Poor appetite in palliative care Hiakai koe ki te manaakitanga whakamaene

Several diseases, especially cancer, can make you lose your appetite. It can be as a result of other symptoms such as:

• pain
• feeling sick
• throwing up
• constipation
• fatigue
• mouth problems
• depression
• anxiety.

Eating well will probably not change the course of your illness, but it may:

• help you feel better
• give you more energy
• improve your quality of life.

If you have lost your appetite, talk to your healthcare provider about it. They may have some suggestions that will help you.

There are several things you can do to help you to get your appetite back and eat more.

Timing of meals

There are no rules about what to eat and when, but try to:

• eat little and often
• eat when you feel hungry, even if it is not a mealtime
• eat in the morning when your appetite may be better.

Quick and easy food

Choose foods that are easy to eat, soft and moist, such as:

• soup
• eggs
• mashed vegetables with gravy
• pasta with lots of sauce
• casseroles
• milk puddings
• stewed fruit.

Try foods with different tastes (salty, sour, sweet), textures (smooth, crunchy) and temperatures (cold, warm, hot).

If you usually follow a low-fat or diabetes diet, or other special diet, it is now more important that you eat what you enjoy, even if it is something you previously avoided. 

Food preparation

• Keep a variety of snacks handy so there is something tasty available whenever you are hungry.
• Serve food on a smaller plate, use smaller utensils (such as a teaspoon) and eat smaller portions. You can always have extra if you are still hungry.
• If possible, get someone else to prepare and cook your food.
• Avoid foods with strong smells.
• If you have a metallic taste in your mouth, try using plastic utensils.

Mouth care

Keep your mouth fresh and clean before and after meals.

Eating environment

Eat with friends and whānau when possible. Try to relax before meals doing what you enjoy. This may be listening to music, reading or watching TV while you are eating. If you are able to, take a short walk to improve your appetite.

Drinks

Even if you are not hungry, try to keep drinking.

• Try using a straw for drinks.
• If you usually enjoy alcohol, a small drink half an hour before meals can help your appetite and is safe to take if you are also taking pain relief.