| Points to Consider | Reasoning | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrition | Educate the patient on the importance and the way to achieve the DRI | |
| Wound healing may require higher intakes of some foods | Consider multivitamins or other supplements, keeping in mind the Upper Tolerable Limit (UL) | |
| Maintaining a balanced intake of nutrients by using supplements as needed, i.e., Vitamin C may promote healing | Promote intake of nutrients that may accelerate healing | |
| Consider pre-existing medical conditions (e.g. diabetes) and interactions with medications | ||
| Offer referrals for nutritional counseling | ||
| Ease of intake | The consumption of food should be as painless as possible without damaging or aggravating the wound site | Educate the patient to evaluate the texture, consistency, and temperature of food that is appropriate to their stage in healing (i.e., Crunchy foods should be avoided; foods such as cooked potatoes can be crushed or mashed to varying degrees; chilled or cold foods may be more soothing to the wound site) |
| Consider different food processing methods to maintain proper nutrition and introduce variety to keep the patient motivated | ||
| Encourage the patient to chew slowly and carefully | ||
| Consider medications that may modulate food intake | ||
| Palatability | Food that is appetizing encourages lasting healthy eating habits and an adequate intake of nutrients to promote wound healing | Consider texture or consistency, odor, color, temperature and taste of food |
| Consider the patient’s food habits prior to surgery | ||
| Aim to introduce as much food variety as possible without compromising nutrition and the healing process | ||
| Frequency and size of meals | Drastic changes in rate and level of food intake may upset the body’s metabolic system especially after surgery | Educate the patient to return to a regular eating schedule as soon as possible |
| The frequency and size of meals are determined by patient’s tolerance and comfort level | Aim to establish an eating schedule that achieves adequate nutritional intake | |
| Consider pre-existing medical conditions e.g. diabetes | ||
| Ease of preparation | Food choices that are more readily available and easier to prepare would encourage good food selection choices and healthy eating habits that may optimize healing | Suggest the patient to prepare certain foods prior to surgery for the day(s) immediately post-operation for the ease of consumption |
| Encourage the patient to establish a support network of friends and family to assist with food preparation | ||
| Propose preparation methods that require little steps and technique | ||
| Offer referrals for nutritional counseling | ||
| Fluid intake | Dehydration may impede recovery, and this may be exacerbated by vomiting. Patients on certain medications have a greater risk of developing xerostomia. | Educate the patient on the importance of being well hydrated |
| Consider pre-existing medical conditions and interactions with medications | ||