Please note: This information was as current as we could make it on the date given above. But medical information is always changing, and some information given here may be out of date. For regularly updated information on a variety of health topics, please visit familydoctor.org, the AAFP patient education Web site.

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Food Choices to Help Reduce Your Risk of Cancer

Grain Products
Foods to choose Whole-grain breads and cereals Baked products made with whole grains and limited amounts of fat and sugar	Foods to limit Biscuits Croissants Stuffing Fruit and nut bread Fried or greasy snacks (tortilla chips, corn chips, popcorn, etc.)
Vegetable and Fruits--Eat Five Per Day
Foods to choose Beta-carotene sources: carrots, cantaloupe, apricots, tomatoes, winter squash, spinach, etc. Vitamin C sources: oranges, grapefruit, red and green peppers, strawberries, broccoli, etc. Folic acid sources: oranges and orange juice, bananas, leafy green vegetables, leaf lettuce, asparagus, etc. Cabbage family: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, etc.	Foods to limit Vegetables prepared in high-fat sauces High-fat items such as avocado and coconut Fried or deep-fried vegetables (potatoes, mushrooms, zucchini, etc.) Fried snacks (potato chips, sweet potato chips, etc.)
Milk and Dairy
Foods to choose Skim or 1 percent milk Nonfat dry milk or evaporated skim milk Low-fat cottage cheese or yogurt Farmers cheese Part-skim mozzarella or ricotta cheese Low-fat cheeses Ice milk Low-fat frozen yogurt	Foods to limit Whole or 2 percent milk Sour cream Butter and margarine Fried or deep-fried cheese Regular cheeses Ice cream Cream (half and half, whipping)
Meat or Meat Alternatives
Foods to choose Lean beef, veal, pork and lamb (trim all visible fat) Skinless chicken and turkey breast Low-fat processed meat (lean ham, low- or nonfat bologna and hot dogs, etc.) Fish and shellfish Dried beans, peas and lentils	Foods to limit Chicken and turkey with skin "Prime" grade, heavily marbled or fatty meats (such as rib-eye steak) Sausage, bacon, frankfurters, bologna, etc. Goose and domestic duck Fried or deep-fried meat, poultry and seafood
Fats, Oils and Sweets
Foods to choose Use sparingly--broil or bake instead of frying Use fruit, instead of butter and syrup, on pancakes and waffles Choose low-fat sweets (angel-food cake, graham crackers, ginger snaps, etc.) if you have enough calorie allowance after getting foods from the other food groups	Foods to limit Greasy and/or fried items Spreads and salad dressings Desserts that are high in fat and sugar (pastries, pies, doughnuts, candy, etc.)

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This handout provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. To find out if this handout applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your family doctor.

Visit familydoctor.org for information on this and many other health-related topics.

Copyright © 2000 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Permission is granted to print and photocopy this material for nonprofit educational uses. Written permission is required for all other uses, including electronic uses.

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