When my mum was battling cancer she would not eat. Nothing could tempt her. Not even her favourite foods. Not even Peking Duck which she loved beyond all reason. People would come with containers of curries, pastas, soups and more to fill up the freezer. Very kind of them, of course, but when we heard they were coming back we had to throw it away and pretend she had eaten it. Caused a few heated confrontations with relatives I can assure you.

I remember the one and only thing that she wanted was a ‘lemonade spider’, remember those? Basically just lemonade with a scoop of ice cream… easy, yes but not very nutritious. So that got me thinking. There must be many other people out there who just don’t feel like eating when they are unwell. They want the benefits of healthy, healing foods to help them fight the big C or any other illness, so what to do? They also  want it to be refreshing and taste good too. Very demanding.

Cancer Council

According to the Cancer Council research suggests that eating well benefits people during and after cancer treatment. It can help to maintain muscle strength, maintain a healthy weight and have more energy, all of which can improve your quality of life. Good nutrition can also help to:

• manage the side effects of treatment and speed up recovery
• heal wounds and rebuild damaged tissues – this is important after surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or other treatment
• improve your body’s immune system and ability to fight infections
• reduce the risk of cancer coming back.

What to eat when you can't eat

These days the humble 'spider' has  a new fancy name, it's an ‘ice cream float’. You mix many different and healthy real fruits in your blender or juicer at home. They are delicious and refreshing and can contain all of the recommended cancer fighting fruits and vegetables to help make your loved one's life both easier and healthier.

If you are feeling adventurous you could even make your own homemade ice cream. 

Try some of these fruit and ice cream floats and remember if you are the carer to drink one too. You need it, I know I did. (Sometimes it was a white wine spritzer spider).

Fruit Coco Floaty

One serve provides more than your daily Vitamin C requirements and includes manganese, folate, fiber, ellagic acid and other anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer phytonutrients!

Ingredients - serves 3

• 1 large banana
• 450 grams strawberries fresh or frozen
• 2 Tbsp coconut milk

Mix together in your blender and poor into individual glasses.
Place one scoop of delicious ice cream on top

Very Berry Floaty

Colourful food is full of antioxidants and this beautiful crimson floaty provides your daily Vitamin C and a host of phytonutrients. 

Ingredients - serves 5

• 450gms bag frozen pitted black cherries
• 2 cups whole strawberries
• 1/4 cup cherry or white grape juice

Mix together in your blender and poor into individual glasses.
Place one scoop of delicious ice cream on top

Zesty Pine Lime Floaty

Apart from the daily serve of Vitamin C this floaty provides manganese, B vitamins, fibre and folate. 

Ingredients - serves 3

• 450 gm bag frozen pineapple chunks
• Juice of one lime quarter
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice

Mix together in your blender and poor into individual glasses.
Place one scoop of delicious ice cream on top

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