In the second part of the soft food but nutritious recipes for oral cancer patients, we bring you snacks that you can quickly put together. If you have recipes for specific conditions that you would like to share write in to our editor.
Power Oats
Porridge for breakfast is a great way to start the day! Oats are loaded with fibre and can be very useful for patients having constipation, a common side-effect of cancer treatment. Flax seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, lignans all which aid in digestion and hormonal balance.
Ingredients:
½ cup Steel cut oats
1 tbsp honey (optional)
1 tbsp almond powder
1 tbsp pistachio powder
1 tbsp sprouted flax seeds
1 banana
1 cup whole milk
Method:
Sprout the flax seeds in damp cloth overnight. On a stove top pot, add the milk and heat it. Add in the oats, honey, nut powders and flax seeds. Cook for about 5 to 10 minutes, till it reaches a soft consistency. Mash in a banana and add to it. If you want a more liquid consistency, the porridge can be blended in a mixer with more milk. Serve warm.
Fortified Milk
This is a nutritious energy drink for all cancer patients any time of the day. Nuts are rich in the good fats and vitamins. Dates are an excellent source of iron, calcium, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin K.
Ingredients:
2 walnuts
2 almonds
2 cashews
2 dried figs
2 dry dates
1 cup full cream milk
Method:
Soak the nuts and date overnight for for at least 6 hours in warm water. Peel the almonds and grind the nuts into a fine paste. Add this paste to a cup of warm milk and mix thoroughly.
Sago Sesame Pudding
Sago or sabudana pudding is a yummy and a easy to swallow sweet fix for patients. The smaller sized sago or pearl tapioca is preferable for this recipe. Sago becomes swollen and slimy when soaked in water, and this makes it easy to swallow. Sago is rich in carbohydrates, fiber and antioxidants, while sesame is a high source of calcium. Use jaggery instead of sugar, as jaggery is rich in iron.
Ingredients:
1/3 cup sago or sabudana
2 tbsps of white or black sesame seeds
1 tsp cardamom powder
2 tbsps of jaggery
2 cups of milk
Method:
Soak the sago and sesame seeds for 6-8 hours in water. Sesame seeds may swell up and even sprout a little. On a stove top pot, heat the milk and add in all the other ingredients. Bring to a boil till the milk thickens. Serve warm.
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