Advice after your nerve block for surgery
On this page…
Prehabilitation and Diet “What Should I Eat?”
Dietary advice for people participating in prehabilitation for cancer treatment. Good nutrition goes alongside physical exercise and this leaflet aims to provide general nutritional advice to help you take an active part in your treatment and recovery.
Why is it important to eat well?
- Better response to treatment
- Faster recovery
- Reduced risk of post operative complications
- Reduced treatment side effects
- Improved energy levels and mood
- Improved fitness and wellbeing
If you are eating well and have not lost weight unintentionally
You may not need to make any changes to your diet. However, it is important to follow a healthy, balanced diet and eat regular meals including a variety of foods from the main food groups:
Starchy Carbohydrates - Include one the following with each meal:
Cereals, bread, rice, potatoes, pasta or chapatis. These provide energy, fibre as well as some vitamins and minerals.
Protein - Aim to have at least 2 portions of protein a day.
For example: meat, chicken, fish, eggs, beans, pulses (such as lentils), nuts, Quorn or tofu. Protein is needed for muscle repair, recovery and healing and these foods are a good source of vitamins and minerals such as iron.
Dairy – It is advised to have 2-3 portions of dairy or dairy alternatives per day.
These include: yogurt, cheese and milk or soya milk. Dairy is also a good source of protein as well as calcium.
Fruit and Vegetables – Try to have at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day.
This includes fresh, frozen, canned or dried. One portion is roughly the amount that fits in the palm of your hand. These provide you with vitamins and minerals to support immune function as well as fibre to keep your bowels moving regularly.
Dieting and Weight Loss
It is important that you avoid any weight loss before your surgery or treatment, unless you have been advised by your doctor or medical team to lose weight or follow a special diet.
Try to avoid any crash or fad diets, as these can affect your nutritional status and impair your treatment tolerance and recovery.
If you are concerned about any of the above, please speak to your dietitian, who is part of the prehabilitation team.
Diet and Exercise
You should have a light meal or snacks before and after attending your exercise sessions.
What should I eat before exercise?
As muscles rely on carbohydrates for energy, you should have a carbohydrate rich snacks around 90 minutes to two hours before exercise. This could include: a sandwich or bowl of pasta, eggs, beans or banana on toast/ bread, jacket potato with cheese or beans.
What should I eat after exercise?
Protein helps your muscles to repair and recover. Try to have a protein containing snack, such as: eggs or beans on toast or jacket potato, a yoghurt or milky drink, nuts and seeds, pitta bread with humous, ham or cheese with bread/ toast.
Hydration
It is important to drink plenty of fluids as dehydration can affect physical and mental performance. Aim to drink at least 6-8 glasses of fluid per day. Keep hydrated during exercising and have extra fluids during and after your session.
Please ensure that you have a meal or snack prior to attending your prehabilitation session to ensure you will have enough energy to participate in the exercise sessions.
If you have lost weight unintentionally or if your appetite has reduced recently
Try to eat a diet that is as nourishing as possible, this may involve changing the balance of your diet to foods which are higher in energy (calories) and protein. Enriching your diet can help minimise weight loss and sometimes help to regain any weight you might have lost. You can return to a more balanced style of eating when your appetite returns.
How to achieve a nourishing diet
- Eat little and often, aim for 4-6 small meals and snacks throughout the day.
- Try not to skip meals. If you are unable to manage a meal, have a nourishing snack instead such as: a milky drink and biscuits, a sandwich, a handful of nuts or cheese and crackers.
- Try to eat at times when your appetite is best. You might want to have your main meal at lunchtime if you are not as hungry in the evenings.
- Avoid filling up with liquids just before or during a meal as this can affect your appetite.
- Aim for nourishing foods and drinks which are high in calories and protein. Avoid foods labelled as ‘diet’ or ‘reduced/ low fat’ at this time.
- Fortify meals by adding extra butter, oil, cream, cheese or milk. Choose full fat milk (blue label) and dairy products such as yoghurts, custard, ice cream.
- If you prefer non-dairy milk alternatives such as soya, almond, rice or oat milks, choose full fat options and those that are fortified with vitamins and minerals.
- Have some high protein foods such as meat, chicken, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy, nuts, beans and pulses.
- Eat those foods you particularly fancy, even if it doesn’t seem a ‘healthy’ choice.
- Alternative options include: oily fish, olives, olive oil, avocados, nuts and nut butters are also high energy and protein options.
You should continue with this advice until your appetite has returned, your weight has improved and you have recovered from your treatment.
Fatigue
Fatigue can impact your food intake. Seek support with meal preparation and shopping, if you can. Have a supply of ready meals, convenience foods and snacks at hand or try online shopping. If you are too tired to eat, try sipping nourishing drinks, these give fluids as well as nutrients. Try milkshakes, smoothies, lassi, pure fruit juice, milky coffee, hot chocolate, creamy soups or malted milk drinks.
For further advice, please speak to your cancer team or dietitian.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Dietetics service.
About this information
Service:
Dietetics
Reference:
HH/017
Approval date:
7 January 2023
Review date:
7 January 2026
Click ‘show accessibility tools’ at the bottom of the page
Then click ‘select language’
Alternative formats
You can use the accessibility toolbar at the bottom of your screen to:
-
Change the text size
-
Adjust the font
-
Modify the colour contrast
-
Use the translate function
If you would like this information in another format, such as Braille, audio, or easy read, please speak to a member of staff.
You can also print as well as download as PDF using the “Print this page” button at the end of the page.
Staff will print a copy for you on request
Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.