It can be hard to eat well and keep your weight up when you have COPD.

But getting good nutrition from healthy foods will give your body energy.

Good nutrition also helps strengthen your immune system and may make it easier to fight infections.

And it may help you stay active.

So, to be sure you're getting enough nutrients, eat a variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables, dairy foods, cereal and grains, and meats.

Choose foods that are easy to make.

And avoid foods that are hard to chew, because they use up energy you need for breathing.

Also, avoid foods that give you gas. Being bloated can make it hard to breathe.

If you need to gain weight, try adding cheese or olive oil to foods.

Have high-calorie snacks, like bagels with peanut butter or cream cheese.

Or try liquid nutritional drinks or ice cream between meals.

You can also do things that will make it easier to breathe while you eat.

First, about an hour before eating, clear your airways, and use any medicines that make your breathing easier.

If you use oxygen, use it while eating.

Your body needs oxygen for eating and digestion.

Drink your beverage at the end of the meal.

Drinking before or during the meal can fill you up more quickly.

And try eating six small meals each day instead of three large ones, so your stomach is never too full.

A full stomach can make breathing harder.

So, give these tips a try.

They may help you feel better and stay at a healthy weight.