Alimentação de conforto e estratégias alimentares na promoção do bem-estar em pacientes oncológicos em processo de finitude: uma revisão de literatura

Abstract

This review focused on analyzing the literature on the use of comfort food and other dietary strategies in the nutritional care of oncology patients in the terminal stage. Creating a welcoming food environment, associated with positive sensory and affective experiences, promotes pleasure during meals and contributes to greater comfort. Comfort food, characterized by familiar foods and loaded with affective memories, plays an essential role in maintaining the pleasure of eating, making eating more respectful and individualized. The study was conducted through a bibliographic survey on scientific bases, based on publications dated between 1989 and 2024. Research that addresses the relationship between nutritional therapy and quality of life was analyzed, using specific descriptors. The results show that offering comfort food contributes to a more welcoming environment, providing greater comfort and quality of life to patients. Thus, the relevance of food as an essential part of palliative oncology care is highlighted, considering not only nutritional aspects, but also emotional and social.