What foods taste good during chemo? Navigating taste changes with nutrition

According to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, changes in taste or smell are a common side effect of chemotherapy, which can lead to a loss of appetite and weight. While dealing with cancer treatment, finding what foods taste good during chemo is a vital part of maintaining strength and nutritional intake. A shift in taste buds can make favorite foods seem bland, bitter, or even metallic, necessitating a creative and adaptable approach to eating.

Quick Summary

This guide provides practical strategies and food recommendations for managing taste changes during chemotherapy. It offers tips for addressing specific taste issues, suggests meal and snack ideas, and provides advice on kitchen and eating habits to make meals more appealing.

Key Points

• Embrace Cool Foods: Serving foods cold or at room temperature can reduce strong smells and flavors that may be off-putting during chemo.

• Experiment with Flavors: When food tastes bland, use bold spices, herbs, or marinades to enhance flavor, but avoid them if you have mouth sores.

• Try Milder Proteins: If red meat tastes metallic, opt for alternatives like chicken, eggs, tofu, or dairy products.

• Use Non-Metallic Utensils: Switching from metal to plastic or bamboo cutlery can help minimize a metallic taste in your mouth.

• Balance Sweet and Sour: If foods taste too sweet, add a touch of salt or lemon juice; if they are bitter, try a little honey or maple syrup.

• Prioritize Hydration: Sip on clear, cool liquids or suck on ice chips or popsicles throughout the day to stay hydrated and clear your palate.

• Create a Meal Plan: Keep a food diary to track what works and eat small, frequent meals rather than large, heavy ones.

• Make Every Bite Count: Focus on nutritious, high-protein foods that are easier to tolerate to maintain strength and a healthy weight.

Chemotherapy can significantly impact a person's sense of taste, with changes ranging from a lingering metallic taste to a loss of flavor entirely. Fortunately, adjusting your diet and preparation methods can help make food palatable and ensure you receive the nutrition needed for recovery. The key is to experiment with different temperatures, textures, and flavor profiles until you find what works for you on any given day.

Addressing common taste changes

Different taste distortions require different culinary approaches. The most frequent complaints include a metallic taste, blandness, or an oversensitivity to certain flavors. By pinpointing the specific issue, you can better select and prepare foods to counteract the unwanted effects.

For a Metallic or Bitter Taste:

• Embrace freshness: Opt for fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables instead of canned versions, which can intensify a metallic flavor.
• Swap proteins: If red meat tastes strange, switch to milder protein sources like chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, tofu, or cheese.
• Use plastic utensils: Replacing metal cutlery with plastic or bamboo can help reduce the metallic sensation when eating.
• Add sweetness and acid: Sweet sauces, fruit marinades, and acidic elements like lemon juice, lime, or vinegar can help mask or balance out a metallic or bitter taste.

For Bland or Tasteless Foods:

• Boost with seasonings: Experiment with bold herbs and spices that don't cause discomfort, such as basil, oregano, thyme, garlic, or lemon-pepper.
• Try tart and sour: Incorporating tart flavors like lemon wedges, lemonade, or orange-flavored gelatin can help stimulate the taste buds.
• Marinate for flavor: Marinate meats, fish, or tofu in flavorful marinades like teriyaki, sweet-and-sour, or Italian dressing.
• Alternate flavors: Try alternating bites of different-tasting foods, such as cottage cheese and pineapple, to keep the palate engaged.

When Sweet Foods are Too Sweet:

• Balance with salt: A pinch of salt or a squeeze of lemon or lime can help neutralize an overly sweet taste.
• Dilute beverages: Water down sweet juices or nutritional supplement drinks to make them more tolerable.
• Choose plainer options: Opt for unsweetened cereals or plain yogurt instead of heavily sugared versions.

Delicious and nourishing food ideas

Finding appealing foods is crucial for maintaining nutritional status and energy levels during chemo. Here are some options that are frequently well-tolerated and can be adapted to suit changing tastes.

Meal Ideas:

• Scrambled Eggs or Omelets: A mild-flavored protein that is easy to prepare and digest.
• Chicken or Turkey: Serve baked or broiled chicken or turkey, either cold or marinated to enhance flavor.
• Plain Pasta or Rice: These bland starches are often well-tolerated and can be dressed up with sauces, herbs, or cheese.
• Soups and Broths: Comforting and easy to eat, clear broths or creamy soups (like potato or butternut squash) can be very soothing.
• Mashed Potatoes: A soft, bland food that is a reliable source of calories and comfort.

