The one rule: protein at every meal
Treatment increases protein needs. Dal, paneer, curd, eggs, chana, peanuts and milk all count. Aim for one protein source every time you eat, even at snacks.
When taste changes
Metallic taste is common. Cold or room-temperature foods, lemon, and amchur help. Use steel — not copper — utensils and rinse the mouth before meals.
When mouth sores make eating hard
Switch to soft, cool, non-spicy food: dahi-chiwda, kheer, khichdi with ghee, sattu drinks, banana, lauki. Avoid raw chillies, very hot food and hard crusts until sores heal.
What to avoid
Raw or undercooked meat and eggs, cut fruit from outside, and unpasteurised milk while counts are low. When in doubt: cooked, fresh and homemade is safest.