Nutritious Soup Recipes to Improve Your Appetite

Loss of appetite is a common side effect of cancer treatment. It can be caused by fatigue, nausea, taste changes, or emotional stress. When you're not eating enough, your body struggles to get the calories and nutrients needed to heal and stay strong.

Soups are an excellent way to increase calorie and nutrient intake in a light, digestible form. They’re easy to prepare, hydrating, and can be customized to suit taste preferences and dietary needs.

In this article, Senior Dietician shares three nutritious, high-calorie soup recipes designed to help cancer patients improve appetite and support recovery.

Why Are Soups Helpful During Cancer Treatment?

Soups offer multiple benefits:

• Easy to digest and gentle on the stomach
• Hydrating, which helps combat dehydration
• Can be enriched with proteins and healthy fats for added calories
• Warm soups can be comforting and stimulate appetite
• Can be prepared in batches and stored for convenience

Nutritious Soup Recipes

Chicken and Vegetable Soup

A protein-rich, flavorful soup perfect for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients

• Chicken breast, boiled and shredded – 1 cup
• Carrots, chopped – ½ cup
• Beans, chopped – ½ cup
• Potato, diced – ½ cup
• Onion, finely chopped – ¼ cup
• Garlic, minced – 1 tsp
• Ginger, grated – 1 tsp
• Olive oil – 1 tbsp
• Salt – to taste
• Pepper – to taste
• Water – 4 cups

Method

1. Heat olive oil in a pot and sauté onion, garlic, and ginger until fragrant.
2. Add carrots, beans, and potato. Sauté for 2–3 minutes.
3. Pour in water, bring to a boil, then simmer until vegetables are soft (15–20 minutes).
4. Add shredded chicken and cook for another 5 minutes.
5. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

Lentil and Spinach Soup

Packed with plant-based protein, iron, and fiber.

Ingredients

• Red lentils (masoor dal) – ½ cup
• Fresh spinach, chopped – 1 cup
• Tomato, chopped – 1 medium
• Onion, chopped – ¼ cup
• Garlic, minced – 1 tsp
• Ginger, grated – 1 tsp
• Cumin seeds – ½ tsp
• Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
• Olive oil – 1 tbsp
• Salt – to taste
• Water – 3 cups

Method

1. Heat oil in a pot. Add cumin seeds and let them sizzle.
2. Add onion, garlic, and ginger. Sauté until golden.
3. Add tomato, turmeric, and lentils. Mix well.
4. Pour in water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 minutes until lentils are soft.
5. Add spinach and cook for 3–5 minutes.
6. Season with salt. Serve hot.

Creamy Sweet Corn Soup

A mildly sweet, energy-boosting soup ideal for low appetite days.

Ingredients

• Sweet corn kernels (fresh or frozen) – 1 cup
• Milk – 1 cup
• Butter – 1 tbsp
• Flour – 1 tsp (optional, for thickening)
• Garlic, minced – 1 clove
• Salt – to taste
• Sugar – ½ tsp (optional)
• Water – 1 cup

Method

1. In a blender, blend half the corn with milk to make a smooth paste.
2. In a pot, melt butter and sauté garlic.
3. Add flour (if using) and stir for 1 minute.
4. Add corn paste, remaining corn, water, salt, and sugar. Mix well.
5. Simmer for 10–12 minutes until slightly thickened.
6. Adjust consistency with more milk or water. Serve warm.