How much attention do you pay to your overall diet?

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Due to medication I'm on, my appetite is limited. I have IBS & a dairy intolerance. I don't really eat much meat but eat fish, and eggs. My weight is dropping due to the medication/low appetite. I can't manage even a normal small meal sometimes, I often eat to the point of discomfort & I'm only managing 1200-1400 calories a day. If I stopped when I felt comfortably full I'd only manage about 500-800 per day. I'm currently size 8, 5'2".

I'm trying to pay more attention to what I eat - nutrition wise, not just calories. If you're on a restricted diet, how do you manage? I don't want my hair to start falling out etc. DH & I have such different food preferences anyway & it's harder now, I feel like I'm having to plan everything & it's getting a bit much.

Hopeful bump.

I don't have intolerances but I'm vegetarian and have read a lot about nutrition. I'm short too and can only eat up to 1500 kcal a day or I'll gain weight.

You need to focus on nutrient-dense foods like nuts and avocados for healthy fats, they will also have a lot of calories in a small quantity. Try to have some good quality protein and ideally leafy green veg like broccoli and kale. You could try some superfoods as supplements - wheatgrass or baobab powder are good for vitamins and antioxidants. Make sure you're getting enough iron too.

Thanks. I've planned a week of meals & sorted out a shelf in the kitchen where I can put any of my "fancy food" as DH calls it. Can't run to lots of superfood etc, only if they are on offer - got some chia on BOGOF. I tend to carry a mini tub of almonds & a cereal bar for emergency snacks, I've had the odd fainting spell due to (I assume) undereating, hence the snacks.

I'm trying to like avocados - any suggestions for recipes that I can make in advance, and that don't require dairy?

Love broccoli (even raw), not kale, but trying spring greens, aka collard greens as they're really good for calcium.

Avocados - guacamole is good and lasts for a day or two in the fridge if you use citrus (lime) in it. Otherwise avocado goes brown quickly, which is actually fine, just doesn't look that nice.

Spring greens are great, I didn't mention them as they are rarer to find in shops than kale.

So as long as I use a citrusy dressing on avocado, it will stay ok? I don't have time to make lunch in the morning (I make breakfast & lunch the night before, take to work in a bag, & eat them there).
Asda & Morrisons both stock spring greens at the moment, if you're interested.