How would you feel if you ate this in a day?

[Foolsgold74]

Breakfast - 4 slices white toast n butter
Snack - 16 mini brownie bites
Lunch - small portion of fish fingers n chips
Snack - cheese n mayo sandwich
Dinner - large bowl of pasta with tomato sauce n grated cheese
8 glasses of sparkling water with lime cordial

Would this be akin to an average day for you? Would it leave you feeling hungry or stuffed? Bloated? Absolutely fine?

EDITED TO SAY: oh I should have read all the OP's posts, I'm sorry! I usually do but jumped in too quickly. I was recommending Mounjaro but if not obese then nothing I said is relevant.

The problem starts with the excessively carb-y breakfast. Eat bacon abd eggs (no toast) or bowl of Greek yoghurt with chopped up banana and see how you go. You’ve got no chance of not overeatungbif you start the day fucking with your boood sugar like that. Honestly today start high protein and report back!

Fruit and veg is crap

No they aren't.

I think I could eat it and feel physically fine but then kick myself because I am trying to lose weight.

As a one off it's not the end of the world but every day it needs changing for much better foods.

I agree, just refused it on prescription. Can you eat more protein and less carbs. Eggs are really good if you like them. Fruit can be really sugary and not help much but berries, cherries and even apple are not too bad. I find stir fry the easiest way to get a good range of veg in (home made not takeaway).

I too have to sort my eating out though. Good luck!

Beige food. No I wouldn’t feel good whatsoever

Ariela,that would be me! I posted similar on another site,was told I was lying,a competitive under eater,had a serious food issue, mental health problems. I've never been used to eating big portions,born not long after ww2, still had ration books.. grew up rural, late father was disabled,so often money was tight. I married a sarf London bloke who says he hates veg (married a veggie of 50 years!) I do have some gut related issues,caused by bullying at work, and age, unfortunately, not by unhealthy eating. Says he hates salad, imagines it's lettuce, tomato, cucumber....not on my watch!!

I think it's disordered eating, or at least on the path that way, especially as you're asking if it would be an average day and seem to think it's normal to eat like that, when it's obviously not.

Almost no fruit and veg
Mostly rubbish carbs, little nutrition/protein
4 meals and a very substantial snack of (a whole tub of?) brownie bites.

I couldn't eat that much so wouldn't even try and I'm far from a MN teeny tiny protein and veg advocate. Yesterday I had a medium sized frozen pizza for brunch and went to McDonalds at 4 pm where I had a fish filet, medium fries and an apple pie after a 6 mile hike. Apart from a G&T in the evening, that was everything I consumed that day (probably around 2000 calories or so, so while far from ideal, not 'disastrous' from a weight control point of view). I don't normally eat like that and am trying to eat better, and am usually succeeding, so yesterday wasn't typical for me.

Do you eat eggs? They're very quick to prepare and filling and nutritious and might help you get off the carb rollercoaster. Make an omelette for breakfast, probably quicker than waiting for the toaster.

Or beans on toast with just one or two slices, preferably wholemeal bread. Sprinkle a bit of grated cheese on for extra flavour.

Put mince or a tin of green lentils if you don't eat meat in your pasta sauce, or a can of tuna. Little extra effort and adds protein/nutrition. Also a grated courgette which will cook into the sauce.

If you swapped the 16 brownie bites for a can of rice pudding, it would be fewer calories, less sugar, more filling and slightly more nutritious, but still quick, easy and snacky.

Will you eat absolutely no fruit and veg? Even if it is frozen, canned or prepared? What about stir fries with the 'meal kits' of protein, stir fry veg, noodles and sauce? Very quick, low effort, and much better than what you're currently eating.

So perhaps try some 'baby steps' such as the above suggestions if it's not realistic that you'll be living off steamed fish and spinach and once you're used to that, you can try and further improve your diet and health.

How many calories is that ?

If you remove the breakfast & lower the amount of sparkling water I'd be fine with it

I could eat that but I'd miss fruit and veg and soon be hungry again).

I'd really try to make some easy changes if I were you. Eat more protein (ready cooked roast chicken? Tin of tuna?). Either eat veg that needs no preparation (a raw carrot, a banana) or is super quick to prepare (frozen veg). Disguise it (eg add frozen peas or sweetcorn to your pasta dish). Soup.

I'd also recommend weaning off diet coke.

I also recommend Ultra-processed people.

Someone will know if this is correct but when I was pregnant and vomiting a lot, not wanting to eat or cook, the midwife said tinned fruit is still one of 5 a day as long as it's in juice not syrup. That was a bit help to me.
Frozen veg is ok too and quicker. If you hate cooking and veg maybe that's an option just to get it into your diet?

I’m not going to add anything regarding the actual diet of OP and lack of nutrients. From the sounds of things you know you have a problem with food and maybe this thread will kick start a healthier diet for you. BUT having said that I now really fancy a cheese and mayo sandwich.. not something I would ever eat or think up and it sounds delicious!

OK, will. Tomorrow. No eggs in currently and am veggie too.

Thanks so much everyone for all the comments. Genuinely thought I'd get a couple of people saying yes it's a crap diet and I'd feel rotten. So I really appreciate the time people have taken to respond.

I know all the theory and what good looks like and I occasionally eat overnight oats or eggs or a bit of broccoli (broccoli maybe 3 or 4 times a year!). I also eat around 16 ish brownie bites every single day. I used to eat around 8 chocolate bars a day too but I'm off chocolate at the moment mainly. I've always been like this. I'm lucky that I'm active and don't easily put weight on but now I'm in my 50s, that's changing.

Ignoring the quantity, the quality is the problem. It’s the sort of food I’d have eaten in my student days. Getting some more nutrition in your diet will make you feel fuller and want less food. It will also give you more energy, help you sleep better, make you want to move more, and improve your weight.

