Just remember, when you do have a loss of appetite the following things are very important for your health and well-being:

Anorexia nervosa can cause nausea due to excess stomach acid or starvation. Bulimia nervosa can cause nausea after eating from a compulsion to vomit any food consumed. Anxiety, depression, or intense stress can also result in a loss of appetite and nausea after eating.

Hunger is your body’s signal that it needs fuel. Your brain and gut work together to give you that feeling. So if you don’t feel like eating, a number of things could cause that dip in appetite, including certain medications, emotions, and health issues.

1. Eat foods high in calorie and protein content.
2. Drink high-calorie beverages, such as milk, Ensure, smoothies, Boost and Carnation Instant Breakfast.
3. Eat bread with meals to add more calories.

Loss of appetite means you don’t have the same desire to eat as you used to. Signs of decreased appetite include not wanting to eat, unintentional weight loss, and not feeling hungry. The idea of eating food may make you feel nauseous, as if you might vomit after eating.

Some suggestions:

• Nutritious soups – enhanced with cream, olive oil, or pureed meats and veggies.
• Healthy smoothies – add bananas, fruit, full-fat yogurt, or veggies like carrots and spinach.
• Hot cocoa.
• Full-fat milk.
• Milkshakes – good quality ice cream is better than eating nothing!

Have a regular meal and snack schedule and serve foods at the same time each day. Easy-to-eat snacks such as string cheese, full-fat yogurt or cottage cheese, cheese and crackers, and diced fruit (fresh or packaged) are healthy and delicious choices. This helps the resident be ready to eat at these times.

When you’re anxious, your body responds. Anxiety triggers emotional and psychological changes in your body to help you deal with the pressure. These changes often affect the stomach and digestive tract and can make you lose your appetite.

To help stop emotional eating, try these tips:

1. Keep a food diary. Write down what you eat, how much you eat, when you eat, how you’re feeling when you eat and how hungry you are.
2. Tame your stress.
3. Have a hunger reality check.
4. Get support.
5. Fight boredom.
6. Take away temptation.
7. Don’t deprive yourself.
8. Snack healthy.