Hey guys!
Thank you so much for all of your great input on my last post. It seems like rigid eating schedules are something that a lot of us have struggled with at some point, but we can all agree that honoring our hunger is the way to go.
Now, before I get into the main topic of today’s post, I wanted to devote a couple of minutes to today’s breakfast…
Looks like a pretty standard cereal mess, right? Not exactly. I mean, you have your usual suspects – plain Greek yogurt, a banana, Kashi Cinnamon Harvest, almond butter – but this morning I threw two new players into the court:
Holy.wow 😯 Talk about a winning combination of flavors. I try to vary up what I throw into my cereal bowls to keep myself from getting bored, but I think I stumbled across a combination that I’m going to be sticking to for quite some time (or at least until I run out of pears). I completely forgot how much I love the combination of applesauce and yogurt, and when you add a pear and some roasted almond butter into the mix? It made me weak in the knees.
But enough about breakfast; breakfast is never a problem. What has become a problem is getting my veggies in. After looking over my eats from the other day, one thing immediately jumped out at me – where the heck are the veggies? I barely ate any at all. Now, that wouldn’t be too big of a problem if it was just that one day, but lately I’ve been noticing a lack of veggies in my overall diet. My salads have shrunk…
Gone.
… my roasted veggies have run away…
Poof.
… and my beloved broccoli has been banished to wherever it is that all musical veggies go…
Vanished.
I mean, my dinners went from looking like this…
… to looking more and more like this…
… and to be honest, I’m not entirely sure what to make of it. I know that we’re supposed to get 7-8 servings of fruits and veggies a day, and I definitely meet those guidelines with the amount of fruit I eat, but should I be cutting down on the fruit and upping the veggies? I’m not entirely sure, and this is why…
I used to eat a lot of veggies – probably a little too much – and my stomach absolutely hated me for it. Not only was I bloated and uncomfortable all the time, but my veggie-filled meals would often leave me feeling tired and lethargic as my stomach struggled to digest the roughage I was feeding it. Not exactly the most pleasant feeling in the world…
I think I subconsciously started decreasing the amount of veggies I was eating as my mind started to rebel against the “clean eating” mentality that had held me prisoner for so long; and dare I say it, I actually started feeling better? I know it’s not a popular notion, especially among the healthy living community, but decreasing my veggies to 2-3 servings a day actually improved my general health rather than hindering it. Not only are those nagging stomach problems now a thing of the past, but my energy increased and my skin improved as well – you’d be surprised how much of a toll digestive problems of any sort can take on your body’s overall well-being.
So therein lies my problem: do I force myself to eat more veggies despite my body not seeming to take to them too well, or do I continue with eating mainly fruits with a couple servings of easy-to-digest veggies thrown in? Do I listen to what my body seems to be telling me, or go with what my head/society tells me is “right”?
Oh bother…
. – . – . – .
Do you eat a lot of veggies? What are your favorites?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated 🙂
I think it’s best to do what is right for YOU regardless of what “society” or anyone else says! If you feel best eating only 2-3 servings of veggies, so be it. Some veggies really tear up my stomach though, I have to agree!
I love veggies but tend to either have loads in a particular day, or very little. It all balances out over the course of the week I think 🙂 Nice to see you back in blogworld 🙂
that is one good lookin breakfast. yum! i’ve never had applesauce with yogurt before, but now i think i really need to try it!
thats definitely interesting to hear that you’ve noticed a positive change from eating fewer veggies. i think our bodies tend to tell us when they’re lacking something. the past two days i basically lived off carbs, but today from the moment i woke up i was absolutely craving veggies & fruits. it was surprising because i love carbs, but the thought of eating it this morning was almost repulsive (which NEVER happens). But i think my body just needed nutrients so badly. So i think our bodies definitely know whats up and that you should just continue doing what you’re currently doing…eating what you feel like. Plus its basically a win-win – you get to eat whatever you’re craving plus you get more energy and improved skin! : )
Great post again friend! I’ve had those times in the past where I LOADED my plates with veggies and ended up with a not so happy digestive system. I actually think it can be healthy to go a week or so with really limited amount of veggies/fruits just to clean up our digestive systems and get rid of the “bulking” and “roughage” some veggies leave us with. That was probably a little TMI. Ha ha. Especially in dealing with digestive issues, you don’t want foods irritating the stomach even more.
