Not enough of the right food

bowbeforethoraxis

I've been trying to eat healthier in addition to all the other changes in my diet (calorie counting, correct portion sizes, et cetera) and I'm having a really difficult time getting enough calories in a day. Some of it is my schedule during the day doesn't allow for a lot of snacking (there are certain times at work that I cannot eat, but I'm usually not starving by lunch time or anything) and some of it is that the heat (around 100 degrees in my area) kills my appetite, so often by dinnertime I'm not hungry and if I try to eat I just feel sick. So, on days when I stick to a meal plan, I can't get all the meals or snacks I should be and end up way under 1200 calories.
I've found that if I get something that's not considered healthy (tonight I went out to dinner and had a drink with my salad, other times I've grabbed frozen yogurt or a smoothie from McDonald's) I can get the right amount of calories, without ending up way over or under the macro goals.

So, is it better to rely on these calorie dense "treats" to get enough calories, or should I be sticking to the whole foods, even though I can't always get to my calorie goal?

grimendale

Try doing both. There are some very healthy calorie dense foods. Nuts, nut butters, full fat cheese, avocados, etc. are all good ways to boost your calories in a day.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/28482-list-calorie-dense-foods/

unFATuated

Are these the macro goals MFP sets for you, or have you set your own?

bowbeforethoraxis

I set my own, 40/30/30. I'm seeing a personal trainer, and she helped me make meal plan that seemed perfect when we made it, but I'm having a really hard time implementing.

sexymuffintop

Just eat some of the stuff you ate when you were heavier. Just less of it. That will undoubtedly bump up your calorie intake.

grimendale

It looks like protein is what usually suffers when you undereat. If so, protein powder in milk or soy milk can be a fairly easy option that doesn't have a lot of volume. I use it on workout days since it can be hard for me to get enough protein in the time I have (I work 12 hours a day, so I don't have much time at home to get the 2000+ calories I need to get before day's end), and I find that protein powder can be an easy way to get extra calories and protein while my real food is cooking.

harphy

Could you prepare a fruit and yoghurt shake and take it with you to work? It will quench your thirst and supply you with vitamins, carbs, fibers and proteins. But like others said, you can eat whatever you like.