All I eat is cereal.

littlelouis
littlelouis Posts: 54 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hi, my name is Brianna, and I am addicted to cereal. No, but really. It's 4:00 and my meals have only been Life, Captain Crunch, and Honey Nut Cheerios. I know it's bad for me, but either everything else is too high in calories, or I just don't like the taste of other things. Any suggestions on foods I might like, or advice in general to cut back on the cereal? I really want to have a more balanced diet again.

Replies

  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Since you are a teenager, it isn't surprising. My kids would only eat cereal if I let them. Add some pizza once in a while and throw veggies on it.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    You might want to try eating...anything else, really. Cereal isn't bad, but eating ONLY cereal probably leaves your body lacking in a lot of nutrients.

    So yes, my advice on cutting back on cereal: make an actual effort to eat things that aren't cereal.
  • wilsoje74
    wilsoje74 Posts: 1,720 Member
    Eat cereal for breakfast if you want but not for every meal. There are many other better options: salads, sandwiches, wraps, etc.
  • jlshea
    jlshea Posts: 494 Member
    Have you thought about doing something like Special K which is lower in sugar and adding fresh fruit? Even oatmeal would be filling and similar.
  • MysteriousMerlin
    MysteriousMerlin Posts: 2,270 Member
    Really? Cuz an apple is like 80 calories. An orange is 60-90 calories. Yogurt is anywhere from 80-140 calories.
  • littlelouis
    littlelouis Posts: 54 Member
    Really? Cuz an apple is like 80 calories. An orange is 60-90 calories. Yogurt is anywhere from 80-140 calories.

    You're right, but I'm picky. Apples make me feel hungrier than I did to begin with, so I pair them with peanut butter, which makes the snack more calories than cereal. Oranges aren't as filling as cereal, etc., etc. But I will try to start eating things like this to acquire a taste for them, again. Thanks!
  • littlelouis
    littlelouis Posts: 54 Member
    Thanks for all the ideas, everyone. Maybe I'll have some eggs in a bit, and a chicken salad for dinner. I used to be a control freak about eating nutritiously, but that's slowly diminished. I just need a push in the right direction.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Really? Cuz an apple is like 80 calories. An orange is 60-90 calories. Yogurt is anywhere from 80-140 calories.

    You're right, but I'm picky. Apples make me feel hungrier than I did to begin with, so I pair them with peanut butter, which makes the snack more calories than cereal. Oranges aren't as filling as cereal, etc., etc. But I will try to start eating things like this to acquire a taste for them, again. Thanks!

    Sugary cereals (your list.....Honey Nut Cheerios, Cap'n Crunch) are low in fiber & low in protein. I assume you are adding milk (protein).......sugary cereals typically aren't as filling to me as higher fiber/higher protein cereals.

    You might try a snack with fruit which is high in fiber (filling) and a protein source (filling) .....cottage cheese or greek yogurt perhaps.

    Yes - peanut butter is going to be higher in calories than cereal......but fat is also very filling..... 1 Tbl is only 100 calories....you don't need much.
  • wilsoje74
    wilsoje74 Posts: 1,720 Member
    Really? Cuz an apple is like 80 calories. An orange is 60-90 calories. Yogurt is anywhere from 80-140 calories.

    You're right, but I'm picky. Apples make me feel hungrier than I did to begin with, so I pair them with peanut butter, which makes the snack more calories than cereal. Oranges aren't as filling as cereal, etc., etc. But I will try to start eating things like this to acquire a taste for them, again. Thanks!

    I'm sorry but honestly cereal us not a filling meal at all (maybe if you are eating really high fiber but I don't think you are). Fruit is full of fiber that will fill you up and is healthy. Try it
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Why are you nit picking about the amount of calories in snacks? You are very close to your goal weight. Eat the apple with peanut butter. You should not be at such a low calorie goal that you cannot fit healthy foods into it.
  • littlelouis
    littlelouis Posts: 54 Member
    Why are you nit picking about the amount of calories in snacks? You are very close to your goal weight. Eat the apple with peanut butter. You should not be at such a low calorie goal that you cannot fit healthy foods into it.

