To just not really eat?

[NoCapes]

Ive never been a massive eater and have always had issues with keeping weight on, I have to really think about eating, it isn't just a normal part of life to me, I have to really remind myself to do it, if that makes sense?
But I've been a single parent for a month now and I've noticed now more than ever I'm just not really eating

I don't have time for breakfast with getting me and all the kids up and ready for school, just tea and occasionally a cereal bar or banana
I've never been a lunch person, I just don't like lunch foods, and running around after a very boisterous baby all day I don't particularly have time
I'll have a brew and a biscuit with the kids after school
Then if I've meal planned something 'proper' I'll eat with the kids, but on those crazy days when they end up with beans on toast or something then I don't eat with them
Might snack on something at night when kids are in bed - cereal/crisps/toast etc, but not always

Thing is though I'm just not hungry
Even when I am eating it's more because I feel I should, not because I actually want it

AIBU & odd? Or does anyone else just not really 'do' food?

I'd be worried that you weren't getting proper nutrition. You could wing it for a while but you'll be run down if you do it for a long time. You need vits and minerals and proper food.

I'm the same- always a small eater but when stressed appitite goes completely- you can't just eat something dear because your throat closes up and you think quite frankly I'd rather lick bleach than force food down me.

I used to be a bit like this throughout childhood and teen years. Much greater appetite now I have dc and make 3 meals a day. Always overeat when pg.
However, once I stop bfing my appetite will wane again. I used to have a nutrient rich salad for lunch, skip an evening meal in favour of fun active hobby. However, I eat too much chocolate.
As long as you think you are getting the right nutrients and are a healthy weight...
If you do want to try to increase appetite, gradually increase pasta/ rice portion. It expands the stomach.

I never have breakfast. And probably miss lunch more times than I eat it. Have always been the same except when pregnant or breastfeeding.

But have always struggled to keep weight off!

When I actually looked at the number of calories I was having with the odd cereal bar, picking at dcs food and then aN evening meal plus a few drinks I was actually consuming too many calories. hence a bmi of around 34.

Its down to 28ish now by eating lunch most days and not picking other than lunch and tea.

Op I'm like this, very rarely feel hunger & if I eat breakfast I can't eat lunch can, only manage two meals at the most, but I do try & eat healthily so maybe try & think a little more about what you are eating & try & meal plan as much as you can, as a poor diet will probably be a contributing to your tiredness & it must be very hard on you mentally & physically going through separation, please try & focus on your own wellbeing too.

I have read 'parts' of your other threads and I haven't read all of this one but just wanted to say that food is strength and you need that for your dc right, you need it for you.
I have and still can (when stressed) forget to eat. I don't realise I have done it till I hit a wall, please don't hit a wall op for you and your kids.

Do you pick or nibble at bits from the fridge?

Maybe start doing it a bit more if you don't already.

It's perfectly possible to consume a reasonable diet without ever eating what seems like a meal just by picking.

Keep some hummus and carrots to hand, or Babybels and grapes.

What are these 'lunch foods'you don't like? You can have whatever you like at lunch! You need to eat healthily or you will stop being healthy. Simple.

It's not the lack of eating that would worry me, but the poor quality of what what you're eating. You can't be getting all your body needs from that. Make yourself eat with your kids at the very least. Even if it is just beans on toast or whatever.

Hi NoCapes
If you are worried then perhaps look into multi vitamins or something liquid like a protein shake for now. Other posters might be able to think or similarly easy/liquid options.
As you have never been a major foodie a short period of dip hopefully won't cause a huge loss of weight. Just keep trying to eat a little.

You are doing so well.

Hi there Capes can you try to eat calorie dense foods, peanuts or peanut butter, chunks of cheese, even milky coffee or milkshake. Tbh it's not a problem I've ever had especially now I'm less mobile but my dd was like that and I gave her fried bread which we told her was her special toast.

