Appetite Changes

"Many days I'm just not hungry. I find it easier to eat 5 small meals, instead of 3 big meals each day. My nurse told me about foods that can help me keep up my strength."

Try these tips to make eating easier:

Set meal times and routines.

• Set times to eat a little, even if you're not hungry.
  
  
• Eat 5 or 6 small meals each day, instead of 3 big meals.
  
  
• Keep up your interest in food by trying new foods. Eat with family or friends.
  
  
• If food tastes like metal, eat with plastic forks or spoons. Use a glass pot for cooking.

Be active.

• Being active may help you feel more hungry.
  
  
• Take a short walk each day.

Drink liquids.

• Try milkshakes or soup. These foods are easy to swallow.
  
  
• Getting enough liquids is important, but don't fill up on liquids right before you eat or during meals.

Soups	Drinks	Main meals and snacks	Sweets	Extras
Cream soups Soups with lentils, dried peas, or beans	Instant breakfast drinks Milkshakes Fruit smoothies Whole milk	Chicken Cooked, dried peas and beans Eggs Fish Nuts, seeds, and wheat germ	Custard Frozen yogurt Ice cream Muffins Puddings Yogurt (plain or vanilla)	Butter, margarine, or oil added to foods Cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream Liquid meal replacements Peanut butter Powdered milk added to foods

Questions to ask your doctor or nurse:

1. What problems should I call you about?
   
   
2. Are there high-protein drinks or vitamins that can help me?
   
   
3. Can you give me the name of a nutritionist, so I can learn more about what foods to eat?
   
   
4. What exercise can help me?

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