Recovery food suggestions (do-able meals snacks etc)?

[thatcoldfeeling]

So my CPN is a bit slow and doing absolutely tiny steps that are meaningless. I have done this before without support, but of course the longer it keeps going on/the more I relapse the harder it gets. I have downloaded recovery record and I'm feeling like I need to do the three meals three snacks thing again to get myself back to a safer kind of space. I feel like hell and need to try again :(

Only I have been purging most things. Lots of food feels really unsafe. So:

• Does anyone have any suggestions for easy to do 'safe' (in that it won't trigger purging) food.? I can't eat to full without feeling I need to purge. (I am also vegan but ignore that as I can adapt and if people post here it would be nice to be useful to others as well).
• Anyone done recovery with proper ED treatment and have any insights into how to do this!?

So here are my suggestions for starters:

Breakfast - Moma porridge sachet with banana (portions pre-controlled - useful).

Snacks - frozen alpro yoghurt
Apple
Vegan protein bar

Lunch - cup a soup (portion control again) Is that enough? I am truly rubbish at lunch, but if I have snacks I think that would okay?

Dinner - argh, danger zone. No idea. It also involves cooking for my children.

So I am at a bit of a loss and will be a but useless and restricted if I only eat my above suggestions and then panic every dinner time. In fact that doesn't sound like recovery at all! So...I need to plan and would really appreciate any help.

I am in the process myself of trying to gain weight and it has been slow and limited so far.
But I have got myself to a nearly healthy bmi mainly by small steps which I have slowly built up.
I found having regular small snacks a good way to learn to eat again, trying to include some protein, fat and carbs.
Crackers with nut butter, half an avocado or houmous etc on a ryvita, soup is ok but add crackers/mini pitta and protein as above to make it more nutrient dense.
Roasted sweet potato with a little tahini on top is healthy and something you could feed your kids too for an evening meal.
Add a bit of almond butter to your apple for example.
I like Babybel plus crackers (not vegan I know).
Could you try an almond milk hot chocolate? Soothing and adding calories but not too many?

Thanks Trickyex.

My BMI is already in the normal range as I am bulimic so I don't want to gain but (joys of bulimia) I do have other signs of needing more nutrients while not even being thin (hair falling out, skin dry, ugh). So I do need to try and eat properly. I also have absolutely no concentration on energy and a screwed up digestive system :(

I looooove nut butters. Probably a bit too much though, could trigger a binge, although actually I have noticed you can get them in little portions (Pip & Nut or whatever it is called I think do them), maybe I should get some of those.

I wonder if any vegan cheeses come in portions like babybel, that would work because I could also get some crackers or oatcakes in individual packets. Also I don't like vegan cheese much so it won;t turn into a b/p.

Almond milk hot chocolate sounds super soothing!

I think I am going to need to make my plan and then get a recovery food home delivery booked!

I think pre packaged portions are really helpful in these situations.
Trying to do small steps can be a lot less overwhelming than trying to achieve too much too soon.
Small packs of oat cakes are good too, and yes Pip and Nut comes in small sachets, great plan. Nakd bars are nutritious and not too calorific. Could you manage some vegan chocolate, again Ombar comes in small packages.
Popcorn (you can get wholegrain now) is also available in small sizes and you can get coconut curls in small packs in sweet and savoury.I found this list which might give you some other ideas (QUinoa snacks are good as you get some protein as well)
metro.co.uk/2017/08/04/20-of-the-best-vegan-friendly-snacks-ranked-6803646/
There are some good websites around which might be a comfort, if you google eating disorder recovery there is a lot out there.
Try to be kind to yourself and take a day at a time.

Thanks Trickyex, that is really helpful.
I do like Nakd bars, they can definitely be added to my list. So can popcorn actually. I don't like it much so it won't trigger me!

I'm trying out healthy biscuits at the moment. I have an Aga so it's always on. It's 3oz porridge oats, 2oz flour, 1oz muscovado sugar and then I've been experimenting. Butter is too 'bad'. So I've tried Vitalite dairy free and coconut oil. Separately. I'm going to try mashed banana. These are to stick it all together. Coconut oil doesn't work as well. Then I put in a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a choice of: dates, dried mango, dried apricot, nuts and raisins.

