Physical symptom burden of post-treatment head and neck cancer patients influences their characterization of food: Findings of a repertory grid study.

•Orally-fed post-treatment HNC patients used a repertory grid method to characterize foods commonly eaten or avoided.•Patient Quality of Life Physical Function domain scores stratified patients as less or greater physical symptom burden.•Descriptors of nutrition and smell characterized foods only for patients with greater physical symptom burden.•Nutrition counseling must consider patients' characterization of food to facilitate dietary advice.