How can I eat more?

[DonaldDucksTowel]

I know that sounds like a ridiculous question but I’m actually really struggling with this

I just have zero appetite, barely eat a thing, then when I do I’m full after a couple of bites
I know my stomach will have shrunk and that’s why I’m getting full quickly and eating more will make it grow

But how do you eat when you’re not hungry??

Have you been ill? Is it a recent thing?
Also - do you feel bloated?

I would be pointing you to your GP if I'm honest.

Have you lost a lot of weight? How long have you had a small/zero appetite for?

I have the same problem a lot of the time. I would suggest to eat what you like when you like. Drink soups, hot chocolates and other higher calorie drinks. I'd also suggest taking a B complex vitamin.

Sorry I have depression, probably should’ve mentioned that, I’m on meds now and feeling much better but if anything my appetite has decreased even further

Although tbh I’ve never been a huge eater 😕

I have lost a lot of weight yes, don’t feel bloated at all

Maybe you might enjoy the food more if you cooked it yourself, so you know exactly whats in it?

You sound like me op i had a similar thread with good advice. Im currently trying to eat cheese and butter with everything and milk. It adds extra calories without eating more so it helps.

Milk shakes between meals.

When I came out of hospital I had zero appetite and drank Complan. The banana and the chocolate flavours were nice to drink.
I also found after awhile I could manage one egg omelettes.

I sympathise OP, it's horrible having no appetite because food becomes a huge chore. Depression can definitely cause this. In my experience exercise is by far and away the best way to increase appetite. I didn't know I could enjoy food like I used to until I started exercising.

When I was more depressed it was hard to prepare meals as I was too depressed to bother. Sometimes I still have this issue.

So I keep easy food like higher calorie cereal & nut bars, & keep healthy snacks in the fridge eg babybel cheeses, yoghurts, apples & bananas.

Also quick filling microwave meals - just pierce the film & put it in the microwave.

Any tinned food has ring pulls, and my microwave & toaster are used a lot.

When you're depressed you don't always feel hungry so you need to force yourself to eat as it evens out your mood.

I spent a couple of weeks living solely off meal deals, they can be fairly calorific or not depending on which meal, easy to eat in terms of texture and basic taste. Still if I don't know what to eat I just have a meal deal.

I think to would explore why you don't want to eat, and go from there. For me I have several things that stop me eating

1. when I'm feeling anxious
2. I can't make a decision
3. I can't face cooking
4. I'm worried about my weight, know I need to eat healthy but I don't want to so I end up in a vicious cycle of not eating anything then binging on takeaway. This does in with 2
5. can't face food

So if it's that you can't face cooking, get some ready meals in, or some beige food. If it's that you can't face food, I would go with caloric things like cheesy mash, sausages, but nothing too complicated tasting. Hot chocolates and milkshakes, but after meals so as to not fill you up. Smoothies as well can be quite good as lots of fruit but can add yoghurt and milk to up calories if you need.

Remember you don't have to have 3 meals a day, you can have 6 smaller things if you want. You don't have to have breakfast foods for breakfast, dinner foods for dinner etc. And remember that some food is better than none so don't worry too much about health, just get something in you. Once you start eating properly again your appetite will come back but it can take time.

Also the good thing about milkshakes or complan style stuff is if you have them there you don't have to worry about eating. You know you've got them there so if you can't face food you can just have that, it's a really good back up and takes the stress and anxiety about eating away.

Sorry to hear you're struggling OP I too used to have very little appetite. I was a size 6 before I had my LO. I found grazing helped. I always had chopped fruit and veg in tubs and nuts etc to hand and if I put it beside me when I was working or watching tv i would just make myself eat it. I was utterly phased by the thought of sitting down and trying to get a full meal down.

Thankyou all for the advice

I think some of the problem is that by the time I’ve cooked for, fed and cleaned up after the DC a million times a day I just can’t be bothered doing it again for me and I weirdly feel like I’ve already eaten 🤷🏻‍♀️

Pre prepared snacks and microwave meals might help though, I don’t know why I’ve never thought of that before

Lots suggesting milk and milkshakes and tbh atm the thought of a milkshake makes me heave
When I do want to eat I seem to want things like apples, raw carrots, crackers - so crunchy things rather than milky mushy things, which is annoying because the mushy stuff is always more calorific!

Martha I just had a search for your thread, it does seem I’m in a very similar place that you were
How are you doing now?

Crunchy things - crisps / pretzels / popcorn / cheese biscuits etc?

I feel the same. Since I’ve had DD I have one meal a day. I think it’s laziness 😬

Im still having a rough time but im very slowly gaining weight and even saw a dentist last week if you ever want to pm me feel free :)

As others have said grazing helps and milkshakes its all i could focus on for the first 2 weeks and now im slowly eating more and more. Still have a good way to go but people have noticed a small weight gain.