And yes, veggies are important but in a moderate amount not an insane amount like some people eat. Otherwise they are missing out on other nutrients!
I’m sure you will be eating veggies in no time though!
Gotta go with your gut girl….you know this!! I bet you’ll be back to craving veggies (in MODERATE amounts) again soon…don’t worry about it and just let it go please (0:
Body goes through seasons too, remember that and you may never eat the amount of veggies you did before (probably for the better) but I bet one day soon you will suddenly be like…I need roasted squash…..mmmmmnnnn. Or whatever. Thanks for sharing this because so many people (whether eating disordered or extra super healthy livers <–hahaha) have that tendency to overdo the veg and we end up a) eating like 80 pounds of food that is hard to digest a day and still aren't satisfied. OUCH!
#GUILTY.
I love my veggies but I do agree that sometimes even too much of a good thing can be, well just too much! Personally I have to keep an eye on my fruit intake because when it comes down to it sugar is sugar – at least for me. I would just go with trying to get your 3 servings – if they give you tummy trouble perhaps experiment with different ones – broccoli and kale tend to take more digesting I think, however spinach and lettuce seem to be a bit gentler on the tummy – I would experiment and see what works for you 🙂
I say NO to forcing yourself to do anything!! Veggies will come back, in time. If anything, maybe add some spinach or kale to a smoothie every once in a while,. but I say no to forcing yourself to eat them! Or maybe start small, like only eating them as a snack? I love making butternut squash fries and snacking on them throughout the day. It reall comes down to the fact that YOU know your body the best. Just listenin to it babe 🙂
P.S. I looooove applesauce with yogurt!! Such a great combo!
Hi Amanda,
Started reading your blog a few weeks ago, and I’ve been loving it! Your writing style, and honesty are great.. and I always love hearing form a fellow Canadian 🙂 (I’m in Eastern Ontario).
I wanted to offer that I have had lots of digestive/stomach issues my whole teenage and adult life, never from disordered eating, but form food allergies and just messed up digestion.. so I’ve done my share of cleanses, nutritionist visits, etc, etc. I used to Never be able to eat raw veggies.. they are SO hard to digest. I can have some now, but only a small-ish salad (not like a mixing bowl full like I read about on blogs!!), and I look to get my veg in things like soup or stirfrys, or sometimes roasted but you gotta be careful there too! I eat tonnnns of fruit, like you, and this is what works for me. I see NO reason to stress about the “8-10″…everyone is different. And it is so important to know what works for your body and stomach, because as you said and I know, that effects your entire body and mind. Enjoy your fruit, you get vitamins from other foods like whole grains, meat, fish, dairy, etc.. and throw veg in where it makes sense for you.. that’s what I do! Just thought I’d share, because I can so relate to this topic.
Thank you for your input, Shira! I’m definitely leaning towards keeping things as they are and trying to get small amounts of veggies in when I can. After all, if it’s working, then why mess with it right? 🙂
I struggled with the same thing with veggies. But when I started to incorporate fat (olive oil and balsamic!!! and guac and nuts) they began to digest a lot easier. That and I cut down on the amount. I love veggies, but a whole bag of broccoli? a whole eggplant? yeah too much. My try to spread small amounts of veggies throughout the day? and not into just one meal or huge salad.
I officially need to try applesauce and yogurt! Why have I never heard of this before!
I used to eat a ton of veggies, but then I realized I was eating them at the expense of other food groups like carbs and dairy. Sure, eating enough veggies is important but I think they can be a case of “too much of a good thing”. Once I decreased my monster salad consumption and replaced them with more balanced meals like a sandwich with carrot sticks on the side, I started feeling so much better!
Also I would try playing around with your veggies to see which ones make you feel bloated and which ones you can handle. The cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and brussels sprouts often cause GI discomfort… but you might find other types easier to digest. 🙂
Yeah there are some that I don’t seem to have any problems with, but I still tend to keep my portions on the smaller side, just in case.
