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Nutrition Counseling and Support

Nutrition is an important part of cancer treatment. Choosing the right kinds of foods to nourish the body can help you stay strong and feel better throughout your treatment. Our dietitian with special training in oncology and nutrition is able to assist you in planning your nutritional needs during any stage of your cancer journey. She bases her advice on scientifically sound nutrition research.

All nutrition consultations are complimentary. Individual appointments are available with a registered dietitian to help assess your nutritional status and develop a plan for general nutrition. There is no additional charge for nutritional counseling.

Whitney Christie

Whitney Christie, MS, RD, CSO, CNSC, is a registered dietitian, board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition and certified nutrition support clinician. Her approach to care in the cancer patient is individualized, allowing her to help support the best possible treatment outcomes and positively impact quality of life during one of the most difficult times of a person’s life.

Our registered dietitian is able to meet with you and your loved ones to:

  • Assess your unique individual nutritional needs for the best possible treatment outcomes
  • Manage and minimize side effects related to your treatment such as weight loss, dehydration, altered taste, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and appetite issues
  • Empower you to incorporate healthy nutrition habits into daily living
  • Provide general information and resources for specific cancer types
  • Develop food strategies, not strict, hard-to-follow meal plans
  • Advise on alternative forms of nutrition such as tube feedings
  • Answer questions regarding the vast amount of conflicting nutrition information available via the internet, magazines and other sources

If you would like to meet with Whitney, please call 540.741.0610.

Cancer Nutritional Resources

Cancer Cookbooks

Food For Thought Healing Foods to Savor, Second Edition.
Sheila Kealey, Vicky Newman and Susan Faerber
(2012) Mindful Nutrition Solutions,
University of California, San Diego

Cooking with Foods that Fight Cancer
Richard Bèliveau, Ph. D and Denis Gingras, Ph. D
(2006) McClelland & Stewart

The Cancer-Fighting Kitchen Second Edition
Rebecca Katz (2010) Potter/Tenspeed/Harmony
rebeccakatz.com/the-cancer-fighting-kitchen

One Bite at a Time: Nourishing Recipes for Cancer Survivors and Their Families Healing Solutions, LLC
Mat Edelson and Rebecca Katz (2008)
rebeccakatz.com/one-bite-at-a-time

American Cancer Society What to Eat During Cancer Treatment
Jeanne Besser, Kristina Ratley, RD, LDN, Sheri Knecht, MS, RD, LDN, Michele Szafranski, MS, RD, LDN
(2009) amazon.com/What-Eat-During-Cancer-Treatment/dp/160443256X

Betty Crocker Living with Cancer Cookbook
Kris Ghosh, MD, MBA and Linda Carson, MD
(2011) John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Eating Well Through Cancer
Holly Clegg and Gerald Miletello, MD
(2006) Holly B. Clegg

The New American Plate Cookbook: Recipes for a Healthy Weight and a Healthy life
The American Institute for Cancer Research
(2005) University of California Press

The Essential Cancer Treatment Nutrition Guide & Cookbook
Jean LaMantia and Neil Berinstein
(2012) Robert Rose

Cook for Your Life: Delicious, Nourishing Recipes for Before, During, and after Cancer Treatment
Ann Odgen Gaffney
(2015) Penguin Publishing Group

Nourishing Your Body During Pancreatic Cancer Treatment: High Protein High Calorie Recipes for Those Experiencing Cancer-induced Weight Loss
Dr Aoife Ryan PhD MINDI, Dr Éadaoin NÍ Bhuachalla PhD RD MINDI, Ms. Jane Healy BSc MA, Dr Derek G Power MRCPI
(2016) University College Cork, Ireland

American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Nutrition for Cancer Survivors
Barbara L Grant
(2010) American Cancer Society

Healing Gourmet Eat to Fight Cancer
Simin Liu MD, Kathy McManus RD, John A Carlio CEC
(2005) McGraw-Hill Companies

The Cancer Lifeline Cookbook: Good Nutrition, Recipes, and Resources to Optimize the Lives of People Living with Cancer
Kimberly Mathai MS RD with Ginny Smith
(2004) Sasquatch Books

The Cancer Survival Cookbook: 200 Quick and Easy Recipes with Helpful Eating Hints
Christina Marino MD MPH, Donna Weihoffen RD MS
(1997) Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Easy-to-Swallow, Easy-to-Chew Cookbook: Over 150 Tasty and Nutritious Recipes for People Who Have Difficulty Swallowing
Donna L Weihofen RD MS, Joanne Robbins PhD, Paula A Sullivan MS CCCSLP
(2002) John Wiley & Sons

The Cancer Wellness Cookbook: Smart Nutrition and Delicious Recipes for People Living with Cancer Reprint
(2014) Sasquatch Books amazon.com/Cancer-Wellness-Cookbook-Nutrition-Delicious/dp/1570619182

Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide Second Edition
Walter C Willett MD DrPH with Patrick J Skerrett
(2017) Free Press

Resources for Healthy Living

American Institute for Cancer Research
Cancer nutrition information, recipes, cookbooks, weekly recipes via email

