Struggling to meet the minimum, but want to reach 1350+

First of all, KUDOS to you to recognize that you are under-eating and working on improving it! :flowerforyou:

Second, you will get there! I've been in the same boat as you. Used to eat 1200 and feel full. Now I eat an average of 2300. It is still hard some days. Today I'm already behind on calories, LOL. It takes time for your body to adjust, and it takes diligence and planning to get all your calories in. But there are AWESOME rewards for the effort. After months of eating more, I have FINALLY stopped losing big wads of hair every day in the shower. And I have more energy every day. And I don't get cold hands and feet all the time anymore. And my body is healing and I'm slowly overcoming several health problems.

So, keep up the good work! Some things that helped me:
* Try drinking your calories. I rewards myself for a good day of eating with 8 oz of chocolate hazelnut-milk every night (I'm allergic to dairy),. I have also started making a smoothie every morning for breakfast. I blend greens (like kale, spinach) with fruit, seeds, nuts and "boosts" like aloe vera juice, lecithin, etc. It's between 500-700 calories but it doesn't feel like it when I drink it.
* Increase your healthy fats: I drizzle extra virgin olive oil on everything
* Add calorie-dense foods: I eat a lot of veggies, but they have almost no calories. So I added a lot of seeds and nuts. Gives me extra calories and good fats. If I'm short on calories before bed, I have a spoon or two of peanut butter and my hazelnut milk.

Good luck to you! (And feel free to browse my diary for ideas)

Thank you and these are all great tips. I love the thought of possibly not being cold ALL. THE. TIME. anymore. I have been freezing since it started being air conditioner time again. DH likes to keep it on 70* and I'm a popsicle at that temperature!

I hear you. At my lowest calorie point, I would wear TWO sets of clothes at home. A pair of sweat pants that fit and an old pair that was too big, a turtleneck under a sweater, and cotton socks under wool socks. Then I would put a blanket over me and shiver. And my feet would be ICY inside the two socks. It was ridiculous. But now I only get cold hands/feet very rarely and very briefly. Its lovely! :flowerforyou:

if you don't care about carbs, theres pasta salad. I get into lots of trouble with any kind of pasta salad.

More good fats. As many people have suggested nuts are a great choice. Peanut butter as long as its natural. You mentioned that you are trying to lose weight. You need to add calories without adding sugars. Some of the replies have suggested sugar....that is never a good idea. Especially if you are not very active.

Costco sells salmon in individually sealed packages. I eat a fillet a day. They have 370 calories. I also eat a quest bar which is the only "bar" I would recommended anyone eating....they have 200 calories, full of protein and fiber...and do not have sugar or other chemicals. 1 oz of cashews have 160 calories in them....thats only a few nuts! thats over 700 calories of goodness right there and they are small portions.

As you slowly start feeding your body you will become more hungrier. Dont rush it. Be smart about your choices. Sugar cravings are hard to break.

Dont forget to drink lots of water!!

You can do it. Keep it up

This is not true about Quest bars. Some of the contain sucralose (splenda).

About eating more... eat things that won't give you that full, blechhh feeling but are calorie and nutrient dense. Nuts are good, cheese, avocados (YUM), and give yourself more of a treat at night. Maybe eat one serving of ice cream some nights, maybe some yogurt, a smoothie. These things have more calories and can still feel like a treat.

Nuts are higher in calories and tasty, but sometimes if you don't want them plain check out Pinterest for a recipe for spiced nuts. They can be made sweet or spicy. I love them in salads or on their own. Sadly I don't make them often because given the chose I'd eat nothing but my daily calorie goal of them!

Add cashews, feta and avocado to your salad, ups the cals and is also very satisfying.. I do this when we have salad for dinner.. nom nom

you don't really mention your drinks, have you tried complan or nutrisip? or just plain old milk? Stimulating appetite is a long hard process (its my hubby not me that has this issue).
Heres what I suggest with my patients

Start with chewing gum to reinstall the hungry signs and get the saliva and stomach actually signalling the brain that foods coming. Make sure you are not living on cigarettes or caffeine laden drinks both of which act as appetite suppressants. The complan and chewing gum mixed in with your already brill steps of monitoring calories should be a pre step to many of the steps which will actually put on weight like switching to kiwi and more nuts.

Set a timer on your watch and eat every 2 1/2 hours even if it is just one portion it can be anything you fancy or it may just be that chicken you are snacking on with carbs bite of pasta bits of potato wedges, baked beans, rice balls etc, I tell my patients that a portion is the size of your bunched up fist. If these steps don't work I suggest you visit your doctor to check thyroid levels and other health parameters if you are in the UK they should be able to refer you to a dietician.

Finally eat with your family instaed of cleaning up around them, this shows your children that you eat all of your dinner (even if that too is on a childs plate so you don't overface yourself ) your food looks really healthy and I (being a fatty) would add the odd pudding in there, something like a fruit crumble with wholegrain flour. best of luck getting to your goal