Another great post which I can relate to! As soon as anyone wants to healthify their diets, the first piece of advice is to add more veggies! As healthy as veggies are, I personally think that is only up to a certain point…especially when veggies start replacing other food groups in your diet like “Hey let’s save calories by eating a bucket load of squash instead of a slice of bread”. I tend to eat more veggies than fruit mainly down to personal preference, but I still need to control my intake…otherwise I end up SO bloated. Over the years, I’ve learned that my body digests water-based veggies like zucchini much better than cruciferous varieties like cauliflower and cabbage….and even better if they’re served with some kind of fat like olive oil.
I don’t think you need to add more veggies in your diet just out of convention! Especially if your stomach is feeling great right now, why mess with it? There seems to be a fixation in the blog world on adding spinach to EVERYTHING – it’s okay if some meals are veggie-free…we’ll still be healthy! And on that note, I should probably end by saying that this post has confirmed that “brinner” (breakfast for dinner) is on the menu tonite :D!
“Hey let’s save calories by eating a bucket load of squash instead of a slice of bread” <--- definitely guilty of doing that in the past 😳 As much as I love roasted squashes, I haven't wanted to pick any up this year because it's way too easy to go overboard and end up in pain for the rest of the night. Besides, I like my bread too much 😉
I just read this after my comment below….and I need to take back my “roasted squash” comment and replace it with some other plant based meal or veggie filled soup or something. I hope you get my point. (0:
I think the biggest thing is to continue listening to your body. If you are feeling good, why change it up girl? I too will often find myself so bloated from the ridiculous amount of vegetables I consume a day (it’s so hard to pass up veggies & hummus). Lately I’ve tried to cut back my intake, and just like you.. I can already feel the difference. Continue doing what your doing, or maybe change what vegetables you do eat? I know it’ll all work out for you dear xo
ah, digestive problems. they are my world. i think it is perfectly ok to lay off the veggies for a bit, but they are important! i’ve found that certain types of veggies are perfectly fine on my tummy – for me these are zucchini, squash, green beans, spinach, and any type of lettuce. things like broccoli and brussels sprouts i’m avoiding right now for my body’s sake. maybe you can find some that work for you?
I’ve definitely found a few that work, but even those can give me problems if I eat too many, so I keep my portions pretty small.
I hardly eat veggies anymore…I’ve been much more into fruit this summer. For some reason I’m lazy when it comes to cooking veggies 😛
I think the government guidelines are apt to make conscientious individuals become compulsive about, say eating veggies or doing the prescribed 60 minutes a day of activity (I became utterly obsessed with this when I was 11 – and of course P.E at school didn’t count) because we are so desperate to appear ‘good,’ to reassure ourselves that we are doing the right thing to please…who exactly?
There are so many people out there with digestive disorders who in order to be healthy must not eat vegetables, or even fruits. U.C and Chrons are both often severely aggravated by veggies, raw ones in particular, and most people with IBS, even a mild form, do better avoiding all of the mammoth salads seen in blogland.
I still enjoy the volume of a mountain of cooked veggies as part of dinner, but I used to have those plus some kind of bean/legume, plus a huge salad and (no joke) four chopped raw carrots and a punnet of tomatoes per day, among other things. I would eat broccoli and kale, and all of the most difficult to digest veggies, and then wonder why I was in constant pain (and also running to the bathroom around a dozen times every day). I might have been thin, for sure, and I loved the way my body looked, but I was a mess and deficient in almost every vitamin once things got really bad (I eventually ate nothing but the vegetables and lots of protein shakes when I became injured and unable to run). I was eating five times’ the recommended amount of veggies, but my body was absorbing precisely nothing from them because they were going through me so quickly.
