VCU Massey Cancer Center

Diet and nutrition

VCU Health and Massey registered dietitian Allie Farley will provide nutrition tips and information on the connection between diet and cancer. Please check this page regularly for Allie's latest blogs and recipes!

Meet Allie

Hi and welcome! My name is Allie Farley and I am the Massey Integrative Health team's outreach dietitian. In my role, I blog about nutrition topics and recipes, speak at workshops, meet with support groups and much more! I would like to share with you a little about myself.

I am originally from West Virginia and moved to Richmond, Virginia in the beginning of 2018. I received my undergraduate degree in human nutrition and foods from West Virginia University and completed an internship, as well as my master’s degree in dietetics at Marshall University. I have been practicing as a dietitian since 2010. I am a knowledge seeker and I love to learn, especially in the fields of nutrition and healthy living. I am excited to be working with a wonderful group of people who make such a difference for so many individuals and their families.

Invite Allie to speak at your community events, support groups and more. Send your event requests to alliene.farley@vcuhealth.org.

Is there a topic that you would like to see covered? Send your requests to alliene.farley@vcuhealth.org.  

 Click here to view Allie's recipes 

Picnics Something we don’t often think about is sitting down for a picnic! While not the most conventional idea, eating outside can help to slow down our fast-paced lives and cherish the outdoors.	Maintaining a healthy weight during cancer treatmeant Increasing your protein and calorie intake will help you maintain your muscle mass and weight during treatment, improving your chances for a speedy recovery.
The New American Plate webinar series In this four-part webinar series, Allie discusses the New American Plate model, an innovative approach to eating.	Meal prepping during a pandemic Meal planning during a pandemic has added challenges but it does not have to be stressful or difficult.
Cooking with super seeds Research indicates that seeds have numerous health benefits.	Cooking with spices Research shows that phytochemicals might play a role in cancer prevention.
Immunity There is no shortage of claims that certain foods or supplements can boost our immune system, which makes it very difficult to decipher the truth about immune boosting foods.	Shop smart for fruits and vegetables In this video, Allie provides quick tips on buying high quality produce, while saving money and ensuring that your nutiritonal needs are met.
Understanding a nutrition label In this video, Allie explains how to interpret the nutrition labels on packaged foods.	Food safety In this video, Allie provides easy advice for proper food handling and hygeine to prevent food-borne illness.
The truth behind natural products (herbal supplements)	Hydrating for Nutrition In this video, Allie provides simple tips to integrate into your lifestyle.
Eat the rainbow A balanced diet should include a variety of colorful plant-based foods rich in phytochemicals.	Should I avoid sugar in my diet? Does sugar feed cancer?

  

Massey does not endorse all integrative and complementary practices. We only recommend those that are known to be safe and have the potential to improve health when used alongside, and never in place of, professional medical care. All cancer patients are advised to consult with their physician before starting any integrative practice, as some may interfere with medical care.