How to overcome a poor appetite

• If you can, be active or go for a short walk before meals.
• Eat small meals or snacks every 2 to 3 hours.
• Serve meals on smaller plates.
• Chop your food into bite-sized portions to make eating easier.
• Choose foods that you enjoy the taste and smell of.
• Try foods you can quickly and easily digest, such as soup, pasta or canned fruit.
• Add herbs and spices to give your food more flavour.
• Eat with whānau, friends or neighbours rather than by yourself, if you can.
• Try eating while you watch TV or read, to take your mind off the food.
• Ask your healthcare provider if your medications may be impacting your appetite or causing taste problems.

If you do not feel like eating a meal, choose a nutritious snack such as:

• a sandwich with a high protein filling like cheese, egg, cold meat, canned fish, hummus or peanut butter
• toast with your favourite spread or baked beans, spaghetti or creamed corn
• crackers with toppings like cheese, hummus or paté
• muffins, scones or fruit loaf
• fresh, stewed or canned fruit
• yoghurt, custard or ice cream
• cheese
• plain or flavoured milk
• a milkshake or fruit smoothie
• cereal with milk or a cereal bar
• soup with toast or a bread roll.

Try to have at least 8 cups of fluid a day. Fluids include:

• water
• milk
• hot drinks
• soup
• custard
• ice blocks.

If you are overcoming a poor appetite, try to drink higher-calorie fluids such as milky drinks and soup. Tea, black coffee and water will fill you up without giving you the nutrients you need.

Drink between meals rather than just before or with meals.

If you really do not feel like eating, replace a meal or snack with a high-energy drink such as:

• milkshakes
• fruit smoothie made with milk, yoghurt and fresh or frozen fruit
• yoghurt drinks
• spiders (ice cream with a soft drink such as lemonade added).