enchantedhome Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Hi all- I've hit upon a rough patch with food, and I'm completely stumped. Absolutely nothing sounds or tastes appealing. Have you ever experienced this? It's not that I can't taste food (a quick google search about my issue turned up a bunch of disease-related stuff where you lose your ability to taste!), but that nothing is appealing at all, and I'm eating just to stay alive, which is really unfun. I don't have any dietary restrictions, and I don't diet, so it's not that I'm eating some super-restrcited way and it's boring: I give myself permission to eat whatever I feel like...and I don't feel like anything. Breakfast is the hardest because I don't really care for most breakfast foods. Eggs: meh. Bagels: meh. Peanut butter toast: meh. Oatmeal? Granola? Waffles? I've made all those things in the past week and I didn't enjoy a single one. I know that a lot of people eat leftovers or savory foods for breakfast, but that has never sounded great to me. And my kids would never go for it. Lol. I'm sure part of the issue is that I'm BURNT OUT on menu planning, grocery shopping, and fixing meals. I so don't know what to cook anymore. And to top it with nothing sounding yummy to me? It's a miracle we all get fed everyday. Sadly, I love food. I do like to cook. But if you took me out to lunch and told me to choose where to go? I couldn't. Not one single craving. Or, to take dinner tonight for example. We had left over chicken, and made nachos. I ate it. I chewed it. I never thought, "delicious! This tastes super good. Happy to be eating nachos right now!" At this point, I'm not finishing meals because i lose taste interest halfway through when I realize I totally don't care about what's on my plate. Thanks for sticking with this! I am trying not to over think it, but it's been a few weeks, and I can't figure out what to do. I want to have cravings and eat things that appeal! But I'm faced with a totally blah food life right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Loss of appetite can be a symptom of hypothyroidism, among other things. I'd make an appointment with a dr. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enchantedhome Posted September 28, 2016 Author Share Posted September 28, 2016 Loss of appetite can be a symptom of hypothyroidism, among other things. I'd make an appointment with a dr. Interestingly, I just had a big thyroid workup for another issue, and everything is very good. I even got the super-specific tests as well, to make sure we were looking at good data. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 I've had that happen. For me what helped was going back to very basic salty and savoury foods for a while. Often it's simple minced beef and rice. I can't think of breakfast and lunch equivalents (my issues were usually focused on dinner because those are the meals I really enjoy). I think it actually helps to take the work out of food for a while and make it routine and predictable, so breakfast, maybe something pre-prepared like yoghurt oats and berries in jars stored in the fridge, or for lunch a pot of soup you eat every day for a week with toast. I found a week or so of that will usually set me right. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 depression? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 I remembered a couple of other meals I use when 'resetting' my appetite: French toast - savoury, not sweet Fried bread - fried in olive oil Spaghetti with butter, lemon juice and pepper or chilli flakes Baked potato. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamiof5 Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 I was going to say pregnancy as well. Hormone/minerals deficiency? Maybe just exhaustion? Maybe try to plan something fun/relaxing? Not sure. Just saying what comes to mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Depression can be a big one. As far as breakfast, there's no reason that you can't feed your kids breakfast foods and eat something that you find less unappealing for yourself. :p 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoPlaceLikeHome Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Interestingly, I just had a big thyroid workup for another issue, and everything is very good. I even got the super-specific tests as well, to make sure we were looking at good data. I would still want to see a doctor as soon as possible to rule out any serious problems and to get an answer. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica_in_Switzerland Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Yeah, every time I'm pregnant. If you are for sure not, any chance you have funky hormone issues going on? That was my thought as well. I get it during pregnancy and it sucks! OP: It's ok to skip breakfast. "Most important meal of the day" is a slogan coined by some cereal company- can't remember which one at the moment! Wait until mid-morning, or even lunch, when your natural appetite kicks in. Mine kicks in around 10am. Consider exercising/increasing muscle mass to increase your natural hunger. If it's just menu burnout, it'll probably go away. I get that sometimes and we have a week, or two, or three... of hotdogs/burgers/pizza/spaghetti. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 (edited) I have been this way for long periods several times in my life. As an adult, I heard of this being considered a form of Anorexia Nervosa. I don't know how accurate this is, but it does (for me) seem to be related to anxiety. P.S.: I don't care about breakfast. I eat it several hours after I wake up. Most common breakfasts are not appealing to me. Edited September 28, 2016 by Quill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gentlemommy Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 I feel like this very often. I'll stand in front. Of the stocked fridge or pantry and nothing will stand out as appetizing. It's very frustrating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 I have been this way for long periods several times in my life. As an adult, I heard of this being considered a form of Anorexia Nervosa. I don't know how accurate this is, but it does (for me) seem to be related to anxiety. P.S.: I don't care about breakfast. I eat it several hours after I wake up. Most common breakfasts are not appealing to me. Our now 16 year old has been like this for years. She has no interest in food. Everything upsets her stomach ( we think that is anxiety related). Nothing appeals to her, she has no hunger impulse so we try to get her to eat kind of on the clock. Cheese and nuts? Apple slices with almond butter? cucumber slices with cheese and some black olives? