Eating Healthy When You Have Mouth Sores

Your mouth and throat are some of the most sensitive areas of your body. An HIV infection can cause sores to develop there. These sores can make it hurt to chew or swallow and that makes it hard to eat.

Some tips on making eating easier :

• Eat soft foods that are smooth in texture. Try mashed potatoes, yogurt, pudding, custards, oatmeal, cream of wheat, ice cream, applesauce, mashed banana, cream soups (cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, cheddar cheese)
• Put your food in a blender to make it smooth.
• Try baby food. It is smooth and easy to swallow, and comes in single serving containers.
• Use a straw or drink your food from a cup instead of using a spoon.
• Try tilting your head forward or back to make swallowing easier.
• If you are able to handle some lumps, try scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, macaroni and cheese, baked fish, tuna salad, and canned fruits. Most stews, casseroles and hearty soups would be soft enough to eat, too.
• Moisten your food to help it slide down. Cut meats up in small pieces and add gravy to them. Add gravy or cream sauces to vegetables before eating.
• Soak dry foods in milk, coffee or other warm beverage before eating. This works well with toast, crackers, and cookies.
• Do not eat spicy foods. They can sting your mouth.
• Avoid rough or crunchy foods such as raw vegetables, apples. Try cooked vegetables and soft fruits like bananas or canned pears instead.
• Stay away from oranges, grapefruit, tomatoes or their juice. They have a lot of acid and can cause your mouth to sting.
• Avoid very hot foods and beverages. Cold and room temperature foods will be more comfortable to your mouth. If really cold foods feel good, try adding ice to milk and other beverages to make them extra cold. Try eating a lot of ice cream, sherbet or popsicles to numb some of the pain.
• Rinse your mouth whenever you feel you need it. This can moisten your mouth, remove bits of food, and give it a fresher taste.