Healthy food keeps your immune system strong and helps your body work better. Some drugs can kill your appetite, which can make you lose weight and feel weak. Wasting (severe weight loss) is a condition related to HIV that can become worse from using drugs. When you’re not using drugs, make a commitment to eat a lot and to eat healthy. Try to eat from the four food groups:

• fruits and vegetables
• grains and cereals
• milk and dairy products, like cheese and yogurt
• completely cooked meat, fish and chicken, or protein alternatives such as beans, lentils, tofu and peanut butter

Drink lots of water and fruit juice, especially if you’re on HIV meds or if you’re drinking alcohol or taking ecstasy, cocaine or speed. If you’re not eating enough, drink liquid food supplements like Boost or Ensure. You may want to take a multi-vitamin. Buy a cheap store brand or ask your community health centre or local AIDS agency if they offer free vitamins. Ask friends about food sources — they may know about soup kitchens, food banks, food share or food box services that give out free groceries.

If you want to gain weight: Eat small meals and snack a lot on healthy food. High-fat or sugary meals will make you feel full when you’re not. Add toppings or extra ingredients to boost calories in what you’re eating. Eat more protein. Try these healthy high-calorie foods: peanut butter, fruit shakes, dry milk powder, ice cream, cheese, avocados, yogurt and milk.

If you feel sick to your stomach or you’re throwing up: Eat and drink slowly. Don’t skip meals, but eat many small meals, such as dry toast, cereal, bananas, apples, well-cooked vegetables, mashed potatoes, rice, noodles, yogurt, cottage cheese, boiled eggs or soup. Avoid greasy foods, milk products, fats, spices and foods with a strong odour.

If you have diarrhea: Eat bananas, plain boiled rice, applesauce, dry toast, canned or puréed fruit, pasta, Cream of Wheat. Drink as much as you can — water, herbal tea, watered down juice and Lactaid milk. Avoid spices and milk products.

If you’re constipated: Eat more fibre from vegetables, fruits or whole grains like brown bread and brown rice. Drink lots of fluids, like water, orange juice and prune juice.

If you have mouth sores: Eat soft foods like applesauce and mashed potatoes at room temperature.

If these problems don’t get better, see your doctor.