I love food and I don’t pay attention to how much I eat, but my rule is, I only eat things that are either, really tasty, really nutritious, or something exciting. I try to avoid UPF where possible, which means I’ll often grab a piece of fruit, or handful of nuts, rather than junk if I need a quick snack. I used to think nuts or fruit were a pretty sad option over crisps or chocolate, but now it’s a habit, I actually really like it. I buy a different selection each week to keep it interesting.

If a fancy looking bit of cake from a nice coffee shop is on offer, I’m having it. If it’s supermarket brownie bites, I’m not. I just remind myself that I won’t enjoy it and therefore I don’t need it.

I’m not a stranger to a large bowl of pasta, but I’d make my own pesto or veg sauce to cover it in. If I’m having toast, I’d have good quality bread (two slices, not four) maybe with a poached egg or two. I might pan fry a bit of kale, garlic, chilli and tomatoes to have on the top too.

@Foolsgold74 I’d feel as if I had had a relapse. I ate the way you describe and felt dreadful about it for decades. Almost every day I’d determine to do better and almost every day would over eat and beat myself up about it

In my early sixties I tried wearing a continuous glucose monitor and could see how my blood sugar levels were responding to how I was eating. The initial sugar rush was followed by a slump, where the only way out was to eat more starchy and / or sugary still. Even after a good meal I’d have a hankering for something sweet.

Two things supported me to get out of this negative spiral. Gillian Riley’s
https://www.eatinglessonline.com/

at the same time, I started eating high fat low carb, as described on Mumsnet’s own low carb boot camp threads. For the first good few days, it was as if my brain was screaming ‘eat sugar’. It bounced around from wanting chocolate, haribo, creme cakes, crusty bread everything. It was so obviously like the sort of thing portrayed on TV of people withdrawing from drugs or alcohol that I stuck with it. A few days later maybe a week I woke up one day and the screaming in my brain had stopped. I now eat good quality meat, not afraid of fatty cuts and lots and lots of fresh veg and salad, with delicious oily or mayo dressings.

Its been a revelation in my eating. Now I don’t eat sweet stuff or any junk food for fear of having to go though that withdrawal again. I feel the best I have felt for decades. Sleep really well, skin really clear, hardly ever get colds and when I do it’s all over in a day.

it might not be the right time for you. It took me decades to get to the point where I could do this. If it feels right for you, try thinking about how you will feel after you have eaten something.

Hope you find what works for you.

I think it’s disordered yes and I think you need support to help you, both with your insomnia and with your eating

Have a listen to this radio program where they talk about what you eat and how it affects your gut micro biome and in turn, how they affects your mood.

One of the suggestions a Doctor makes is to just change one meal in the week and afterwards write down how you feel afterwards.

If you have a strong dislike for fruits and vegetables, how about trying hidden veg pasta sauce. Obviously you’ll know the veg is in there though as you’ll probably be the one who has to cook it

Can you make a few little tweaks with what you already eat like putting a good quality peanut butter on your toast or swapping to wholewheat pasta?

ugh!! Thoroughly sick in the main. Plus, absolutely gagging for a vegetable or piece of fruit.
Eating like this regularly would leave anyone at risk of heart disease, cancer, bad skin, constipation, hormonal issues and conditions like endometriosis/PCOS.

Those were the days! Stack of chocolate by my side and losing weight hand over fist!

Post menopausal me can’t even look at a biscuit without gaining. 😢

OP I can empathise with you - I could easily eat this volume although I’m a bit ‘meh’ with Brownie Bites. I’ve been in exactly the same situation as you

I am quite petite, I do like my food/treats (see username!) but you’d have lost me halfway through the brownies! I have a friend who’s very fit/active & muscular, eats lots of fruit & veg, not excessive sugar, but big portions of carbs, and they’ve just been told they’re pre-diabetic. The diet you’ve described is very heavy on carbs & sugar, so the risk of developing diabetes would be very high I think.

Aw OP I do really feel for you. I’ve been similar in and off all my life, I lost loads of weight six years ago and then after traumatic losses of loved ones combined with other stressors in my life it’s crept back on. I’m currently feeling the same way and my diet shows.

i just crave sweets, chocolate and bread all the time (when i was on adhd meds I didn’t get the cravings but can’t take them now because of heart issues)

im trying now to make small sustainable changes, im still over eating but ive added more fruit and veg and gradually cutting down the crap. Not lost any weight yet but I’m not surprised as my portion sizes are too big so that needs looking at.

i get bored, lonely and I comfort eat so I’m trying to up my steps, I walked round park run yesterday which I thoroughly enjoyed and going to pick up some arts and crafts again.

its easy for people to judge, which makes you feel worse then you eat your feelings.

Well the only person who can do anything about it is you.
It's a bit pathetic at your big age to claim not to like fruit and veg, learn how to prepare them properly, disguise them in smoothies and soups etc. but really it's basic health and wellbeing. Keep eating them and you'll learn to like them.
You already have written a lot of excuses, at the end of the day it's up to you.
Long term your health will suffer, short term you probably feel a bit crap if you carry on.
You desperately need some fibre, protein and micronutrients. B vitamins are vital for mental wellbeing...

No eggs in currently and am veggie too.

But you ate fish fingers for lunch.

"You are what you eat." Literally. Do you want your body to be made up of brownie bites?
Somehow education around food, as with do many topics in this country, has gone awry. We need to not just buy stuff because it's easily available but be educated to be more discerning with what we put into our bodies. Re breakfast, I make a batch of Nigella's granola which lasts a week. It's basically oats, seeds and nuts. Keeps me full until lunchtime. If you had something like that you wouldn't need the brownie bites.