What can I do about taste changes during cancer treatment?

Cancer treatment, dental problems, or the cancer itself can change your sense of taste or smell. Food may have less taste, or certain foods like meat may taste bitter or metallic. There's no sure way to prevent this, but the National Cancer Institute offers several ways to manage it—and the changes often get better after treatment ends.

If food tastes bland or "off," try foods with fruity, tart, or salty flavors, use marinades on meats, and add vinegars, fresh juices, cheese, or sauces. Fresh or dried herbs like basil, oregano, and rosemary, and spices like garlic powder or ginger, can add flavor. Chewing food longer allows more contact with your taste buds.

For a bitter or metallic taste, use plastic, silicone, wooden, or bamboo utensils instead of metal, and avoid food in metal containers. If red meat tastes metallic, try chicken, turkey, dairy, or plant proteins like tofu, nuts, or beans. Sucking on sugar-free candies or mints and drinking sweet or sour beverages may help too.

If smells bother you, keep foods covered, drink through a straw with a lid, use a kitchen fan, and choose foods that don't need cooking. Your care team and a registered dietitian can suggest more options that fit you.