What do you eat if you have anosmia?

[Cranberry]

I'm assuming foods that rely on the actual tastes (sweet, salty, etc) are better than "flavored" foods. And texture is important. But which actual foods work for people with anosmia?

[LunchBreaker]

I think fruit is still good because it's sweet and textured, though it would be missing flavor. And adding a little hot sauce can make foods more interesting.

[shpritz]

Fruit is a good idea. Blank foods, such as crackers, rice cake and bread should work too.

[LunchBreaker]

If someone gets anosmia after having had a sense of smell, it's best for them to try new foods (because familiar foods will taste like the absence of whatever flavor they typically have).

[shpritz]

How was Havdala this week? Did you smell the besamim?

[Cranberry]

I have hyposmia right now, but besamim is nothing.

[virtuosointraining]

I like eating foods that have strong flavors that don't rely on your sense of smell. Since I had COVID, I like things that are salty, sweet, sour, or bitter, and I add a lot of hot sauce to whatever I eat.

[Cranberry]

Since the onset, every day, I make a cup of coffee, take a sip, then spill the rest down the sink because coffee is just bitter water.

[shpritz]

I sympathize!

[Cranberry]

I really don't understand why some people make it sound like losing one's sense of smell is no big deal. It's one of the five main senses!

[LunchBreaker]

"He had a really mild case. His only symptom is that he lost one of the five senses, perhaps permanently."

[Cranberry]

Just a little nerve damage to the olfactory system. No big deal.