Change in tastes, food wise (pizza)

Factual Questions
1

SDMB,
I hope this is the right forum for this question. I’m 48 years old and have eaten pizza probably 2-3 times a week for the past 30 years. Usually just meat pizzas, pepperoni, sausage etc. Back in September I quit smoking after 33 years and at first pizza was so much better tasting than I ever knew. Then in early November the taste of pizza, and even just the smell of it a times, made me queasy.

I have tried Chicago-style pizza(my favorite) a couple weeks ago on my Christmas vacation and tried my local favorite, Marions here in Dayton, last week, and while I could get it down it still wasn’t anything like I knew my whole life. It makes no sense to me. I am heading to Indiana this weekend to try to eat another of my all-time favorites and am not holding out much hope for any different results.

I do plan on seeing my Dr. soon to discuss the drastic change but wanted to throw this out on here to see if this made any sense to anyone her on the SDMB.

Thank you for any feedback

2

Surely quitting smoking is probably playing a role, but sometimes tastes just change. After years of buying cheap, ready, and plentiful Little Ceasar’s pizzas for the teenagers, just the smell of them makes me ill now.

3

sometimes you might develop a dislike for a fat or strong flavor.

i ate ham (not on pizza of course) for all of childhood and well into adulthood. now the smell or taste has a stomach turning feeling.

smoking not involved.

4

I assume from your username that you aren’t pregnant. New medication, perhaps? Even vitamin supplements can alter your sense of taste/smell. So can nose polyps and some other ENT issues. Possibly testosterone levels. Have you had something like spaghetti recently, for comparison?

P.S. I have to wonder if you’re going to Pizza King, since you’re heading my direction. :slight_smile: If so, I can assure you it’s tasted the same for me for the last couple of years since I moved here. (And if not, mind telling me where you’re headed? Not much good pizza near me that I know of, outside of Indianapolis, but Pizza King is passable.)

5

Some of these chain pizza places now use dough conditioners, the cheapest cheese, sausage, sauce, ect. It’s all about share holders and bottom line.

Now the pizza from boutique places with wood fired ovens and fresh ingredients, (basil, interesting cheese, green chili) can be really tasty.

6

I think you exceeded your lifetime pizza limit and your body cut you off.