Meal ideas please!! Ed recovery

aledba

I am really confused because I tried to look at diary but it is closed I guess, but was able to read back some posts and it seems OP was trying to lose, now is trying to gain. People told her how to eat at a deficit. I guess that was a few months ago so maybe she was trying to lose then, but now is sick of her ED and is trying to gain again?

I think 138 is a healthy weight, for your height, but could use a few more pounds. I am 5'5" and it tells me I think between 115 and like 145. So, I think you could stand a few more pounds at 5'7".

I really hate to sound stupid of ED's but can't you just not worry about what you are eating and just eat (I know people with ED's have huge fears of gaining and it is not as simple as just eat)? Not worry about logging for a while? Not worrying about calories? Just enjoying the taste of food?

Do you enjoy food? What are some things you really enjoy eating? Is somebody making you gain weekly or do you want to do this just for you (which I applaud tremendously if true)?

I am a smoker, and wish so bad I can quit, so I can relate somewhat to just wanting to be healthy. It is hard when it is in your head all the time.

I won't tell you to see a therapist, as you have done that ad nauseum, and they probably help some, but you have to want to do this for you, and maybe one day some therapist, counselor, doctor will come along that you absolutely love and can connect with in mind/emotion who can help you with the brain part of your ED.

I am probably just really confused and am not sure what OP is asking, and I am no diet expert, or ED expert, my heart just hurts for you.

I imagine it would be tough to fit nearly 4000cals of food in one's stomach each day when on a recovery plan from an ED. I can't even fathom this feat! I wish the OP much luck and patience in her journey.

earthboundmisfit

Nuts, cheese, avocados. Those are heatlhy. But you really should talk to your doctor or a nutritionist.

SymphonynSonata

Rice with toppings. 1 cup of dry white rice cooked is 600-800 calories and doesn't yield much. Make sure that you use some butter/oil, meat, veggies, etc; at the end of dinner (which won't be huge or intimidating) you'll have ate ~1,000 calories. Follow that up with a nice smoothie (2 bananas + milk + fruit + sugar) and you'll have another 300-400 calories and shouldn't feel too guilty about your choices.

1sgs

I eat steel cut oats, walnuts, chia seeds, coconut sugar, fresh or frozen blueberries, with almond milk for breakfast. It will get you up around 600 cal. for 1/4 cup oats with extras. It is a great way to start your day, plus you get the benefit of the calories and complex carbs.
The sky is the limit from there. Almonds for walnuts, strawberries for blueberries, vitamin D milk for almond milk. etc, etc.

http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/2014/06/6-high-fat-foods-that-are-good-for-you/

Based on what you put on your profile, you could start exercising a bit to wake up your metabolism. That would generate an appetite and put on a few pounds of muscle (that also wants fed).

KateK8LoseW8

If you often have grilled or roasted vegetables, start cooking them in olive oil. If you normally use low-calorie salad dressings, replace them with full-fat dressings and add nuts, meats, cheeses, avocado, etc. Peanut and other nut butters are great for adding calories without much volume. Choose dark meat poultry and fattier cuts of beef rather than the lean stuff. Buy thicker sliced bread and/or bread with seeds on/in it. Switch to full-fat milk, yogurt, cheese, mayo, hummus, etc. Buy granola or muesli rather than things like corn flakes or rice pops if you eat cereal. Clif Builders bars are a popular snack choice for the girls gaining weight at my ED clinic. If you like fruit for a snack, try dipping the fruits in peanut/other nut butters or caramel sauce. If you're very full and still need calories, drink them - whole milk, protein shakes, juice, etc.

Hope that helps. It's easy to add a lot of calories over the day to your normal foods just by adding fat sources, getting away from low-calorie versions, and drinking some calories.

accelerashawn

my wife loves bananas with peanut butter...thats a great high carb high fat snack.

I love oats and eggs with a slice of white american cheese...great high calorie and high quality breakfast...plus the cheese makes it yummy!

I'm also a huge fan of protein shakes for easy calories on the go. A new mass gainer I bought is from MusclePharm and its called Iron Mass, I only mention it because its got a good source of protein, slow digesting sweet potato derived carbs, and healthy fats in it so its basically a meal in a scoop.

ALMONDS! Get the dark chocolate flavored roasted almonds from Blue Diamond! They are super yummy and super high in calories...as are all nuts.

notwhatyouthink

As i told you privately,im in similar circumstances. Just suggesting things that could be a good thing for a start. From her post wording makes it seem like she is beginning. Hopefully she has a good nutritionist who makes the transitions easier.

dawnmcneil10

Tilapia with salsa, grilled veggies. Can't believe people are asking yoy to eat sweets and high fat foods.

Also try granola andfruit with almond milk.

Kind bars and an apple make a fine snack.

Ready Pac salads or wraps

Message me if you need other ideas.

This, exactly this you want HEALTHY calories to fuel your body. Now others are going to scream this is diet food, no in fact these are healthy foods that every human being should be eating. It's all about moderation, add the fatty foods but do it wisely, add oil to the grilled veggies, eating perhaps a larger portion of lean meats, adding an extra serving of dairy such as the yogurt with berries and granola. If you're having a nice salad top it with some nuts, cheeses, avacado and yes go for the fried chicken strips on top that's fine but don't just shove a pint of ice cream in your day because you need 1000 more calories to meet a goal.

contingencyplan

Tilapia with salsa, grilled veggies. Can't believe people are asking yoy to eat sweets and high fat foods.

Also try granola andfruit with almond milk.

Kind bars and an apple make a fine snack.

Ready Pac salads or wraps

Message me if you need other ideas.

