Struggling with COPD, specifically the fatigue and shortness of breath that come with it, can leave you struggling to prepare and eat even the simplest meals. But you can enjoy eating, and do it nutritiously, despite COPD symptoms.

"For people with COPD, it's challenging and exhausting to eat and take a breath at the same time," explains registered dietitian Carol Wolin-Riklin, MS, RD, an instructor in the department of surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Medical School.

As tiring as it can be to eat, people with COPD still want to enjoy mealtime. A survey of 81 people with COPD showed that the majority wanted more information on what to eat and how to manage their symptoms.

COPD and Diet: A Primer

"When you have a hard time eating, every bite should provide nutrition," advises Wolin-Riklin.

Here is a brief outline of a healthy COPD diet:

  • Calories. Living with COPD symptoms takes so much energy that you may need to increase your diet's calorie count to 3,000 or more a day. Work with a dietitian to figure out exactly how many calories you need.
  • Protein. People with COPD often experience muscle wasting because of the way their bodies use protein. As a result, higher-protein diets are advised, as long as you don't have other conditions that this would negatively impact, says Wolin-Riklin. Check with your doctor first, especially if you have any illnesses that affect the kidneys. Nut butters, smoothies or shakes with protein powders, chicken, and fish are all easy-to-prepare protein sources.
  • Fruits and vegetables. Eat as many as possible and in a rainbow of colors to get various nutrients. If you don't want to chew raw veggies, steam them, puree them for soups, or try low-sodium vegetable juices.
  • Healthy fats. Opt for foods with omega-3-fatty acids, such as cold-water fish, like salmon and sardines, and healthy fats such as olive oil. These are good sources of additional calories and may also help cut down on inflammation overall.
  • Fiber. Aim for 25 grams of fiber daily. You might need to take fiber supplements to reach that amount.
  • Limited carbohydrates. You need some carbs, but eating too many can increase the carbon dioxide in your blood. Stick with six to eight servings throughout the day.

11 Tips to Make Mealtimes Easier

Struggling to eat the same way you did before COPD symptoms took over simply won't work. Instead, try these strategies:

  • Select prepared foods. If you don't have someone to cook for you, Wolin-Riklin suggests buying prepared foods as much as possible. Prepared foods do not have to be expensive — consider choices like hot, store-roasted chicken instead of roasting one yourself. Check whether your household qualifies for a Meals on Wheels program or another service that delivers prepared hot meals.
  • Rethink dinnertime. "Find the time of day you feel best, and make that your biggest meal," advises Wolin-Riklin. For most people, that's early afternoon. It's fine to spend the rest of the day enjoying healthy snacks or eating liquid meals, such as smoothies or shakes with added protein or nutrient powders.
  • Freeze extras. If you have leftovers or muster up extra energy to cook at certain times, freeze meal-sized portions you can easily reheat on a day you're feeling tired.
  • Avoid carbonated beverages. Fizzy drinks will make you feel uncomfortable and bloated, putting pressure on your lungs and airways from below. Gas-producing foods, such as beans, may also make you uncomfortable unless you take an over-the-counter supplement such as Beano at the beginning of the meal.
  • Choose low-salt foods. Look for low-salt labels, or make sure caregivers don't add salt to foods they prepare for you. Too much salt (you want only about 1,500 milligrams a day) can cause fluid retention, which adds to COPD symptoms.
  • Eat small but frequent meals. Wolin-Riklin says this approach, which should result in five or six mini-meals, will help you feel less tired while eating and get consistent energy and nutrition through the day. Keep small high-calorie snacks, such as peanut butter and apple slices or cheese and crackers, on hand when you're out of the house.
  • Ease your chewing. A number of people get in the habit of eating large mouthfuls quickly, but people with COPD do best with small bites of easy-to-chew foods. Instead of thinking of this as restrictive, consider that chewing small bites slowly helps you appreciate the flavor of your meal.
  • Sip liquid throughout the day. It's important to get enough fluids — water, juices, smoothies, and soups. Try sipping 6 to 8 cups of water and possibly meal-replacement drinks like Boost or Ensure, over the course of the day instead of drinking a lot of fluid at one time.
  • Wear your oxygen. If you have been prescribed oxygen, wear your nasal cannula while you eat. This allows you to breathe and eat at the same time more easily, says Wolin-Riklin.
  • Eat sitting up. You'll breathe more easily while you eat and swallow more safely if you eat sitting up rather than reclining in bed or a chair.
  • Be dairy-aware. Some people feel like dairy increases their mucus production. If this sounds familiar, try a milk alternative like soy or almond milk.

If you make these adjustments and still have difficulty eating and breathing at the same time, talk with your doctor or your pulmonary rehabilitation team to get some more ideas about how to cope.