Metabolomics, the youngest of the “omics” sciences, is the comprehensive study of all the small molecules present within a biological system. The most common analytical platforms employed for metabolomics research are nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS). These instruments have complementary strengths and can be used collectively to provide a more complete picture of the metabolome. NMR and MS generate large, complex datasets that require advanced computing techniques for processing and statistical analysis. The inherently untargeted nature of metabolomics research offers a unique advantage to the study of metabolism and metabolic dysfunction. Much research has been done to identify bioactive food components that have anticancer properties. Current evidence suggests that resveratrol, EGCG, curcumin, ursolic acid, and ω‐3 fatty acids have promising chemopreventive and therapeutic activities. However, little metabolomics research has brought the fields of nutrition and cancer research together. More metabolomics studies are needed to better understand the metabolic effects of phytochemicals on cancer development and progression.