What do normal people eat? - disordered eating.

[cheeseisthebest]

I have totally disordered eating. I've tried so many different ways of dieting but I'm a binge and comfort eater and I feel like I have a million different rules surrounding food in my head. So much so I don't know what I should be eating, which sounds ridiculous but I'm completely lost.
I will abstain from carbs then go and eat 3 slices of cake to cheer myself up after a stressful day even though just one slice makes me feel sick. My husband doesn't eat meat or dairy and is currently on a special diet including protein shakes. I feel totally fed up trying to think what to cook for me and kids, they are much less fussy than they were so I really should cook decent food for them.
I am meeting with a therapist about my food issues but until I've made some progress with them I still need to know what to eat! Can't starve!

I wouldn’t like to say, I feel I have a very disordered relationship with food! I’m a healthy weight (okay, probably top of BMI whatever that is for my height/weight if I knew what it was but I genuinely take absolutely zero nonsense of that, I feel confident and look fine,) - one thing I do though is aim for 2l of water a day which I do always manage and I don’t ever drink anything other than water or alcohol! Mostly water, once a week or fortnight I’ll have alcohol too. I buy one bottle of fizzy for my dc on a Friday and when it’s gone it’s gone, usually by the end of the weekend. I don’t drink fizzy or juice or tea/coffee/hot chocolate, no ice tea, no Starbucks, nothing like that. Never have done really so it’s just not really on my radar!

@BryceQuinlanTheFirst I'm also a healthy weight and size and my diet looks similar to yours. If I have decent portions then I don't feel the need to snack. I don't obsess about not eating certain foods but I'm an everything in moderation type.
I want to snack at work when I get bored, so I have a cup of tea instead. Does the job unlike me ha ha

@user35638673
Yes I'd rather have a cup of tea than a snack and not be stupidly restrictive at dinner.

I'm 5 foot 3

eat 3 slices of cake to cheer myself up

This stood out for me. I have to make a real effort recognise when I need a treat or bit of me-time, and make sure I DON'T eat, but instead find some other treat, e.g. a bath or shower, some pamper or beauty self-treatment, go for a walk or do some exercise or yoga, read a magazine or book, choose a TV show to watch, do a jigsaw or crossword, etc.

The issue is that most of these other things take far more TIME than scoffing a biscuit or six. The core problem is not having enough time for myself.

If this resonates with you, spend a week monitoring exactly how much time you get for YOU, as opposed to time for work, family and DH. Then make changes - other people will have to adjust their expectations and demands.

As for the food, stop restricting types of foods, but eat lots and lots of veg, as part of 'proper' sit-down meals - things your mum or gran would recognise as meals.

Was going to say exactly this. Instead of banning carbs, could you try to go for wholemeal options or plain potatoes- then you don't need to worry really?