I can remember so well the "salty" stage during my son's recovery. Seems like anything I would fix for him, he would accuse me of putting too much salt in his food (when I didn't put any). I bought the low sodium soups but even those tasted salty to him. One day I noticed that before he ate anything, he would bend his head down low next to the food and seemed to be meditating. I finally asked him about this and he said that when he inhaled the vapors from the food through his nose he could almost taste the flavors and it gave him a small measure of hope that soon he would be tasting foods normally. I know it may not work for everyone, but it might be worth a try.

Yes, I have the salty taste too. No need to put salt on vegetables. Unfortunately sweet things taste better to me although I have just successfully eaten a load of fried tomatoes from my garden. No salt!

Yes, Debbie, I experienced the strong "Salt" taste for quite some time. It slowly diminished (Or I adapted).

As for calories, Gloria, I am on liquids right now (Really on tube feeding" and being allowed to pleasure eat). I am trying to gain some extra calories prior to upcoming radiation/chemo so am doing some really out of the box things. Such as adding a large amount of sour cream and butter, along with chicken stock to mashed potatoes, making them runny but packing calories; making guacamole' and adding mild salsa and sour cream, once again it's runny and requires a lot of water, but a ton of calories. I even add sour cream to some of my soups. I love eggs, cooked soft with lots of butter = more calories. Whatever you can experiment with and he likes, for right now use it! Best wishes to all.