What do truly skinny people eat?

Don't worry. Give it a week and you'll be fine with 1200. Eat a high protein breakfast that'll hold you til lunch. You won't have to snack. Eat a good high protein lunch that'll hold you til dinner and so forth. Stay away from the crap. Eat what counts. Of course drink water but yadda yadda on that. Water never filled me up. If your stomach growls, tell it NO! Just because it's growling doesn't mean it needs attention.

Thin people eat MORE than 1200-1300 calories a day!!! (Thin, healthy people that is!) At 5'7 and 123 pounds I normally take in around 1700-1900 calories a day. But they are all "good" calories - make sure you get enough healthy fats (avocados, nuts, good cooking oils). Even though these things may be "high" in calories, they are awesome for your body! If you're hungry all the time, EAT! But snack on carrots, cut-up bell peppers, apples, kiwi, any kind of fruit. These things are naturally full of fiber and will keep you full. Good luck! I know it sounds annoying to tell you to snack on fruits & veggies, once you start doing it for awhile you actually learn to love them when you realize how much more you can eat as opposed to grabbing handfuls of empty carbs (chips, pretzels, etc.)

Well for some of us it's all about age.

I did not have trouble with my weight until after age 30.

In my teens and 20s I was the woman everyone loved to hate. I ate EVERYTHING and could not gain weight. I was active and I ate really well (we love to cook).

So, in my case a thin (active!!) woman eats whatever she damn well pleases.

Darn hormones, loss of muscle and bone mass...all comes with age and makes it so what worked in your 20s will not work in your 30s and beyond.

I'm almost to my goal, and I would NEVER survive on 1200 a day. I net AT LEAST 1600, eating back my exercise cals. I've lost consistently. 1200 isn't for everyone, if you're starving, eat more.

The slimmest and most successful among my MFP friends eat 2,000 calories (including wine and pizza when they feel like it) and work out hard!

I'm 5'5, 126 lbs. I eat a lot of greek yogurt, eggs, fruits & veggies, nuts, and lean meats. I'm never hungry. I try to make sure all of my calories are quality calories and as clean as possible.

Don't worry. Give it a week and you'll be fine with 1200. Eat a high protein breakfast that'll hold you til lunch. You won't have to snack. Eat a good high protein lunch that'll hold you til dinner and so forth. Stay away from the crap. Eat what counts. Of course drink water but yadda yadda on that. Water never filled me up. If your stomach growls, tell it NO! Just because it's growling doesn't mean it needs attention.

Actually the experts say snacking is good and eating every 2-3 hours is the only way to keep your metabolism amped up.

Don't worry. Give it a week and you'll be fine with 1200. Eat a high protein breakfast that'll hold you til lunch. You won't have to snack. Eat a good high protein lunch that'll hold you til dinner and so forth. Stay away from the crap. Eat what counts. Of course drink water but yadda yadda on that. Water never filled me up. If your stomach growls, tell it NO! Just because it's growling doesn't mean it needs attention.

Actually the experts say snacking is good and eating every 2-3 hours is the only way to keep your metabolism amped up.

Who are these "experts", exactly?

My partner is pretty lean(*****)

Shes like a little squirrel. Never has big meals, loads of smalls. Breakfast, one egg and maybe two rashers(wouldn;t finish it), me, toast, two eggs, two rashers and whatever she has left.

Some thin, healthy people eat 1200-1300 but it really depends on your specific stats. What is your weight right now--1350 might be too low for you.

That said, I would never be able to do 1200 calories if my meals were made up of convenience foods like microwave dinners. I eat a lot of nuts/seeds, fruits, veggies. I have dietary restrictions unrelated to weight so I also use a lot of protein powder.

I try to eat every few hours. Some say it keeps your metabolism going, I do it to keep from getting hungry. Roughly 250 calories (not much more than a large snack) every 3 hours, 5-6 times per day. I never get really hungry and I never get stuffed so I don't have blood sugar spikes and crashes and about the time I get hungry again it's time to eat. I recently raised my protein goals and it does help keep me full.

The fittest and thinnest people that are on my friends list eat a LOT, and they still lose weight....2000+ calories, but it's very clean eating, and they work out a lot.

When you say you 'shoulld' be eating 1200, what are you basing that on? how have you calculated your deficit?

Thin people eat MORE than 1200-1300 calories a day!!! (Thin, healthy people that is!) At 5'7 and 123 pounds I normally take in around 1700-1900 calories a day. But they are all "good" calories - make sure you get enough healthy fats (avocados, nuts, good cooking oils). Even though these things may be "high" in calories, they are awesome for your body! If you're hungry all the time, EAT! But snack on carrots, cut-up bell peppers, apples, kiwi, any kind of fruit. These things are naturally full of fiber and will keep you full. Good luck! I know it sounds annoying to tell you to snack on fruits & veggies, once you start doing it for awhile you actually learn to love them when you realize how much more you can eat as opposed to grabbing handfuls of empty carbs (chips, pretzels, etc.)

Best advice on this thread

I am eating to gain right now (2300), but I realize I probably was very thin both from my naturally high metabolism, but also my natural tenancy towards lower cal foods. I have seen since putting my foods into the recipe tool here on MFP that I do eat very low cal, so change it up had been a challenge for me.

Basically I ate masses of veggies, I love veggies, and when I cook with them, I don't add much to them because I enjoy their natural flavor. When I eat meat, I eat reasonable portions of very good quality lean meat or chicken, I grind my own mince so I can be sure of the quality. I ate a lot of soups, both thick and creamy and clear based ones, but not fatty soups, if i used cream in soups it would be only very little. I didn't feel the need to add cheese or cream to my meals, I like dairy, but I keep it separate. I cooked almost everything in a little a olive oil. I love roasted pumpkin or sweet potato or carrots as a side, or you can use a riser on potatoes to give them a different texture.

Now veggies wont keep you full for as long as other foods, so you will want some good protein with you veg, but you can eat a lot more veg for fewer calories, esp if you keep it clean.