Anyone else lose their appetite after cooking a meal?
By Real Ray C on
So this happens to me all the time. I’ll spend an hour (sometimes more) cooking a meal I’m genuinely excited about, tasting, adjusting flavours, trying to make it perfect… and then when it’s finally done? Boom. Appetite: gone.
Everyone else is digging in, saying it’s great, and I’m just sitting there like, “Yeah, I’ll eat later.” 😂
It doesn’t matter if it’s my favourite dish or something new the second I finish cooking, I just don’t want it anymore. I end up making tea or grabbing a snack later when everyone’s plates are already clean.
I don’t know if it’s the smell fatigue, the mental exhaustion from cooking, or just that I’ve been surrounded by the food too long. But man, it happens every time.
Does anyone else get this? Or am I the only home chef who ends up feeding everyone but myself? 😅
Replies (20)
- JugglingNothing: Haha, “emotionally full”, I’m stealing that one. Perfect excuse for when someone asks why I’m not eating after cooking all day. 😅
- Real Ray C: You all get it. I feel so validated right now 😂. Next time I skip dinner after cooking, I’ll just say I’m “emotionally full.”
- Eli Mercer: Yeah, that’s true. I think that’s why family dinners or cooking for friends feel so good, even if you’re not eating much, you’re still part of the moment. ❤️
- Charlotte: I love that. It’s like feeding people becomes its own kind of nourishment. You might not eat the food, but you still get something out of it.
- JugglingNothing: That’s the best part, honestly. Watching people enjoy something you made from scratch hits different. Even if you’re not hungry, it’s still rewarding.
It’s like you’re sharing a piece of yourself with them every flavor, every detail, every bit of care you put in becomes part of their experience.
- Real Ray C: Exactly. I think that’s why I still love cooking even though I barely eat after. It’s weirdly satisfying just to see everyone else enjoy it.
- Eli Mercer: That’s such a good point. I never thought of it that way, but yeah, sometimes the joy is in the cooking itself. Once it’s done, you’ve already had your “meal” in a weird way.
There’s something almost meditative about it, the rhythm of chopping, the aroma building in the air, and the quiet satisfaction of seeing everything come together just right.
- Charlotte: Totally. It’s like your appetite gets replaced by satisfaction. You’ve already gotten your reward from the process itself, the smells, the tasting, the compliments. The eating part becomes secondary.
- JugglingNothing: Haha, “cook for the smell”, that’s a good one. Honestly, I think it’s just part of being the one who puts in the effort. You’re so focused on making it right that by the end, your brain’s like, “Mission accomplished, no need to eat.”
- Real Ray C: I’m glad I’m not alone in this. I was starting to think something was wrong with me. My family always jokes that I “cook for the smell” because I never actually eat much after.
- Eli Mercer: Yes! That’s exactly it. I baked banana bread last weekend, and by the time it came out of the oven, I was like, “Cool, I’m done.” My friends finished half the loaf before I even had a slice. 😂
- Charlotte: That’s so interesting. I guess it’s kind of like when you’re baking, you smell sugar and butter for hours, and by the time the cookies are done, you don’t even want one. But everyone else is devouring them like it’s heaven. 🍪
- JugglingNothing: Exactly! You nailed it. I used to go home after a 10-hour shift and just eat toast or chips. You’d think being around food all day would make you hungry, but it’s the opposite.
- Eli Mercer: Yeah, I’ve heard that from a few chef friends too. They’ll make these incredible dishes for others but end up eating cereal at midnight because they’re too tired or “over” food by the end of the shift. 😂
- Real Ray C: That’s wild, Miles. I never thought about how chefs must feel after cooking all day. Makes sense, though, if I lose my appetite after one meal, I can’t imagine doing that for hours every day.
- JugglingNothing: Dude, 100%. I used to work in a restaurant kitchen, and this was my life every day. You’d be surrounded by food for hours, tasting everything, smelling everything — by the time your break came, the last thing you wanted was food. I think it’s a real thing chefs deal with too.
- Real Ray C: That makes so much sense, Charlotte. It’s like sensory overload or something. I’ll be tasting the sauce, adjusting the seasoning, and by the end, I’ll have basically “experienced” the meal already. 😂
- Charlotte: Ray, this happens to me too, and I don’t even cook fancy stuff! I’ll make something simple like pasta or stir-fry, and by the time I’m done, I just want to sit down with a drink instead of eating. I think it’s the constant tasting and smelling that your brain kind of gets full before your stomach does.
- Real Ray C: Exactly! “Caterer at my own dinner” is the perfect way to describe it 😂. I swear, I’ll be starving when I start cooking, but after all that tasting and smelling, I feel like I’ve already eaten a full meal
- Eli Mercer: Oh my god, Ray, yes! I thought I was the only one. I’ll spend hours cooking something I’ve been craving all week, and by the time it’s ready, I’m just… done. I’ll sit there watching everyone else eat like I’m the caterer at my own dinner. 😂 I think it’s a mix of smell fatigue and just being mentally over it.