I'm pretty sure they work out very healthy. And filling. I would recommend although I'm not very good at consistency with 'being normal' aka 'recovery'.

Best of luck 🌻

Cheers Fenny (I wonder if I live nearish to you given your name).

I think my main issue is definitely dinners. And lunch but I think if I can get through the day with a high-ish number of snacks that is okay? But if I eat an 'ordinary' sized meal I am overcome with needing to purge. Also I am just generally rubbish at eating hot food, and I have this wierd thing where I don't find dinner-ish food remotely satisfying. If dinner could be a bowl of vegan porridge I would probably do better but that goes back to sneaking around my children and that is crap parenting. And not really challenging ED stuff.

The kind of things I cook (being a lazy cow) are one pan sort of things, but then I am never sure on how much to eat, and I never want to add carbs (which I realise is totally contrary to wanting to eat porridge for dinner). God, I am going to tell my CPN this week to stop with these stupid small steps and get to the bloody point of it and help.

Proper meals are hardest arent they? Are your DCs vegan too?

Adding a small amount of fat to your meals will help you feel full and might help prevent you wanting to binge. Olive oil, coconut oil, avocados etc are all good.
How about variations of a big salad bowl with coloured salad leaves, fruit, grilled veg plus a bit of crumbled vegan cheese/toasted nuts or seeds/vegan pesto/houmous/olive oil on top
Cous cous with roasted veg or other toppings as above
Potato waffles with avocado or eggs for DCS if not vegan
Baked potatoes, sweet or ordinary, with low cal dips or nut/seed butter on top for you and more calorific toppings for DCs
Bowl with lentils or chick peas and veg plus topping like baba ghanoush/houmous
Light veg curry with eg sweet potato/spinach/light yoghurt etc (have a small portion, more for DCs)
There are some nice ideas here:
www.rebelrecipes.com/top-ten-healthy-and-light-vegan-dinners/
WOuld you consider not being vegan for a while as you get well again?
Its often hard to get all your nutrients as a vegan and I should think especially difficult when trying to recover from an ED.
Taking a good multi vit/mineral plus B12 is a good plan too.

Trickyex you are brill, some excellent suggestions! How are you getting on anyway? You seem super knowledgeable about the right things to do so I hope you are managing for yourself too.

My DCs are not vegan, one is veggie and one eats meat and that enabled me to become a bit seperate about meals, and then only ever eat fruit and peanut butter, and then fall right back into the mess I am now.

It did cross my mind this morning whether I should consider not being vegan, temporarily maybe. It isn't part of my ED but it has obviously become a bit of a complicating factor. However when I do eat non vegan food now it tends to taste awful to me. Though I was craving halloumi the other day.

I am currently working on my list of things to eat and to shop for and my plan is to discuss this with the CPN on Thursday morning and from that point to try as best I can. I want to go for a walk or swim or something on Thursday to remind myself of the benefits of eating and living and all that! I usually exercise quite a bit but this week has really taken its toll on my body, I went for a walk last week and my legs were all shaky and I couldn't keep up or anything, it was quite pathetic.

Oh you poor thing, its a grim business.
Is your CPN helpful (some kind of nurse I presume)?
I am doing ok, no support now as I booked myself out of my local ED services as it was basically a refeeding programme with no support in terms of mental health. DId see a good psychologist on the NHS but limited sessions due to funding so am looking at private option.
I am very knowledgeable about food and nutrition, it has always been an interest of mine, it just went too far and I ended up restricting severely and over exercising till I had some nasty health scares.
I think if you are craving foods then it is worth following the cravings, if not too scary.
Is there any non vegan food you do like? Eggs perhaps which are super nutritious, filling and low cal so not scary.
Happy to offer any advice I can if there is food help you need.
I have been trying to work my way out of anorexia since last summer so have done a lot of research/reading....

Trickyex is right. Choose high fat. They taste much better. I just restrict, I don't purge, but I wonder if feeling fuller after less food might help you?

If I can eat full fat I feel better because I can eat less. And it's tastier.

ps please do try to eat more than fruit and nut butter, you cant manage to function such limited nutrients.
I have ended up with blood sugar problems and osteopenia and early menopause as a result of food restriction, all quite scary.
I have tried to use my DCs as a motivating factor when I have been at my lowest points, also remember DCs will see your eating habits as an example so if you can try to share meals with them it will help you all - not trying to make you feel bad in any way, just hoping that might be a motivating thought.

