Eating Well When You Have Taste and Smell Changes

You may find that illness, treatment, or your stage • Rinse your mouth before and after meals. of life changes the way foods taste and smell. You may want to rinse more often if your These changes can be different for every person. mouth tastes bad even after brushing. There are many reasons your sense of taste or Try these mouth rinses: smell may change: • club soda or sparkling mineral water • aging • some medical • ginger ale treatments like • certain medications • ¼ tsp (1 mL) baking soda or salt in 1 cup cancer treatments • illness like cancer (250 mL) water and surgeries and kidney disease • water flavoured with cucumber, lemon, lime, • pregnancy • dental problems or orange slices Most people find that changes in taste and smell lessen over time. Try the ideas in this handout to If your mouth is dry help you enjoy your food. A decrease in saliva can decrease the flavour of food. Tips • Keep your mouth moist by drinking 8 cups • Try new foods and beverages to find flavours (2 litres) of fluid each day, spread out over the that taste good to you. day. Talk to your doctor or dietitian if you have • Make a list of foods that taste good. Eat them been told to limit your fluids. often even if you eat the same foods over and • Stay away from alcohol, tobacco, and drinks over for a while. that have caffeine in them (coffee, tea, colas). • Choose soft foods that need less chewing. • Don’t use mouthwashes made with alcohol. • Don’t eat foods that taste bad. Find other • Use a humidifier at night to help keep your foods that will give you the nutrients you need. mouth and throat moist. • Don’t smoke cigarettes. • Talk to your pharmacist about using gels, • Eat in a pleasant setting, where you can relax sprays, or artificial saliva for dry mouth. and feel comfortable. • Choose soft, moist foods like: • pudding, yogurt, cottage cheese, ice cream Mouth care • soft or canned fruit • hot cereal, or cold cereal softened in milk Good mouth care can make taste changes easier • casseroles, soft cooked eggs to deal with. • Add sauces, gravies, salad dressings, oil, • Brush your teeth and your tongue with a soft margarine, or butter to foods. toothbrush before and after each meal. Wait • You may be able to make more saliva by 10–15 minutes after you brush your teeth sucking on sour candies, ice chips, citrus fruit, before you eat. or by chewing sugar-free gum. • Floss each day. • Try snacking on frozen fruit (berries, grapes, peaches) or popsicles.

Developed by Registered Dietitians Nutrition Services 607810-NFS Below are some common taste changes, and some • Try sweet foods such as fresh fruit, dried fruit, tips to deal with them. canned fruit, warm milk with honey, or yogurt with fruit. If food tastes too sweet If food tastes bitter • Add a pinch of salt to foods or fluids. Talk to your doctor or dietitian if you have been told • Cooking your food may make it taste less to limit salt. bitter. • Add something sour, like citrus fruits or • Try adding: vinegar, to sweet foods. For example, stir a bit • salt to broccoli, Brussels sprouts, or of lemon juice into applesauce. cauliflower • Add instant coffee, nutmeg, cinnamon or • sugar or sweetener to citrus fruit, coffee, cocoa powder to sweet foods such as pudding, or tea nutrition supplement drinks, ice cream, milk • citrus fruit or vinegar to pasta, rice, or shakes, or canned fruit. cooked vegetables • Try drinks that do not taste sweet, such as • oil, margarine, or butter lemonade, homemade iced tea, vegetable juice, • cream, cream cheese, or creamy sauces to or sports drinks. canned fruit, vegetables, potatoes, hot • Dilute drinks that are too sweet with water, cereal, or crackers milk, soda water, tonic water, or ice. For • Marinate meat in citrus juices, sweet and sour example, mix fruit juice with ice. sauce, barbeque sauce, wine, or vinegar. • Try eating foods cold or at room temperature. • Try vanilla pudding, custard, or milk. • Eat food that is cold or at room temperature. If food tastes too salty • Cook without added salt or salt-based If food tastes bland seasonings. Try herbs and spices, such as basil, • Try a different food with every bite, rather than rosemary, thyme, mint, dill, lemon, and fresh eating all one food and then moving to another ground black pepper. food. • Processed, pre-packaged, and pre-made foods • Try to have a mix of textures at each meal. are high in salt (sodium). Choose foods that For example, eat a soft casserole, a crunchy are lower in salt such as: salad, and a smooth pudding at the same meal. • fresh and homemade foods: hot cereal • Take a moment to smell food it before taking (not instant), plain rice, potatoes, or pasta, a bite. or fresh cooked meat/fish/poultry seasoned • Increase the flavour by adding these to foods: with herbs and spices • citrus fruits • ketchup • products that are labelled as low in sodium • fresh garlic • mayonnaise or sodium-reduced (for example, low • herbs and spices • mustard sodium vegetable juice instead of regular vegetable juice) • honey • raw onion • jam • sandwich spreads • Rinse canned food in water to lower the salt content. • You can also try adding flavoured liquids: • Try adding a pinch of sugar or sweetener to • broth or stock • salad dressing foods or fluids that taste too salty, such as • gravies • sauces: soy, barbeque soup, gravy, cottage cheese, tomato sauce, or • marinades • maple syrup casseroles. • vinegar

Eating Well When You Have Taste and Smell Changes Page 2 of 3 607810-NFS • Try more foods that have stronger flavours, • Ask family and friends to help with cooking. such as pickles, salsa, cured meats, dark • Use a straw or a cup with a lid for drinks that chocolate, nuts, sharp cheeses, or dried fruit. have a strong smell. • Eat away from the area where the food was If you have a metallic taste in prepared. your mouth Talk to your healthcare • Use plastic cutlery or chopsticks instead of metal utensils. provider • Use glass cookware and bakeware. • Talk to your doctor or dentist if you have • Choose fresh, frozen, or homemade foods problems with your teeth or sores in your instead of canned foods. mouth. • Try sugar-fee candies, mints, chewing gum, • Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to see if or the mouth rinses listed on page 1. Use the any of your medications might be causing rinses before eating. your change in taste. There might be other • If meat tastes metallic, try: medications you can take. • mixing meat into casseroles and stews to • If you are still not eating well after trying lessen their taste these suggestions, or if you are losing weight • eating leftover meats cold without trying, talk to your doctor or dietitian. • peanut butter, nuts, cheese, cooked beans, or eggs Talk to your family or • adding sauces such as applesauce, cranberry caregiver sauce, or mint jelly • marinades such as citrus juice, Italian Talk to your family or caregiver about the kinds dressing, vinegar, sweet and sour sauce, of food that will work best for you now. This may barbeque sauce, teriyaki sauce, or wine help them understand your likes and dislikes.

If smells bother you • Eat foods that are cold or at room temperature. • Choose foods that do not have to be cooked, such as: • sandwiches • cold cereal • milk, milkshakes, or smoothies • crackers with cheese • vegetables and fruit with dip or yogurt • Cook with a fan or by an open window. • Use the barbeque or microwave. • Use covered pots and pans. • Cook less at home. Get take-out, ready-to-eat, frozen dinners, or use a meal delivery service such as Meals on Wheels.

Eating Well When You Have Taste and Smell Changes Page 3 of 3 607810-NFS This is general information and should not replace the advice of your health professional. Alberta Health Services is not liable in any way for actions based on the use of this information. This handout may be reproduced without permission for non-profit education purposes. This handout may not be changed without written permission from [email protected]. © Alberta Health Services (Jun 2011)