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Eating well can sometimes be a challenge when you have hepatitis C. The disease or the treatment you are receiving may affect your appetite. You may even experience nausea and vomiting. The following suggestions address common eating problems. Trying some of the recommended approaches may help you to maintain good nutritional habits.
When you don't feel like eating:
- Keep your portions small
- Take a walk to stimulate your appetite
If you have a better appetite in the morning:
- Eat a large, healthy breakfast that includes foods with protein, such as hot or cold cereal, an omelet, yogurt shake, or breakfast burrito (scrambled eggs with beans and cheese wrapped in a whole-wheat tortilla).
Some foods you once enjoyed may no longer taste the same. This may occur because your medicine is causing a bad taste in your mouth or it could be that liver disease has harmed certain chemical pathways in your body. You may find that some foods with protein, especially red meat, taste bitter.
If foods don't taste the same:
- Eat other sources of protein if red meat tastes bitter - good protein choices include chicken, fish, beans, cheese, yogurt, tuna, eggs, and peanut butter
- Try eating meats at room temperature or cold if just-cooked meat tastes unpleasant
If food smells bother you:
- Turn on a fan while cooking
- Serve foods cold or at room temperature
- Cook outside or in the microwave
- Use a small fan next to your plate for foods that have a strong smell
If you feel nauseated:
- Eat small portions of food every 2 to 3 hours rather than 3 large meals, and eat slowly
- Drink non-citrus beverages (eg, apple or grape juice, ginger ale, chicken broth, weak tea, and sports drinks), and sip drinks slowly
- For morning nausea, eat dry crackers when you first wake up, and get out of bed slowly
- Avoid strong-smelling foods and those that are spicy, greasy, or deep fried
- See your doctor if nausea continues
If you feel full quickly:
- Eat small portions at mealtime and drink beverages later
- Have several small meals throughout the day
- Choose foods that are high in calories and protein
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