I would think you will feel a lot better if you work on eating regularly - poor appetite can be a bit of a cycle. You'll maybe cope better emotionally with the demands of life. And in the long term, your relationship with food could well affect the relationship your children have with food, so seeing you eat breakfast lunch and tea will set them up with good habits for life. I do get it though, it's a job, not a pleasure to eat. Just have plenty of tasty bits around - half a banana when the kids are having some, a quick bowl of cereal, a grown up tea.

Maybe take a multi vitamin and get yourself some easy picky food for when your running around after the baby, things like
Nuts
Grapes
Dried fruit
Cheese chunks
Ham

Or make yourself a smoothie each day or even a milkshake then try your best to have at least an evening meal. Make it a thing to always eat an evening meal with your DC, even if it's something on toast

I don't always eat a lot it depends on my mood. Some days if I'm really busy I just have 1 snack and a meal at dinner.

cardi I don't like sandwiches, soups, don't particularly like things on toast, salads are just a huge faff - just all of your average lunchy stuff

We do have lots of snacky bits in for the kids saucy but I don't really like any of it

I know you're all right and I'm sure I would feel better if I ate regularly, it's just that initial bit of putting something in my mouth that I don't want snigger that's very difficult
If I'm really not hungry then trying to eat makes me physically heave

If you have time to make a cup of tea why not get in some easy kettle friendly foods to keep next to your mug? You're boiling it anyway so then have a porridge pot ready to share the water into when you're making the morning brew. A soup or noodles for lunch and then obviously dinner needs to be more nutritious but it's a good start if it's something you do anyway and it's things you can eat on the go.

You will be malnourished based on how little you eat and could be damaging your body.

I used to be like that and it turned out to be stress and depression.
But I have an O level in nutririon, so always ysed to eat a balanced diet, just not much carbs.
I used to eat one meal a day, usually some meat, green veg and fruit. I was clinically underweight.

My husband is like the op. Literally no appetite. Just the way he is. He's healthy enough, works like a horse and is very happy with his life. I used to worry, but studies seem to point to restricted calories leading to a longer and healthier old age. So now I don't.

I am a bit like this and still not all that fussed about food. I tend to get hungry at awkward times too. If I am stressed I stop eating altogether as I have no appetite at all. Healthy nibbly things are good - I like avocado, nuts, bananas and oatcakes all of which are easy to eat and fairly healthy. I'm not keen on actual meals and find myself defaulting to cheese sandwhiches sometimes. I do cook for my family and usually join them for an evening meal.
If you sat down and wrote a list of foods you actually like and tracked when you do get hungry, that might be useful.

Get your thyroid checked with the GP.

If I was you I'd make an effort to eat things high in nutrients. Even having things around that you can just have a nibble of this or that. Stuff like fruit and veg, bits of meat (if you eat meat), nuts, seeds etc. Just to make sure you are getting enough of the basics.
How about smoothies? You can put a lot in a smoothie from yoghurt/milk (calcium), nuts or even just protein powder, greens such as spinach or kale and various fruits and veg. You can really make it anything and just sip at it over an hour or so while chasing around after your little one or doing odd jobs around the house.
I don't think you need to go crazy but I do worry about you getting enough of everything to fully function.
Might also be an idea to see if the GP will run a few blood tests to make sure you aren't deficient in anything. I myself don't consume enough iron in my day to day diet.

Yeah I ate like that as a new single parent. Replaced most of my food calories with gin calories, weight plummeted. Once you get into that sort of pattern it's hard to break as well. I still don't really eat breakfast but falling upon happier times and having a DH to feed put a stop to it! Cooking for one can be a bit demoralising... invite friends round for dinner so you're not eating alone perhaps, that helped me. Good luck OP, it won't be like this forever

It is demoralising cooking for one
Thanks LittleWing

I think I'll try to think of some healthier stuff to snack on before I go shopping
What kind of things do you all snack on?

Not just you, I manage four Ryvitas or two crumpets a day. I just don't have an appetite anymore. I'm not anorexic, bulimic, or have any kind of eating disorder, I just got too stressed to eat, and my appetite shrunk. If I eat more now, I feel sick, so I manage it. Eventually, I'll be ok again, and will eat properly :-)