*trigger ED* Can someone encourage me to eat.

[BearimyJeremy]

I have so much food in the house. Things I like. Children fed and sleeping. Why can't I eat it myself?

What are you struggling with? As in what's the fear with eating it? That might help you decide what to eat
Or if you can't face food then something like a milky drink. Do you want sweet or savoury?

Maybe just start with one bite? because all bodies needs fuel and nutrition to thrive.
I don't know if these are the right words. But all progress in the right direction starts with one step. You can do it.

I have pop, sugary drinks. Just have a really weird mental block with food.

I don't think I've had a proper big dinner in a fortnight.

Do you like history? I find the history of food and culture really fascinating. - the way certain dishes have come about. For example - potato soup, which is popular in Germany and parts of Eastern Europe. They're mostly land locked, huge agricultural areas and traditionally very poor rural areas. So families made food from what was around them - potatoes they could grow or buy for cheap, a little bit of bacon to add flavour and often would be kept preserved in a drawer and made to last across many meals, some onions to bulk the meal out, and often something like prunes which would have been preserved through the year after a summer harvest. Only a small amount to add flavour to the dish. Tasty and filling it would provide warmth and sustenance for a days hard labour.

Obviously I'm not saying go and have potato soup (though it's delicious - try Anja Dunks Heartbreak Potato soup which is available online) but I find learning the history of food makes me want to try it, to experience a bit of history and common feeling. It also takes a bit of the pressure off you must eat mentality. It's not so much about eating as exploring.

That might not help you at all but I wanted to give my look in. Best wishes to you xx

I can completely identify. Is there something simple or comforting you can have? Throw out any conventions about what should be eaten when. My go-to when I know I need to eat but am struggling is peanut butter and jelly toast with a glass of milk. Sometimes it's a French bread pizza or a cheese quesadilla. What matters is you get food in you.
I also find it helps to put on something on Netflix that I have watched a million times so it's not just me alone with my eating challenges.
Last resort is ordering in one of my absolute favorites/treats. That could mean McDonald's or sushi, but again, what matters is that you get some food in you.

So sorry you have been struggling so much. I have dealt with an on/off eating disorder since my teenage years. Could you maybe manage something like soup or maybe some breakfast cereal? Thinking of you as I know it can be very hard

If I can't be bothered sitting down to eat, I have a 'fridge dinner': whatever I can eat in my hand while standing up at the fridge/pantry.

Sometimes a couple of Quorn slices, grapes, some peanut butter (eaten off a teaspoon), a bit of cheese. If I'm feeling fancy, a Cup-a-Soup.

How about a cup of tea and a slice of toast? Then at least you'd have something in you. You deserve to eat and feel ok.

Keladrythesaviour that's the sort of thing I do for the kids, and how beautifully you describe it. And I look at it and then I order something rubbish on deliveroo and can't seem to eat it! Something is wrong isn't it?

I've posted this channel a few times on here but it fits everything
I find it really relaxing, soothing and also how beautifully she prepares food just for herself every day, really inspires me to think about food as nourishment so some fruit, some veg, some protein
You might hate it but if someone finds it helpful then it's all good

https://youtube.com/channel/UC_RDtmUq7RISJ4mFKAhjzTg

Or a hot chocolate, and crumpets with butter and jam!

Thanks I'm spurred into going downstairs and finding something.

Let us know what you have!

@SwissCheeseRentedChildren

Let us know what you have!

Yes, please do! I love hearing about what others eat. I went through a phase where I was obsessed with a blog that posted different school lunches every day!

Hope you get something sorted! If you are the only adult then I can understand how it's easy to end up focusing on the kids but forget or overlook yourself. Remember that you need to look after yourself in order to have the energy to look after the kids. What things do you have in? If it is a longer term challenge then you might want to try and seek out some real life support or advice we're here with you tonight!

I reckon it will be a couple of slices of marmite toast with lots of butter. I want it but it's just that weird mental block. I can swerve it usually but it's been a shite start to the year and my appetite is the first thing to go.

Start with eating one little thing. An olive. A cocktail sausage. A tiny piece of cheese. DS 14 is scared to eat right now, because if he eats too much he throws up. He eats his tiny amount and that's enough.

Yup sole adult. Fortunately my children are teens so can do their thing.

That sounds like a good choice, well done OP. Nourishing yourself will help with the tough times as you already know

Ooh hot buttery marmite toast is one of my go tos! I always like to think of the health benefits different foods give me so you can congratulate yourself! If you google 'marmite health benefits' you'll see lots of b vitamins, good for brain power, energy levels regulation, good for eyes, skin and a healthy heart plus it's good to help you sleep!

I had some buttery toast and an apple. Couldn't find the bloody marmite. Thanks though. I'll feel better in the morning for it x

Ah that’s great you had something. I hope you enjoyed it.

@BearimyJeremy buttered toast is a thing of beauty, even without the marmite (which I do love). If stress effects your appetite I'd avoid trying to do big meals, they're just too big of a mountain. Little and often might be the way to go, and nothing wrong with that. Will you munch if you put a bowl of something next to you whilst you watch TV? Could just be a bowl of Bombay mix not nutritionally superb but might stimulate your appetite a little. Or perhaps popcorn with some cheese grated onto it...