Eli5: Do our tastebuds actually “change” as we get older? Who do kids dislike a certain food, then start liking it as an adult?

Question

When I was a kid, I did not like spicy food. Now an adult, I love it.

In: 2025

Answer 1

As others have said, your taste buds do reduce as you get older, but it’s also worth remembering that most of the _flavour_ in food comes from the smell entering your nose from inside your mouth. And as you get older you also **lose your sense of smell**

As a chef who has worked in nursing homes for over 10 years, strong tasting food is an important consideration when meal planning and thinking about nutrition in the elderly.