    I've actually reached my goal weight, I just haven't updated it. I reached it, started not tracking what I ate (but still eating healthy foods), and then gained back 4 pounds, so now I'm paranoid.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Why are you nit picking about the amount of calories in snacks? You are very close to your goal weight. Eat the apple with peanut butter. You should not be at such a low calorie goal that you cannot fit healthy foods into it.

    I've actually reached my goal weight, I just haven't updated it. I reached it, started not tracking what I ate (but still eating healthy foods), and then gained back 4 pounds, so now I'm paranoid.

    So I hope you chose "lose half a pound a week" so that you have a reasonable calorie deficit and you aren't trying to starve yourself.
  • _HeartsOnFire_
    _HeartsOnFire_ Posts: 5,304 Member
    Why are you nit picking about the amount of calories in snacks? You are very close to your goal weight. Eat the apple with peanut butter. You should not be at such a low calorie goal that you cannot fit healthy foods into it.

    I've actually reached my goal weight, I just haven't updated it. I reached it, started not tracking what I ate (but still eating healthy foods), and then gained back 4 pounds, so now I'm paranoid.

    So I hope you chose "lose half a pound a week" so that you have a reasonable calorie deficit and you aren't trying to starve yourself.

    This!
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Really? Cuz an apple is like 80 calories. An orange is 60-90 calories. Yogurt is anywhere from 80-140 calories.

    You're right, but I'm picky. Apples make me feel hungrier than I did to begin with, so I pair them with peanut butter, which makes the snack more calories than cereal. Oranges aren't as filling as cereal, etc., etc. But I will try to start eating things like this to acquire a taste for them, again. Thanks!

    I'm sorry but honestly cereal us not a filling meal at all (maybe if you are eating really high fiber but I don't think you are). Fruit is full of fiber that will fill you up and is healthy. Try it

    It's not supposed to be "filling." It's supposed to be PART of a complete breakfast.
  • HappyStack
    HappyStack Posts: 802 Member
    1st thing: open your diary
    2nd thing: vary your food choices. The caloric density of one meal does not matter, it's an accumulation of calories over a certain period that yields a loss or gain in weight.
  • Marcolter
    Marcolter Posts: 103 Member
    how much cereal are you measuring that is so filling? One dry cup? Captain Crunch? Why the sugar? And just because you don't like the taste that is no reason not to continue with something. I did not like unsweetened soy milk but now I love it more than real milk. I hated hated coffee, now I drink it everyday. I hated Chinese food now I love it. The less salt and sugar and fat you use your taste changes and you do not crave as much. And that is the truth. If you don't eat a lot of fat very little seems greasy.
  • littlelouis
    littlelouis Posts: 54 Member
    Diary is open. My goal is set to lose .5 pounds a week. I'm not even eating my allotted amount, but still gaining weight. If it helps, I did go through a period with disordered eating for about a half a year, which I'm in "recovery" from now. It seems that I either go from one extreme to the other: eating normal amounts of unhealthy food, or unsubstantial amounts of healthy food. So that could be what's also feeding my paranoia.
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    Get to a shrink fast.
  • littlelouis
    littlelouis Posts: 54 Member
    how much cereal are you measuring that is so filling? One dry cup? Captain Crunch? Why the sugar? And just because you don't like the taste that is no reason not to continue with something. I did not like unsweetened soy milk but now I love it more than real milk. I hated hated coffee, now I drink it everyday. I hated Chinese food now I love it. The less salt and sugar and fat you use your taste changes and you do not crave as much. And that is the truth. If you don't eat a lot of fat very little seems greasy.

