@sally484 Yes, you are describing perfectly what it's like not to taste flavor. It's like eating cardboard. I agree, eating is now forced. That's why I look for textures I like. There are not many.

Flavor is connected to smell, but even with loss of flavor and smell, our taste buds on our tongue can distinguish sweet, salty, spicy and bitter. The only one of those that is still good without flavor is sweetness so that is my only food joy now. It makes me eat too much sugar.

Try my fave! See's butterscotch lollipops are sweet, smooth and creamy so I like the texture too, but couldn't tell you it's butterscotch, just sweet. Lasts 20+ minutes for only 90 calories. My evening treat I look forward to all day since I don’t enjoy the rest of the food. Each lollipop flavor has a different texture so that’s the only one I eat. Chocolate one has a rough texture – don’t recommend.

For something healthy, salmon has a good texture for me. I never liked fish (fishy taste and smell gags me), but now I can't taste or smell it so I wouldn't know it was fish. I get it blackened so sometimes I can detect the bite of pepper if it has enough.

What's our most common social engagement? Going out to eat. No longer fun. I dread lunch and dinner invitations with all my eating limitations, but you fake it till you make it.