Is this really not enough??

[GoldieGal]

Breakfast: 1/4 cup of porridge

Lunch: Piece of fruit or salad

Dinner: veggies and a bit of chicken

I never ate much to begin with, just the things I ate weren't particularly healthy. Obviously I don't eat the same exact things everyday but it's around the same amount of calories yet apparently this isn't enough?

Will the consequences of this be that bad? Please help!

*DO you have

@lazylinguist

Hmmm I was going off the poster who said that made a decent sized bowl of porridge 🤷‍♀️

I wouldn't be able to cope with such a small amount of food, but I'm very active and weight train 5 days a week.
Can you add a bit of protein to your lunch and maybe some whole grain carbs? Do you eat any fats, a small amount is necessary for normal,hormonal function. Do you have periods?
I think if you're trying to be healthier, you should look at making changes towards eating more protein and fibrous carbs. Although I know, from experience, it can be difficult to eat more, just do it gradually.

Depends over what time frame - OK as a calory controlled diet over 6-8 weeks maybe but not long term. You'll also need to drink 2-3 litres of water over the course of the day ( not in one go ) and find a source of calcium.

It looks low on loads of nutrients - no healthy fats (unless the salad is loaded with cheese, nuts and avocado, but I suspect not from the way OP is describing it), doesn’t look like much carbohydrate, too little protein. And way too few calories.

I also suspect a competitive under eating thread; I would suspect OP has an eating disorder and the thread is some kind of validation. Just my two cents, but that’s how it feels to me.

According to Google there are 22.5g of oats in 1/4 cup of porridge. And it's 85 calories. If OP has it with "water, a bit of soya milk and cinammon", it doesn't really count as most people's idea of a bowl of porridge.

OP - work out the calorie content of what you eat. Then work out the calorie content of what you need (based on your weight and activity levels). If you are eating less than you need, then it's too little.
Unless you are very small and don't move at all, what you've posted is very little for an adult.

Are you talking American cups? 1/4 cup is approx 20 grams of porridge oats which is generally seen as half a portion. Are you mixing it up with milk or water?

There is a BIG difference between eating a single piece of fruit for lunch and a large salad. The salad should have some kind of protein source whether that be from lean meat, grains or cheese. Simply eating salad leaves is not going to give your body the nutrients it needs.

Dinner sounds fine but it depends on quantities. A bit of chicken may be nowhere near enough protein. around 3/4 slices of chicken breast with a plate full of vegetables is fine.

@SockQueen
I certainly don't intend for this to be one of those threads. The reason I'm worried is because I've started putting it into an app that shows how much calories you should be eating (I don't do this everyday but I was just curious). It said it wasn't enough calories so I googled to see if it was okay and people were saying on other sites that your metabolism will slow down which made me a bit panicked.

Oh come on OP you must have been able to predict the responses to your 'oh look how little I eat' humble brag...

Unfortunately your diet is so lacking in nutrients that you're probably as unhealthy as an obese person.

I’d want to add some pulses to that too (they count as part of your 5 a day). You need some calcium too.

I’d add a nice bean chilli and a bit of Greek yogurt to my diet (not necessarily together lol).

Why dont you add a complete meal shake like Huel or Jake if you dont have much appetite for larger meals?

1/4 cup of porridge? I mean, why bother?

What is it about ‘a 1/4 of a cup of porridge’ that just doesn’t ring true. Not ‘a cup’, not ‘half a cup’, not ‘a small bowl’, but quarter of a cup.

As for the rest ... meh 🤷🏻‍♀️

Well done on coming onto MN to ask the question, instead of asking friends, or healthcare professionals...

@happythankyoumoreplease
I think these kind of responses are way weirder than the OP. Can you not just take her post at face value? Says more about you than her tbf

That’s approx 100 calories for breakfast, 100 calories for lunch and maybe 200 calories for dinner. 400 calories per day is nowhere near enough, and if you continue eating that little you'll make yourself ill. Even the most extreme diets are double what you’re eating. If you genuinely think that amount of food is ok you need to see a doctor to discuss the possibility of an eating disorder. .

The fact that you have downloaded an app to count calories suggests -alongside the type and amounts of food- that you have an eating disorder. On its own, the app wouldn’t, but you aren’t eating enough to warrant calorie counting.

@LionessRoar Yes it is serious? No, I don't have a history of eating disorders. I am trying to reply, sorry.

My 1.5 year old has 1/4 cup of porridge with milk and fruit for breakfast. And sometimes a bit of toast after if they’re still hungry. I can’t believe that is enough for an adult!

It said it wasn't enough calories so I googled to see if it was okay

Honestly unless you have a very disordered relationship with food it's blindingly obvious it's not enough and that its not at all balanced. I'm amazed anyone would reasonably consider 1 piece of fruit or 1 biscuit enough food for lunch, it's clear that neither is a meal and therefore it can hardly be a surprise that you're not eating enough.

OP you already know it isn't enough. Is this one of those competitive "I eat less than you" threads where you seek validation for your drive to reduce your food intake?

Yes maybe it would be quite a small bowl of porridge! I was imagining a 1/4 mug full of dried oats cooked in milk. That would be an adequate breakfast. Don't make it with water Op, you need the fat and protein from milk.

Op, if you are monitoring your BMI and its within normal range then fine. You may be inactive and requires less calories.

However, my spider senses are tingling. I'm hearing eating disorder in your posts, simply because you're monitoring your diet so closely, you're counting calories when you don't need to, you're restricting your food intake..you're too fixated on your diet I think.

Forget all this "clean" eating nonsense trending online and try not to view foods as clean, dirty, good, bad. Aim for an 80/20 ratio of healthy foods/anything you fancy.

(American style measuring cup that is)

Of course it's enough.

For a baby sparrow.

It's not enough food and not balanced enough.

Up the porridge. Make it with half and half milk and water (is there a reason you are using soya milk as unless you have allergies or are vegan normal milk is healthier in that it usually has less sugar and more calcium/protein). If you can;t face too much in the morning have a banana or something mid morning.

Then introduce some form of protein into your lunch. A large salad made with couscous or quinoi for example.

Dinner increase the quantities of chicken have some form of wholegrain carbs and fill your plate with lots of vegetables.

Won’t listen to an app telling you it’s not enough but want random online to support it... ok. Whatever.

I’m really not sure what you want from this thread other than to show off how little you’re eating in MN competitive under eating tradition (a whole apple?? I had a whole grape last Friday and I’m still stuffed!)

I would add some protein to the lunch. If you are building up to not eating a VLCD then do it gradually but you do need the protein.