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 We all go through this seasonally. As long as you are ABLE to eat and it's just a case of burn out, I wouldn't worry about it all. Just go through the motions eating healthy food until you are excited again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garga Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 (edited) Depression, anxiety, or being in love can do that to a person. Edited September 28, 2016 by Garga Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 (edited) For me, things like going someplace that sells farm fresh foods help. Right now, apples are coming off of trees and taste better than they ever will. Fresh pecans may be available too. But yeah, depression does this to me every time. As does frustration with cooking. Edited September 28, 2016 by fairfarmhand 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Are you not interested in eating in general.....or does everything taste blah and that makes you not want to eat? A sinus infection, dental infection, or other mouth/nose/ear infection can affect taste. Seasonal allergies and post nasal drip can realy affect the taste of food. If food doesn't taste good, it makes it less appealing. Depression or stress often make me not want to cook or put effort into meals. When that happens I rely more on asking what the family wants and go with that for meals. Websites like All Recipes, or even googling menus from different restaurants to get ideas helps me. I just have to remind myself that I don't have to personally want the meal, to cook it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymonster Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 (edited) I love to cook and eat, but this spring I was just. over. it. all. cooking, meal planning, cleaning up, dealing with four different eating styles while trying to please everyone. What helped me was to go on food52.com (or whatever sparkly website you find) and to make some stuff way outside my normal. It was like I was just so bored with food I didn't want it anymore. DH and I are enjoying my creative endeavors. The boys continue to eat their plain pasta and plain chicken. Edited September 28, 2016 by mommymonster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 I recently went through this due to adrenal issues. as things have been getting better balanced - it's improving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 I have experienced this when I am physically and emotionally exhausted. But that is an easily identified cause and typically cured by a few good nights of sleep. Interesting to hear it's a symptom of thyroid issues. I do know several senior citizens whose taste buds don't work well anymore, and they've narrowed food choices to things that still actually taste good to them. But I'm sure that's not your cause! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acadie Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Lots of good ideas here. A question I'd ask myself to try to tease out depression/anxiety vs. a physiological issue--do I feel like this about other things, or just about food and food prep? Once, after I felt nauseous for a few days, my appetite didn't return for over a month. I'm not sure why, but I wondered if it was a minor GI bug. Also when I start drinking too much coffee, I start to get reflux and lose my appetite. It's kind of hard to tell it's even happening because I only have an occasional burning in my throat--my main reflux symptom seems to be loss of appetite. Have you changed anything in your diet that might be causing reflux? Or I wonder if taking probiotics could help rule out a GI bug or gut flora imbalance. Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Sometimes this is the first symptom of coming down with a cold or flu for me. But it is a medical symptom of all kinds of issues, so go get a checkup. Schedule it for next week so your cold symptoms will show up if that's the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawyer&Mom Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 I've had this twice. Once with anxiety/depression, once with pregnancy. Both times doctors gave me the same advice: pick a really basic food plan and just make yourself eat that everyday until you finally decide you want something else. For example, I decided to have a bowl of cereal for breakfast, a burrito for lunch and a can of soup for dinner. I did this everyday for at least a week. Having a plan took the stress out of eating for awhile. Eventually I wanted a mango smoothie for lunch so I had that instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enchantedhome Posted September 28, 2016 Author Share Posted September 28, 2016 Thanks to everyone for your thoughts. I'm definitely not pregnant, so there's that. Lol. I have had issues with anxiety and depression before, so I know what that feels like, and as recently as the spring, I had some panic attacks. She gave me anxiety meds which I didn't end up taking: ended a friendship which was causing most of the anxiety, was worried about side effects of the meds, etc. I also went to her this summer because I was exhausted: new puppy, two kids, no vacation or break. Just burnt out. That's when we ran all the blood work and thyroid tests. Nothing. But for the last month or so, I've been feeling better, sleep and anxiety-wise. Planning and shopping and cooking meals is not that fun at this point. My kids aren't hearty eaters and they each have their own picky preferences, which I don't generally indulge. But it's not exciting to cook when you know at least one of them won't really eat. In terms of the rest of my life, I don't feel disengaged, just busy. Normal stresses. I just don't like facing food every day and not being at least a little excited to eat any of it. Maybe trying slower, more mindful eating? As much as possible within the confines of family life...and I bought some new cookbooks and magazines too, for fresh ideas. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoPlaceLikeHome Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 I would still want a to see a doctor as soon as possible to rule out any serious problems since it seems you are describing a sudden, new loss of appetite which is concerning as a nurse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 Have you been having any other physical symptoms such as sweats, itching, pain, lymph node swelling, low grade fevers, skin rashes, headaches or blurry vision? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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