The treatment that your child received for their blood and marrow transplant (BMT) or cellular therapy—like chemotherapy and other medicines—can change the way your child tastes food. Do not worry! Most children regain their sense of taste and appetite with time. Choosing foods with certain flavours and textures may help your child start to eat and drink again like they used to, and enjoy the food they eat.
Introducing bold flavours and textures to your child can be helpful for restoring their sense of taste and appetite. Below are lists of foods that you and your child can choose from.
Flavours
- Tangy
- Sour/tart
- Salty
- Strong
- Spicy (but not hot)
- Fresh
| Tangy foods include: | Tangy sauces like BBQ sauce, relish, and hoisin sauce Caesar salad dressing, ranch dressing Tamarind Pomegranate (juice, seeds*, or molasses) Cream cheese (plain or flavoured) |
| Sour/tart foods include: | Lemons/limes Berries Lemonade, cranberry juice Pickles and pickled food Fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut Soy sauce Vinegars Rhubarb Plain yogurt, sour cream, and kefir |
| Salty foods include: | Nuts* Pretzels Chips Crackers Pickles French fries Canned soup and instant noodles Bacon, turkey bacon, pepperoni/pepperettes |
| Strong foods include: | Parmesan cheese Strong cheese (cheddar, Swiss, asiago, etc.) Sausages Cheese flavoured foods (popcorn*, chips, rice cakes, etc.) Mustard Garlic Cumin Flavoured chips or crackers (sour cream & onion, salt & vinegar, all dressed, cheese, BBQ, etc.) |
| Spicy (but not hot) foods include: | Mild curry or chili, mild salsa, ginger, cumin Mustard greens Arugula |
| Fresh foods include: | Mint and peppermint, fresh herbs, lemongrass Red, yellow, orange peppers Cucumber sticks Carrot sticks |
*These are only suitable for children aged four and older. They can be a serious choking hazard for younger children.
Textures
- Juicy
- Crunchy
| Juicy foods include: | Cucumber sticks Red, yellow, or orange pepper sticks Watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe Pineapple (if not too acidic) Ripe peaches, plums, and nectarines Grapes Kiwis (also sour and tart!) Celery sticks (also crunchy!) |
| Crunchy foods include: | Crunchy vegetable sticks Chips/tortilla chips Nuts* French fries Pretzel sticks Breadsticks Croutons Crunchy lettuce (also juicy!) Popcorn* |
*These are only suitable for children aged four and older. They can be a serious choking hazard for younger children.
Cold foods
If your child is still recovering from mucositis (mouth sores), giving them cold food can be both soothing and enjoyable to eat.
| Cold foods include: | Ice cream and frozen yogurt Fruit and yogurt pops (easy to make at home!) Smoothies Popsicles Cold puddings Cold milk (cow’s milk or milk alternatives) Ice chips (especially if your child is finding it hard to drink) Chilled soup Chilled watermelon and canned fruit |
Now is the time for your child to try new foods, and foods they didn’t like before their transplant. You never know what their new taste buds might like!