Is this too much to eat in a day?

[SENSummer]

I’ve lost all perspective. So many hormone triggered gastro issues since having my kids and my daily diet has gone out of the window. I feel nauseas a lot but regardless of what I do/don’t eat. I wake up early (5am) and finish eating for the day at 4/5pm.

Today I’ve had:

Small porridge with banana and oat milk

slice of toast

a small plain chocolate cupcake (homemade) & a Kit Kat chunky

a salmon fishcakes with a couple of new potatoes and garden peas

a digestive biscuit AND about 3/4 of a bag of twirl bites!

I’m done for the day now but honestly feel awful (and a bit sick at how much sweet stuff I’ve had)

I will caveat this by saying I’m rather slim and definitely in the ‘a few extra pounds wouldn’t hurt’ category and I’m pretty physically active.

You feel as though you are overeating because you are snacking on little bits and pieces all day. You sound like me at the end of each day when I feel compelled to, almost, "confess" my 'overeating' to my partner (it drives him insane), and frequently use the words "because I'm disgusting". It does at least sound as though you are aware you have a problematic relationship with food and your body, just maybe it's not in the specific way your mind frames it.

Undiagnosed Coeliac disease maybe?

As others have said, it's not enough food, and too much chocolate and sweet stuff (no judgement; I eat a lot of sugary crap!)
Maybe try a more protein-based breakfast, like something with eggs? Or cheese, or something fishy if you can stomach it. I have toast – seedy/granary/nutty bread, because that's what I prefer, and I think it's more nutritious as well – with either salmon pâté and avocado or some kind of soft cheese, and find it quite filling.

If you’re under weight then it’s not enough food. It’s certainly not enough nutrition.

Keep the treats if you like, there are worse things to eat. but add in more fruit and veg, nut and cheese.

Life sounds very stressful for you. Is this temporary, will dh be home earlier at other times or you get other support? If not are there any after school clubs or respite clubs Ds could go to sometimes?

You are probably being made ill through the stress of it all, it sounds relentless. Hope things improve

You are absolutely not disgusting. And no, it’s not too much to eat in a day. Too much sugar, yes, but not enough protein or veg. Is there any way you can fit in another proper meal rather than all the snacking? If not then can you make breakfast a full meal instead rather than just carbs?

You're not disgusting! Eating sugar makes the body want/crave more sugar, so it becomes a vicious circle.

Please don’t call yourself disgusting! It’s not easy for a lot (most) people to eat well all of the time. I would suggest trying to eat 3 or 4 meals per day, each meal to include 30g protein. Choose your protein & add at least 2 veg & some carbs too. Your daily calorie requirement will depend on your size & activity level and if you are eating to try to lose weight, gain weight or maintain. Nothing wrong with having the odd biscuit or chocolate (even every day!) but try to get some fresh fruit & veg in with the protein & you will probably feel less like snacking. Would you be able to pre prepare an evening meal to eat ? Eating at the same (similar) times each day is helpful to regulate your diet. It’s important to look after yourself , especially if you are responsible for looking after others. Hope this helps

FOcus on the nutrition. And also the self talk - you are NOT disgusting for eating kit kat and twirls in the car - we all do it (and don't you dare listen to the people who say they don't ... everyone slips or has a treat or gives in to temptation at some point).

Try making a change and see how that makes you feel - what about a protein breakfast instead of porridge. Eggs on toast or something similar, and see it that helps with energy.

you're doing great and you got this - it's HARD balancing everything and taking care of yourself.

Not too many calories, but very stodgy/carb heavy. Everyone’s different but if I eat like that it makes me feel heavy and lethargic. I would eat much more fruit and veg - apples, berries, leafy greens etc. Nuts or seeds are good for a quickish boost.

I don't think is a lot of food but is is a lot of bad food. Half of what you have eaten is unhealthy. It doesn't really matter that a cupcake is homemade, it is still bad for you.

Never call yourself disgusting.