This, exactly this you want HEALTHY calories to fuel your body. Now others are going to scream this is diet food, no in fact these are healthy foods that every human being should be eating. It's all about moderation, add the fatty foods but do it wisely, add oil to the grilled veggies, eating perhaps a larger portion of lean meats, adding an extra serving of dairy such as the yogurt with berries and granola. If you're having a nice salad top it with some nuts, cheeses, avacado and yes go for the fried chicken strips on top that's fine but don't just shove a pint of ice cream in your day because you need 1000 more calories to meet a goal.

Telling them to STAY AWAY from foods because they're "unhealthy"--Do you not understand the concept of recovering from an ED? The idea is to mentally get away from the concept of demonizing foods, something they've taken to a borderline psychotic level. Stay the hell away from anyone seriously attempting recovery with advice like that because you have NO concept about the psychological end of things, and what must be done to deal with that first.

techgal128

Peanut butter! If you really want to make it good, add powdered sugar and honey. If you absolutely don't feel like eating, maybe try one of those meal shakes instead. Those things are packed with calories and while they are meant for a meal, you can have them as a snack.

summer92008

Honey, if you need to gain weight, eat whatever you want! Too many of us on here watch what we eat. Sure, you need to be healthy with gaining weight, but if you want a piece of cheesecake, ice cream, pizza, etc. have it! Eat whatever you please! ( :

techgal128

Honey, if you need to gain weight, eat whatever you want! Too many of us on here watch what we eat. Sure, you need to be healthy with gaining weight, but if you want a piece of cheesecake, ice cream, pizza, etc. have it! Eat whatever you please! ( :

Seriously. The world's your oyster!

I would recommend being careful with the amount of fast food you consume though (especially in one day). All that grease will wreck havoc on your stomach. I can speak from personal experience on that one.

Asherah29

I think what people are not hitting on here is that you are in the early stages of recovery from an eating disorder. Not only will you physically not be able to take in a normal amount of calories, eating what would be a normal amount for us could possibly trigger a restrictive episode. My advice would be to set calorie goals. Every so often up that calorie goal by 100-200 calories or more. That way you are slowly getting mentally and physically used to eating normal portions of food again. When you are able to do that you will be able to add more and gain weight. The whole point is that you want to be able to slowly recover from all aspects of your disorder. Its not going to be a fast thing. Eat what you want, so long as you meet the calorie goal set for yourself.

Not a doctor so don't take this as actual medical advice (obviously) but from someone who has had issues with food herself. This, to me, sounds like a logical and freezable plan for op rather than *EAT ALL THE FOODS*

giggitygoo

I've been in recovery for 3 years now, so hopefully I can offer some input

The people saying "healthy foods" mean well, but are misinformed about what recovery actually means. I would try to incorporate a wide variety of foods, try things that you would have previously avoided! The goal here is not only to get you to a healthy weight, but to repair your relationship with food. Maybe through this process you'll find some things that you really love.

For some reason when I first started on the recovery path, I was in love with tacos and all things Mexican food. I would have never eaten that stuff before because I was afraid of the fat content.

To start, it would be a great goal to incorporate a protein, fat and carbs into most meals. Pizza, for example has all these things

I wish you the best of luck.

EDIT: I just realized it's actually been 4 years now! Wow!

FitFroglet

Peanut butter! If you really want to make it good, add powdered sugar and honey. If you absolutely don't feel like eating, maybe try one of those meal shakes instead. Those things are packed with calories and while they are meant for a meal, you can have them as a snack.

great advice with the meal shakes - a friend of mine needed to gain weight after an illness and his doctor advised eating normally and snacking on meal replacement shakes.

JoRocka

I think part of the problem is getting around this "health food" issue.

I can't imagine asking someone who is struggling to put food away for physical and mental reasons- to eat MORE volume of food (more lean meats- more veggies- all those things that a great when you're dropping weight and cutting) and stay away from less volume but stuff that'll get the calories.

That's the beauty- get your 'healthy' food in- then add in the low volume high calorie food- you can eat what you need- then add the extra calories in without having to constantly feel full- that's a hard feeling to deal with on a normal none recovery person.

Asherah29

I'm with the whole discard the health food idea. Uping caloric intake might be more easily done by eating smaller amounts of higher calorie foods, that way OP is hitting a higher calorie goal without feeling as if she is over eating. I think that would be harder to do eating only "healthy foods" like vegetables.

Wuffles70

If you're having trouble with feeling guilty when you eat, maybe then snacks like nuts and fruit (maybe some cereal bars?) might help. That way you can have them with you as you go about your day and eat them when you're doing other things to help distract you.

Sending lots of good thoughts and well wishes your way, I hope your recovery is as speedy and stress-free as physically possible.

SuperstarDJ

You really need a professional such as a dietician/nutritionist who specialises in eating disorders, and who knows where you're at in recovery, and your state of health (your labs etc.). Every sufferer's situation, health and dietary needs are very unique (I was losing on 3,500 calories during one of my recovery efforts!).

We really can't help you as it may be detrimental to your physical recovery. You deserve better than that.

Wishing you all the best xx

QuietBloom

I've been in recovery for 3 years now, so hopefully I can offer some input

The people saying "healthy foods" mean well, but are misinformed about what recovery actually means. I would try to incorporate a wide variety of foods, try things that you would have previously avoided! The goal here is not only to get you to a healthy weight, but to repair your relationship with food. Maybe through this process you'll find some things that you really love.

For some reason when I first started on the recovery path, I was in love with tacos and all things Mexican food. I would have never eaten that stuff before because I was afraid of the fat content.

To start, it would be a great goal to incorporate a protein, fat and carbs into most meals. Pizza, for example has all these things

I wish you the best of luck.

EDIT: I just realized it's actually been 4 years now! Wow!

Congrats on your recover and great advice for the OP!