American Cancer Society
Reducing cancer risk, treatment and recovery research

National Cancer Institute
Cancer basics and treatments

cancerdietitian.com
Prevention and survivorship, recipes, webinars and videos

cookforyourlife.org
Videos, popular recipes, blogs

foodsafety.gov
Food recalls, food storage and recommended cooking tempertures

oley.org
Tube feeding support and supply exchange

oncologynutrition.org
Eating well when unwell
Healthy nutrition now recipes, menus and diets

rebeccakatz.com
Cookbooks, recipes, videos

survivorstable.com
Blogs on popular cancer nutrition topics written by registered dietitian

Free Downloads

Eating Hints Before, During and After Cancer Treatment, National Cancer Institute
Nutrition for the Person with Cancer During Treatment, American Cancer Society
H.E.A.L. Well: A Cancer Nutrition Guide, American lnstitute for Cancer Research, LIVESTRONG Foundation, Savor Health
Frankly Speaking about Cancer. Eating Well During Cancer Treatment

Websites

Harvard School of Public Health The nutrition source explores the latest science about healthy eating for adults, answering key questions and providing practical tips for increasing the overall quality of your diet.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health A reputable resource for those considering using alternative therapies.

Cancer.net Provides oncologist-approved information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), with support form the Conquer Cancer Foundation. Cancer.net brings the expertise and resources of ASCO to people living with cancer, those who care for and about them to help patients and families make informed healthcare decisions. They also feature cancer-related podcasts.

Meal Delivery Programs to Consider*

*For information purposes only. These meal programs are not endorsed by or affiliated with Mary Washington Healthcare. Prices subject to change.

Butcher Box

butcherbox.com

  • Premium cuts of meats and fish.
  • Free-range organic chicken, fresh-caught seafood, heritage-bred pork, and grass-fed beef.
  • Pre-curated boxes containing 8-11 or 9-14 lbs. of meat.
Crowd Cow

crowdcow.com

  • Premium-quality meat and seafood from family farms and co-ops.
  • All products are free from added hormones,
  • Customizable options with a wide price range.
Daily Harvest

dailyharvest.com

  • Smoothies, soups, oats, etc. all offered in 100% compostable packaging.
  • Comes frozen, simply add liquid and blend.
Dinnerly

dinnerly.com

  • Simple to prepare, protein-heavy meals.
  • $5 per serving.
EveryPlate

everyplate.com

  • Simple, affordable meals for cooking levels.
Factor

factor75.com

  • Pre-prepared meals.
  • Food is grass-fed and pasture raised. Free of antibiotics, gluten, hormones, soy, sugars and non-GMO.
Fresh and Easy

freshandeasy.com

  • Pre-portioned, no prep necessary meals.
  • Ready to go in oven-safe trays.
FreshDirect

freshdirect.com

  • Variety of meal kits.
  • Prices range from $9 to $18 per serving.
  • Most of the kits serve two (a few serve a family of four).
Green Chef

greenchef.com

  • Eco-friendly, all sustainably sourced organic meals.
  • Offers all preferences and needs (carnivore, omnivore, vegetarian, vegan, paleo, keto and gluten-free menus available).
Gobble

gobble.com

  • All meals take 15 minutes to prepare.
  • Boxed ingredients come to you peeled, chopped, and marinated.
  • Dinner kits are available in a two- or four-person plan.
HelloFresh

hellofresh.com

  • Offers three plans: classic, vegetarian, and family-friendly.
  • All plans include complete nutritional information.
  • Choose between meal kits that feed two to four people.
Home Chef

homechef.com

  • Over 25 easy to follow recipe cards and fresh ingredients.
  • Recipe categories page includes list of items, “without nuts” or “without soy”.
Hungryroot

hungryroot.com

  • Plant-based meals.
  • Customize to your dietary restrictions and preferences.
  • Ingredients come pre-chopped.
  • Meals take 10 minutes to assemble.
Imperfect Foods

imperfectfoods.com

  • Imperfect produce, affordable pantry items, and quality eggs and dairy.
  • Offers up to a 30% discount compared to grocery stores prices.
  • Check if they deliver to your area online by entering your zip code on the website.
Little Spoon

littlespoon.com

  • Ready-made baby food.
  • Hidden veggies for kids.
  • Organic fruits and veggies, with no preservatives or additives.
Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon

marleyspoon.com

  • Pre-portioned quick prep meals (40 minutes or less).
Mom's Meals

momsmeals.com

  • Fully prepared, refrigerated meals delivered to your home.
Purple Carrot

purplecarrot.com

  • Plant-based vegetarian meal kits.
  • Some meals cook in 30 minutes.
  • Subscribers choose between a 1-2 servings kit or a 3 -4 servings kit.
  • Shipping is always free, and there is no time commitment required.
Snap Kitchen

snapkitchen.com

  • Offers high-protein, keto-friendly, paleo an dairy-free meal kits.
  • Meals come ready to plate and serve with short cooking times.
  • All meals are gluten-free.
Splendid Spoon

splendidspoon.com

  • Every ready-to-eat meal is gluten-free, plant-based, and low in sugar and sodium.
  • Soups, smoothies, grain bowls, and noodle dishes.
Sun Basket

sunbasket.com

  • Customized to your dietary restrictions and preferences.
  • All meat ingredients are antibiotic and hormone free. Eggs are organic.
  • Quick and easy, oven ready plates; pre-prepped servings and classic meals requiring chopping.
  • Servings vary between two and four.
Veestro

veestro.com

  • 100% plant-based and organic ingredients with vegan options available.
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