Yes Fenny I agree, full fat better all round. Healthier, usually less sugar added, more filling and am sure less likely to lead to a binge.

This evening I had some delicious sweet potatoes. 8 mins in the microwave and the skin cane straight off. They were lovely and soft in the middle. Served with rocket they were delicious. I also had a piece of salmon but maybe if you're vegan you could substitute for something else. Probably not helpful but just thought I'd try contribute. It was a very easy and nutritious meal. Good luck with the rest of your recovery x

I always thought that I needed ideas so I appreciate this thread. Sometimes I give up because I haven't got any ideas of what to eat. I'm fine with the children but eating a meal gets so complicated in my head for counting calories that it's easier to eat nothing or an apple or a tin of mackerel. Something 'closed' so you open it and eat something measurable. I am going to try sweet potatoes and rocket gemsparkle! Thank you!

For dinner how about a stir fry you can buy the veg ready cut and add some tofu or cashew nuts for protein and a microwave rice or noodles for carbs.

Soup in a carton is a good option, with a bit of greek yoghurt for protein and fat to make it more filling.
Omelette is another good choice for easy family meals, easy to count calories .
Tofu and paneer roasted or stir fried are good too as gem suggested.
There is a good charity called ABC who will give nutritional support for a small donation, well worth checking out.
www.anorexiabulimiacare.org.uk/

SOme good suggestions here too for vegan meals
www.nutrition-coach.co.uk/blog/category/healthy-eating-advice/page/3/

Thank you, so appreciate all the suggestions. I actually started implementing this as of this morning. For breakfast I had some frozen grapes with a spoonful of peanut butter. I was going to have an apple as a snack but I felt so full, so then I had a late lunch of two oatcakes with vegan cream cheese, 7 cherry tomatoes and a cup of miso soup. Feeling really full again now. Not sure what I will have for dinner yet (my pre planning wasn't as good as I intended), but I am thinking something with smoked tofu and avocado.

I have been using the recovery record app which I really recommend, it is so good for keeping on track.

I have bulimia as well and find dinner really difficult. After talking to some friends who were further down the recovery road than me I started batch cooking when I was up to it and then freezing pre portioned home made ready meals myself. It's really helped - I know I have reasonably healthy, nice food in the house, but already portioned up so it's as unlikely to cause a binge as it can be. It's also ready really quickly which is a big trigger for me.

Obviously I have to be careful when I'm doing the batch cooking, but I just do it when I'm feeling pretty ok and it always been fine (so far).

Meal planning/bactch cooking etc is a good idea Beans.
Ready meals for one can be a good choice for an evening meal if cooking is too stressful.
I found some useful tips on here
patient.info/health/eating-disorders/features/meal-plan-tips-for-eating-disorder-recovery

I do like the idea of having ready cooked food to hand. Not sure I could trust myself with batch cooking though.

Have had a bit of a wobble today, have had lots of ED thoughts but then at the same time I have also had worry about my bloods (they came back that I am anemic, I have been prescribed iron pills but haven't collected them yet and I feel so shit and tied so not surprised). However on top of the ED thoughts, and health worries, I have also been working on just having positive and mindful enjoyable time outside in the sun by myself. And that has been successful, but still a struggle keeping ED thoughts turning into ED behaviours.

Anyway, for dinner I had this - rawmazing.com/recipe/raw-avocado-kale-pesto-with-zucchini-noodles/ - and it was really easy to make, vegan, healthy enough not to trigger, and tasted nice. I substituted kale for spinach from the freezer and pine nuts for pistachios. DCs had the rest of the pesto with wheat pasta so that worked well.

*tired not tied (case in point)

Sounds a wonderful effort. Well done

Have you tried a Graze subscription? I used to get them and they sound perfect for you. You can select Veg options, vegan too i think. Everything is portioned and calories measured. Lots to choose from. They so peanut putter dippers that are lovely.

I recommend the Feroglobin+ for iron.

For snacks that was.

I often have a cup a soup with my lunch but not on it's own. I would have it with a salad, cracks or sandwich etc, I think you should have something with it, for reference I am petite and slim so generally eat the right amount.