining weight.

Some snacks to try include:

• Protein shake, made with 2%, whole milk or soy milk instead of water
• 1/2 cup ice cream
• Protein Jello
• Nutrition Supplement Shakes (i.e Ensure*, Boost*, Enu, Kate Farms*, etc).
• Protein Pudding

3. Fortify Parts of your Meal to Maintain Your Weight During Cancer Treatment

Another way to add extra calories and protein to meals is to fortify the foods that you are already eating.

To increase the caloric value, and add more protein, here are some ways to fortify your foods:

• Add 1 TBSP cheese and 2 TBSP of milk/soy milk to 2 scrambled eggs
• Mix 1 TBSP cream and 2 TBSP butter to ½ cup mashed potatoes
• Add 1 pack of BeneCalorie to any soup, shake, juice, or meal
• Blend 1 avocado to any homemade smoothie
• Mix 2 TBSP of nut butter into any whole milk greek yogurt
• Drizzle food with flavored olive oil (garlic infused olive oil, herb infused olive oil)

Summary

In summary, keeping your weight stable during cancer treatment matters not just for numbers on the scale, but for maintaining strength, resilience, and overall well-being. The three practical strategies in this blog—prioritizing a quality protein at every meal, snacking smart with high‐protein/high‐calorie options, and fortifying familiar meals you already tolerate—give you concrete steps to work alongside your treatment and care team. While each patient’s journey is unique, using these tools as gentle guides can help you stay nourished and supported through this demanding time. Above all, remember you’re not alone: lean on your dietitian, provider team, and loved ones as you nourish your body and your healing.