Appetite

You may have a lack of appetite for many reasons. It may be caused by your illness, medicine or treatment, or it may be due to other symptoms such as pain, fatigue, constipation, sore mouth (please speak to your doctor or nurse if you have a sore mouth. There may be a reason for this, that needs treating) and/or feelings of anxiety, sadness, emptiness or frustration. If you are not eating, it is important that you speak to your doctor or nurse. Some causes of lack of appetite can be treated and there are medications available that can stimulate appetite. Weight loss often accompanies living with a terminal illness. However, you should not assume that a lack of appetite cannot be treated. If your appetite is poor, try having smaller, more frequent meals, rather than larger plates of food three times a day.

You can add high-protein powders to your normal food, or you can replace meals with nutritious, high-calorie drinks. These are available from most chemists and can be prescribed by your GP. You can also ask to be referred to a dietician at the hospital or the community nutrician service. They can advise which foods are best for you and whether any food supplements would be helpful. If you’re not in hospital your GP can arrange this for you. If you need help with cooking or shopping, your Hospice nurse or a district nurse can give you information about support available to you at home. You could also see if someone else could prepare your meals, so that you’re not too tired to eat by the time they’re ready.

Taste Changes

You may find that your sense of taste changes, or that the texture of food seems different. This may be due to your illness, or it can be a temporary change due to medications. You may no longer enjoy certain foods or feel that all foods taste the same. Some people taking medications notice a metallic taste in their mouth. Others find that food has no taste at all.

Coping with taste changes

• Eat foods that you enjoy and ignore those that don’t appeal to you. But try them again after a few weeks as your sense of taste may change again.
• Use seasonings, spices and herbs like rosemary, basil and mint to flavour your food.
• Try marinating meat in fruit juices or wine to improve its flavour or eat it with strong sauces like sweet and sour or curry.
• Serve fish, chicken and egg dishes with sauces.
• Cold meats may taste better served with pickle or chutney.
• Sharp-tasting foods like fresh fruit, fruit juices and bitter boiled sweets can be refreshing and leave a pleasant taste in your mouth.
• If you go off the taste of tea or coffee, try lemon tea or green tea instead, or perhaps an ice-cold fizzy drink like lemonade or fresh orange juice with soda water.
• Some people find that cold foods taste more palatable than hot foods. Sucking an ice lolly can often help.

If you have an urgent enquiry for our medical and nursing teams (which may be for help and advice) please phone 01892 820515.  This phone number is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Last reviewed: 01.10.2020

Next review date: 01.10.2023