Snack and Treat Ideas:

• Frozen Fruits: Frozen grapes, melon, or oranges can be refreshing and help with a metallic taste.
• Homemade Smoothies: Blend yogurt, fresh fruit, and a mild protein source like tofu or nut butter for a nutritious, flavorful shake.
• Yogurt or Custard: These smooth, creamy foods are often easier to swallow and digest.
• Sorbet or Popsicles: Fruit-flavored ice treats can be a welcome relief, especially if you have mouth sores.
• Crackers: Dry, salty crackers can help with nausea and provide a bland snack.

Kitchen and eating strategies

In addition to choosing the right foods, adjusting your habits around eating can make a significant difference.

• Eat Cold or Room Temperature Foods: These foods generally have less intense smells and flavors, which can be easier to tolerate.
• Prepare Meals Ahead: Cook and freeze meals on good days to have them ready for days when you don't feel like cooking. Strong cooking odors can be a trigger for nausea.
• Small, Frequent Meals: Eating five to six small meals and snacks throughout the day can be less overwhelming than three large ones and helps maintain energy levels.
• Maintain Oral Hygiene: A clean mouth can improve the perception of taste. Rinse your mouth with a baking soda and salt solution or an alcohol-free mouthwash before eating.
• Create a Pleasant Atmosphere: Eating in a relaxed, well-ventilated space, away from cooking odors, can make the experience more enjoyable.

Comparison Table: Managing Common Taste Changes

Taste Challenge	Foods to Try	Preparation Tips	What to Avoid
Metallic/Bitter	Chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, tofu, fresh fruit, frozen fruit	Use plastic utensils, add sweet/sour marinades, serve cold or at room temperature	Red meat, canned goods, metal utensils
Bland/No Taste	Seasoned poultry, aged cheeses, strong herbs & spices, tart foods	Marinate proteins, experiment with condiments like mustard and BBQ sauce	Bland, unseasoned foods; avoid extremes if mouth sores are present
Too Sweet	Plain yogurt, cottage cheese, nuts, pretzels, vegetable juice	Add a pinch of salt, lemon juice, or dilute sweet beverages	Sugary desserts, sweet drinks, sweetened cereals
Strong Smells	Cold foods, precooked meals, takeout	Use exhaust fan while cooking, cook outdoors, keep lids on pots	Hot, fatty, or fried foods with strong odors

The importance of experimentation

Navigating dietary challenges during chemotherapy is a personal journey. What works for one person may not work for another, and what works today might be intolerable tomorrow. Keep a food diary to track what tastes good and what triggers negative reactions. This allows you to identify your personal food triggers and develop a go-to list of reliable options. Always consult with your cancer care team or a registered dietitian before making significant dietary changes or taking supplements. Their guidance ensures you get the right balance of nutrients to support your body throughout treatment and recovery.

Conclusion

While chemotherapy's impact on taste can be discouraging, it is a temporary side effect for most individuals. By being mindful of food temperatures, textures, and flavors, and exploring new culinary approaches, patients can discover what foods taste good during chemo and continue to meet their nutritional needs. Small, frequent meals of bland or fresh, flavorful foods can help manage nausea and appetite, while strategic use of seasonings and marinades can counteract metallic or bland flavors. Adapting to these changes is key to maintaining strength and a positive outlook during treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do foods taste different during chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy drugs target rapidly growing cells, including the cells of the taste buds and salivary glands. This damage can cause food to taste bland, metallic, bitter, or just different from what you remember, and can also lead to dry mouth.

How can I get rid of a metallic taste in my mouth from chemo?

To combat a metallic taste, try using plastic or bamboo utensils, eating fresh or frozen foods instead of canned ones, and marinating meats in sweet or tart sauces like sweet-and-sour or fruit juice. Sucking on sugar-free candies or chewing gum can also help.

What should I do if everything tastes bland?

If food tastes bland, try enhancing its flavor with strong herbs and spices such as basil, oregano, and garlic powder. Adding tart or sour elements like lemon juice, vinegar, or pickles can also help stimulate your taste buds.

Are cold foods better than hot foods during chemo?

Many people find that cold or room-temperature foods are easier to tolerate during chemotherapy because they have less odor, which can trigger nausea. Examples include cold sandwiches, sorbets, and fresh fruit.

What are some high-protein foods that are easy to eat?

Mild, easy-to-eat protein options include eggs (scrambled or hard-boiled), soft fish like salmon, cheese, yogurt, and tofu. Smoothies made with protein powder or Greek yogurt are also a good choice.

How can I stay hydrated if water tastes bad?

If plain water tastes unpleasant, try infusing it with fresh fruit like lemon or cucumber. You can also sip on herbal teas, clear broths, fruit nectars, or suck on ice cubes or popsicles.

Should I force myself to eat my favorite foods during chemo?

It is best to avoid eating your favorite foods when you feel nauseated or when your taste is altered. This can prevent you from developing a long-term aversion to those foods. Instead, find substitutes that currently appeal to you.