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NUTRITIONAL HELP

when you have taste changes

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NUTRITIONAL HELP

when you have taste changes

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Fueling your body with good nutrition during cancer treatment can be tough when foods begin to taste different than usual.

Still, it’s important to keep your body fueled to keep up your strength during your treatment. The tips here may make eating more pleasurable and help you take in nutrition, maintain weight, and keep pace with your treatment plan.

Planning ahead for changes in how food tastes can help make your meals a more pleasant experience:

  • Before eating, cleanse your mouth by sipping on tea, gingerale, salted water, water with lemon, or rinsing with water and baking soda. Finish your meal with lemon drops, gum, crystallized ginger, or mints.
  • Serving foods cold or at room temperature can help lessen their taste and smell.
  • If you are noticing a metallic taste in your mouth, eating with plastic utensils may help.

Making changes to your daily diet can help you discover new flavors and get the nutrition your body needs:

  • If a food tastes too sour, salty, sweet, or bitter to you one day, try it again 2 weeks later to see if that “off” taste is gone.
  • Include flavorful, tart foods, such as citrus fruits, cranberry juice, and pickles in your diet to help reduce any metallic taste you may experience.
  • If you are having trouble tasting salt or sugar, try using other seasonings, sauces, and spices, such as onion, garlic, chili powder, or oregano.
  • Make meats, chicken, and fish more flavorful by marinating them in sweet fruit juices, sweet wine, salad dressings, or sweet-and-sour sauce.
  • Consider a nutrient-dense nutritional drink to help fill the gaps in your diet / to help provide the protein, vitamins and minerals you need during those times when it’s difficult to consume enough food.

Nutritious and Delicious:

ENTREE/SIDE DISH

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ENTREE/SIDE DISH

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Broccoli Rice Casserole

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Ready in 1 hour 15 minutes

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/content/an/oncology/us/en/nutrition-for-your-fight/recipes/broccoli-rice-casserole.html

ENTREE/SIDE DISH

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ENTREE/SIDE DISH

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Spinach and Tomato Quiche

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Ready in 1 hour

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/content/an/oncology/us/en/nutrition-for-your-fight/recipes/spinach-tomato-quiche.html

SNACK

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SNACK

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Red Velvet Cupcakes

 

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Ready in 45 minutes

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/content/an/oncology/us/en/nutrition-for-your-fight/recipes/red-velvet-cupcakes.html

DESSERT

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DESSERT

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Pumpkin Spice Bread Pudding

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Ready in 45 minutes

Reference Page Path
/content/an/oncology/us/en/nutrition-for-your-fight/recipes/pumpkin-spice-bread-pudding.html
Helpful Resources
Mouth Soreness
Appetite Loss

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