That would be too much chocolate / sugar for me, I think I would also feel a bit queasy

Do you have a very sweet tooth or can you reduce your sugar intake easily

It’s not a huge amount of food but it’s not very nutritious and I would say you need more protein, good fats, fibre and less sugar. Would you consider changing your diet to see if that helps with your gastro symptoms?

It's just not very healthy. Low on protein, vitamins, fibre, etc.

You've got a lot of sugar as you say.

You have had 2 portions of fruit and veg and both are 'starchy' carb ones - the banana and the peas.

You're also desperately short of calcium which will affect your bones long term.

And barely any fibre, other than the porridge , peas and banana.

So you're also deficient in Vit C.

You could drop the spuds with the fish cakes and have a portion of carrots and broccoli.

You could add blueberries and seeds to the porridge.

Your snacks could be an apple of a small portion of full fat plain yoghurt.

Do you seriously think this is a good diet?

You are definitely not overeating, though 3 meals a day would be more nourishing and provide similar calories. If you are underweight you may need to eat a bit more which might explain the sugar cravings. A nutritionist may be able to advise re a diet that will work with your hormonal/gastro issues.

Is there anything else going on? It is a bit worrying that you describe yourself as disgusting, and that you have strict non-upf household rules for food then eat other food secretly. Also that you think you are eating too much when in fact you are underweight.

I would say we are about 80% UPF free in the house. I make all the bread products and baked goods. I cook from scratch but DS does have some minor allowances made where needed. He had a packet of crisps at school for his lunch and he has haribo gummy bears which are used to reward him for using the toilet or saying words.

There are certain things he eats like sausages which we are able to source from local butchers and are very good quality. We get them maybe once a week. He’s currently obsessed with potatoes and bananas and the cupcakes I bake.

This is a serious question and not a dig at you.

But surely you know this is a poor diet?

Where is the minimum of 5 fruit/veg a day (and ideally a lot more.)

Are you really reaching out and saying you may have an eating disorder?

Binging on sweets and so on rather than eating fruit, veg, dairy etc is worrying.

Too much? To me it’s not enough. Putting aside the cupcake/chocolate/digestive, you really haven’t eaten much “proper” food.

Small bowl of porridge, toast (was that your lunch?) and fish cakes with a couple of new potatoes and garden peas. That just doesn’t sound like enough proper food with nutrients. I would be starving. But I guess you’ve filled the hunger hole with chocolate.

IMO your child is being given the wrong messages.
You are bribing your child with sweets for a) using the potty and b) talking.

Surely you know this is wrong?

Crisps for school lunches.
Cupcakes- doesn't matter if you make them or not - they are sweet.

I have a younger child at home with me so no, not sat at home twiddling my thumbs. Just on the go constantly.

OP’s literal question was is it too much to eat in one day?
Yes it’s too much, and specifically because there is so much junk.

No point pretending otherwise and putting junk in inverted commas like the majority of a share size bag of chocolate on top of many other treat items isn’t junk.

I'd still be really hungry on that; you're missing a whole meal! If you remove the digestive and twirl and replace with actual dinner it's similar to what I eat in a day.

If it’s just a one off day then no . However if it’s a regular occurrence then obviously nutritionally yes .

I’d feel sick as a dog if I ate all that sugar in one day and I’d have a cracking headache to boot.

Barely any protein or fibre in what you’ve eaten.

If you’ve the time to make bread and bake regularly and cook from scratch daily, then you have time to meal and snack prep so that you’re not binging on sugary crap the next day.

You need to start eating Greek yoghurt, eggs, cottage cheese, nuts, have some chicken in the fridge to pick at, forget salmon fishcakes and give yourself a good sized fillet.

Today’s food intake just tweaked a bit could look much better…

Small porridge with banana, blueberries, mixed seeds and oat milk

Boiled/poached eggs and a slice of toast

Some nuts and dark chocolate

Salmon fillet with new potatoes, salad and cottage cheese.

Sliced apple and peanut butter.

Greek yoghurt with some more seeds and a bit of honey if you’re still hungry.

Sadly, you are brining up your child to copy your own poor eating habits.
Sweets as a reward- not good.
It's the start of emotional eating.