Shortness of Breath and Eating

Shortness of breath can make eating hard work. If you use all your energy preparing a healthy meal, you may find yourself unable to eat and/or enjoy what you have prepared. Here are a few practical suggestions on how to conserve energy and get the most from your meals.

• Eat five or six smaller meals instead of three big meals daily.
• Plan to eat before you are too hungry or tired.
• Breathe evenly while you are chewing and eating.
• Stop eating if you need to catch your breath.
• Relax at mealtime.
• When cooking or baking, double or triple your favorite recipes to keep your freezer full for times when you do not feel like cooking.
• Use prepared foods to save time and energy in the kitchen. Frozen meals, prepared foods or take-out meals from a restaurant can make your life easier.
• Do the tasks that require the most effort when you have the most energy.
• Don't stand in the kitchen when you can sit. Bring your chopping, cutting and mixing projects over to the kitchen table and sit while you prepare the food or keep a barstool by the kitchen counter.
• Limit the foods that cause gas. Keep a food diary to determine which foods cause problems for you.

Foods That Commonly Cause Gas

This information has been approved by Alexandra Wilson, RD (July 2010).