    Fair enough. I guess I should've been more clear. It's not that filling, but it makes me at least less hungry than an apple would. I eat the serving size of whatever cereal it is, plus half a cup of skim milk. Same here, I have acquired certain tastes-- black coffee, for example. I guess I just have to go into it with mind over matter and learn to like more nutritional foods.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Are you using a food scale to measure your food? You should not be gaining if you are not eating over your maintenance amount.
  • SephiraRose
    SephiraRose Posts: 766 Member
    Just try to add some fresh veggies or fruit and definitely protein. Sometimes you have to try a food 3 or 4 times until you like it.
    Good Luck
  • littlelouis
    littlelouis Posts: 54 Member
    Are you using a food scale to measure your food? You should not be gaining if you are not eating over your maintenance amount.

    I used to, until I got super obsessed with it, so I don't have it anymore.


    Also, as a side note, if anyone decides to look at my diary, I still ate on the days that aren't completely filled out. Those were just days that I ate out somewhere and already knew I was over my calorie goal.
  • BelleVegan77
    BelleVegan77 Posts: 70 Member
    Advice? Take it a day at a time. Do the best you can and don't worry so much about calories. Calories are important yes but so is nutrition. It is better to go over a little and get the nutrients you need.
  • HappyStack
    HappyStack Posts: 802 Member
    You may unintentionally gain weight when raising your calories, recovering from an eating disorder. This is normal and healthy, which I know is difficult to hear and to have yourself believe, but it's true.

    You had an OK day yesterday, even with the cereal-meals... but you do need to vary your diet more, and you need to try and increase your calorie intake slowly to hit the goal MFP is giving you.

    Try increasing by a hundred or two calories extra each week until you're consistently hitting your goal. Don't trouble yourself too much over the caloric density of some meals or foods. As I said before, it's overall intake that matters.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    Are you using a food scale to measure your food? You should not be gaining if you are not eating over your maintenance amount.

    I used to, until I got super obsessed with it, so I don't have it anymore.


    Also, as a side note, if anyone decides to look at my diary, I still ate on the days that aren't completely filled out. Those were just days that I ate out somewhere and already knew I was over my calorie goal.

    Okay, have you considered going to a nutritionist or doctor who is familiar with your case to get some advice on maintaining weight, in light of your previous problem? 4 pounds is not a lot, though I understand why it has you worried. Maybe the answer is just eat healthier and don't worry about the amounts right now, and let your body normalize for awhile.
  • littlelouis
    littlelouis Posts: 54 Member
    You may unintentionally gain weight when raising your calories, recovering from an eating disorder. This is normal and healthy, which I know is difficult to hear and to have yourself believe, but it's true.

    You had an OK day yesterday, even with the cereal-meals... but you do need to vary your diet more, and you need to try and increase your calorie intake slowly to hit the goal MFP is giving you.

    Try increasing by a hundred or two calories extra each week until you're consistently hitting your goal. Don't trouble yourself too much over the caloric density of some meals or foods. As I said before, it's overall intake that matters.

    Thanks for the help. Although it spooks me, I guess I can try to increase them a bit, and perhaps exercise more.. Not exercising would set me on edge too much.. But, I guess in the long run I'd rather be eating like a normal person, so that's my best bet!
  • littlelouis
    littlelouis Posts: 54 Member
    Are you using a food scale to measure your food? You should not be gaining if you are not eating over your maintenance amount.

    I used to, until I got super obsessed with it, so I don't have it anymore.


    Also, as a side note, if anyone decides to look at my diary, I still ate on the days that aren't completely filled out. Those were just days that I ate out somewhere and already knew I was over my calorie goal.

    Okay, have you considered going to a nutritionist or doctor who is familiar with your case to get some advice on maintaining weight, in light of your previous problem? 4 pounds is not a lot, though I understand why it has you worried. Maybe the answer is just eat healthier and don't worry about the amounts right now, and let your body normalize for awhile.

    That probably is the best thing I can do for myself. It would be nice to have a nutritionist, so I might look into that. Thank you!

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