Altered Sense of Taste and Smell

What to Do When Foods Don’t Taste or Smell Right

Cancer treatment may alter your sense of taste and smell. This can affect your enjoyment of eating. When foods don’t taste or smell the same, you may have trouble eating as much as you should to maintain your health and strength.

Keeping your strength up with good nutrition is an important way you can help take charge of your cancer care. Try the tips here for great ways to overcome changes in taste and avoid unappetizing smells.

If you have questions, be sure to talk to your health care team about nutrition changes you'd like to try.

Nutrition Tips for When Food Doesn’t Taste Good

• Take very good care of your mouth. Follow the instructions your health care team gives you for best mouth care. Use any mouth care medications or solutions exactly as your doctor or nurse instruct.
• A mild mouth rinse of 1 teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in 1 quart of room-temperature water may be helpful to swish in your mouth before each meal or snack.
• Avoid food smells. Stay away from the kitchen when food is being prepared. Ask your friends and family to help you with food preparation.
• If you have a “metallic” taste in your mouth, try plastic utensils instead of regular silverware.
• Try foods that have low odor and a short cooking time. Examples include scrambled eggs, French toast, pancakes, oatmeal, cream of wheat, cold cereal, and shakes and smoothies.
• Try flavoring your foods with tart flavors such as lemon, citrus, vinegar, and pickled items. Do not do this if you have sore mouth or throat. Tart flavors can irritate an already-sore mouth and throat.
• Try flavoring foods with different or unusual flavors such as basil, oregano, rosemary, tarragon, mustard, catsup, or mint.
• Marinate (soak) and cook meats in sweet juices, fruit, or dressings. For example, try sweet and sour pork, chicken with honey glaze, or beef with Italian dressing.
• Try eating cold foods that do not have as much odor. Examples include popsicles, yogurt, frozen yogurt, frozen fruit, cold hard-boiled eggs, juices and fruit nectars, cottage cheese, and smoothies and shakes.
• If sweet things don't taste good to you, try making a sour, tart, or mildly sweet shake or smoothie. For example, you can make a fruit smoothie or milk shake with frozen cranberries. Try adding 1 to 2 teaspoons of finely ground, decaffeinated coffee to a chocolate or vanilla liquid supplement such as Boost or Ensure.
• Try using unusual flavors such as vinegar and pickles. Sometimes, strong and sour flavors taste better during treatment. Do not do this if you have sore mouth or throat. Tart flavors can irritate an already-sore mouth and throat.
• Try rinsing your mouth with cool black or green tea, lightly salted water, or baking soda and water to “clear” taste buds before eating.
• Treat food like medication. Even if it doesn't taste good, your body needs food in order to heal. Food provides energy and energy is what your body needs to recover from treatment.