Some people lose their appetite in hospital. Most people find they eat better when they return home but some find it takes a little longer for their appetite to return to normal.

Why is eating well important?

Being able to eat and drink enough helps your recovery and maintains your weight. It’s important to make sure you take in enough nutrition and fluids. If you have a poor appetite or are losing weight, eating enough calories and protein is more important than healthy eating.

How can you eat well at home?

• Try to have a varied diet, to get as wide a range of nutrients as possible.
• If you have a small appetite, you may find it easier to eat little and often. You may find small meals with snacks in between easier to manage.
• If you have a very poor appetite, try to eat something at each meal and snack often, even if it is only a few mouthfuls. Try to gradually increase the amount you eat every day.
• Aim for at least two to three portions of protein rich foods daily. These foods include meat, fish, poultry, cheese, eggs, pulses and dairy products.
• Light meal ideas include a jacket potato with tuna, cheese or baked beans, creamy soup with bread and butter or scrambled eggs on toast. Meals don’t have to be hot. A sandwich with a protein rich filling is fine to have.
• Good snack ideas are yoghurt, cheese and biscuits or crackers, peanut butter on toast, buttered tea cake or a crumpet or muffin with cream cheese. Other ideas include cakes, scones, biscuits or puddings such as fruit or sponge and custard or rice pudding.
• If you usually have low fat versions of foods such as yoghurts, butter, margarine, cream, desserts or ready meals you may like to have the full fat versions for a while as these contain more calories.
• Milk is also a good source of protein so it is a good idea to aim to have a pint a day. Full fat milk gives the most calories, although all types of milk have the same protein.

What about drinks?

It is important to drink enough to aid recovery. Although you may not feel thirsty, try to drink regularly through the day and aim for eight drinks daily.

All drinks except alcohol count towards your fluid intake. If you have a small appetite you may find that drinking with or close to meals fills you up too much. Having your drinks after a meal may help.

If you are finding it difficult to drink enough, try foods which contain a lot of fluid such as soups, stews, yoghurts, milky puddings, jelly and ice lollies. Milky drinks, such as hot chocolate, milky coffee, milk shake or a malted drink provide calories and protein as well as fluid.

If you have any concerns about your diet or if you are losing weight, please speak to your GP, practice nurse or community nurse. They can refer you for an outpatient appointment if this has not already been arranged for you by the hospital dietitians.