How are you today op?

If you cant handle the milkshake can you have things likecheese? Cheese was the more solid thing that got me eating again with pizza high calories.

Could you manage any exercise, that could help fire up your appetite? Even a walk?

Agree to little and often. If you want crunchy then go with what you fancy. What about nuts? They’re calorific? Popcorn, dried cereal, crackers, cereal bars. What would you say your favourite food was or is?

Also, if you are understandably too tired to cook after feeding the kids ( I get this too) any chance of eating with them?

I do try to eat with the kids when DP is around but tbh mealtimes can be a bit of a nightmare around here, the eldest has sensory issues and food is a battle, the toddler just runs away and the baby is in the ‘throw everything on the floor then cry because I’m hungry’ phase 🙄
If I put food out for myself by the time I get to it it’s cold and I’m sat at the table by myself, so I tend not to bother
DP is working long hours 6 days a week atm but when he’s around I do eat a lot more

Glad you’re on the up Martha I feel quite good today, I’ve been having a clear out this afternoon so feel cleansed thankyou for asking

Delatron I do walk with the dog and the pram quite a bit (admittedly less in the winter) and I have noticed that I can’t go as far now because I get a bit shaky and dizzy, but you’re right in that it does make me hungrier, I must brave the weather a bit more
My favourite food used to be a curry, any kind I never discriminated- I definitely couldn’t stomach anything like that at the moment though

I am adding things like nuts to my shopping list though, I don’t know why I don’t buy nuts more often I really like them, Aldi used to do a lovely nutty granola that I used to eat most days with Greek yoghurt and berries for breakfast, I’m going to see if they still do that

Ahh brilliant. Glad you’ve got some ideas. Sometimes I forget about foods I like! Nutty granola sounds perfect.
I’m loving spicy nuts at the moment! They are definitely filling and great to snack on.

Sounds like you don’t want mushy/liquid food. Just listen to your body and don’t force it. Pizza? Even toast? I often have toast with almond spread and banana to fill me up.

Dizzy when walking sounds like low blood sugar and lack of energy. If you could try and force something down you before the walk you may go farther. Weather is so rubbish at the moment but I always feel better for getting outdoors.

Thanks Delatron I got some spiced nuts today

I went shopping today and I bought some things I like to eat, and as I was shopping I notice I never do that, I wander round going ‘ooo DS would like that, DD likes these in her lunch, must get that that DP likes’ there was absolutely nothing in the house this morning that I bought because I like it - well now there is!
Trouble is once I’d shopped I felt like I’d ate so didn’t eat any of it 🤦🏻‍♀️

Yet another person commented on how much weight I’d lost today and it felt shit, I really need to do something about this
I’m going to try to keep myself accountable on here (even if no-one reads it I think this would be really helpful for me)
Today I’ve ate -
A mince pie (most of it, it made me feel sick after a while)
Half an apple
KFC meal
Tomorrow will be better

I'm the same, I'm waiting for an appointment with the dietician who can hopefully help.
I just have no appetite, and when I do eat and enjoy a meal it's like it fills me up for 3 days.

Try and think about what you eat. Ie carbs would be good and proteins. Digestive biscuits have fat and slow release energy. Milk shakes, which could help stretch tummy a little, but not too much milk as too much can limit iron absorption. Maybe salad for bit c. Iron and bit c help build your immune system if you’re recovering from something or lacking in nutrients. Pre cooked chicken is good. Maybe keep it in the fridge and then just pick at it during the day. Yogurts too, ftomage frais, not too big but have calcium fat etc to help you. Maybe make a homemade soup and just have small potions. Try not to fill up on liquid all the time though. Actual food will be much better for you.

Just read your last post. I’m tall and slim andvif I don’t stuff myself with food I get the same comments. The trouble is, those comments make me stress about food and yet that makes me find it tough to eat. When I’m happy I eat everything and lots of it. If I get a bug, weight drops off. Some people say’ god your so skunny’ Or ‘you’ve really lost weight’ yet I never say to people ‘ oh god, aren’t you fat!) or ‘ oh my, haven’t you piled on the pounds! .
I completely understand your perspective. But try not to make food an issue.
I find if I don’t eat, ie miss a meal, I find it much harder to eat the next one. Just keep nibbling xxxx

Eat your meal before DCs. Prepare and eat something you fancy, then feed the children next.

Make sure every thing you buy is whole- full fat yoghurt and cheese etc.
I love that whole live lemon curd yoghurt.

Ice Cream? The quality stuff, mind. Ben and Jerry, Hagen das etc.

Buy spooning cream- the extra thick stuff. You can have a blob on toast and jam.

Nuts.

If you eat carrot sticks, apples, celery etc then have them dipped in houmos. Apple and houmos is lovely...