I think there are some people with stomachs of steel, but they are few and far between. I used to feel awful when I saw other bloggers eating a raw cabbage/broccoli/carrot/tomato/kale salad with hummus dressing and a side of squash – it became yet another thing to resent my body over – but it’s becoming increasingly common for people to ‘own up’ to having issues because of that kind of diet. No offense because your food always looks amazing, but if most people ate those veggie dishes you pictured they would be doubled over in agony too. There is a threshold we’re not meant to cross when it comes to fibre! Not to be mean but I always wonder how some bloggers…umm, smell, with eating that much sulphur 😛
You stick to your cereal messes if they are making you feel good – you’re not going to drop dead or turn into a whale by eating mostly fruit, and you’re better off actually absorbing the vitamins etc. that you do eat from 2-3 portions of veggies than eating 12 portions and absorbing none.
xxx
Haha I always wonder the same thing when I see what some other bloggers eat, especially if they live with a boyfriend or spouse… evenings must be quite interesting.
Always love your insightful comments, Jess <3
Fruits > veggies. I absolutely love tomatoes, eggplants and broccoli though.
Never ever! If you feel that great with 2-3 portions of veggies every day – why change it? In my opinion 2-3 portions are completely reasonable and enough. I don’t even get how you fitted more in your day on a regular base ? And than all the fruit you are eating has plenty of vitamins to make up for the former excessive veggie-consumption. I noticed a while ago when I am eating meals which contain mainly vegetables (and I am talking about a heap load here) I felt so tired and full afterwards, but this feeling lasted for like… half an hour, maybe a whole one – but afterwards I was craving food again, and not the healthy kind, I promise. My body just feeled tricked I guess. I mean, it was hungry and in need of substantial nutrition, not a load of low calorie, water filled, vitaminy stuff. So nowadays I still love my veggies and since they are part of my lunches and dinners I guess they beat my fruit consumption – but they fill like 1/3 of the platter and not 3/4.
Btw – Thanks for starting discussions on so interesting topics. I am never that curious to read all of the other comments as on your blog.
I think that’s why I was eating so many veggies before too – to trick my body into thinking it was full because I was afraid of satisfying my hunger with higher calorie foods. Never worked. Like you said, I’d just get really uncomfortable for a while yet still feel unsatisfied. I guess our bodies are just too smart to be tricked that easily 😉
Oh gosh, I know the stuffed-with-veggies stomach bloat all too well! That was once my reality at every single meal (oy), and I believe it was also the initial trigger for my GI/IBS issues. Damn vegetables! 😉 Now, I only feel “obligated” to eat veggies at dinner, which admittedly is a pretty silly food rule, but I guess it ensures that at least a few greens make their way to my plate each day. I usually eat sauteed spinach with eggs for breakfast as well, but *only* spinach (or another green) because any other vegetable will turn my tummy topsy turvy for the rest of the day. I tend to stick with leafy greens later in the day too, unless I’m willing to roll the dice for a serving of my favorite cruciferous veggies (Brussels sprouts or cauliflower). Everything else is eaten in teeny servings (think 1/4-1/2 cup max). That said, I think your current approach is really the best approach! You’re certainly getting lots of nutrients in the fruit you’re eating, and if you’re really concerned, you can always take a multi-vitamin. I’ve learned that forcing any food, despite an aversion to it (for whatever reason), is not worth it! You’re happy and healthy, which is what matters. What doesn’t matter is those silly dietary guidelines. I don’t think they’ve been much help for our society anyways. 😉
Happy Friday, Amanda!
There is definitely such a thing as too much fiber, and it leads directly to digestive distress. So, moderation towards vegetables (especially raw) is wise. Also, as the weather cools, warm foods are a better choice…soup is great. It’s good that you’re listening when your body tells you that a big salad isn’t right for it today!
I love fruit so much more than veggies, but I like both and try to get in small servings of both several times a day. Usually I try to get veggies in at lunch and dinner but I have definitely felt some guilt over not eating giant salads or huge bowls of roasted veggies on a daily basis. But then I remember that a serving of veggies is actually pretty small so I don’t need to be stuffing my face with veggies in order to be healthy. I also buy plant-based protein powders that are packed with greens so I don’t always have to be eating kale (even though I love it!) Honestly I think it all comes down to balance. Eating healthy means so much more than constant ‘clean’ eating and getting in the recommended servings of produce every day and I really think you exemplify healthy eating because you strike such a good balance!
I like vegetables but I can definitely see how eating the full amount of recommended servings may not be the best idea for everyone! I know for me all the acid and roughage would give me a stomach ache. I wonder if it could be helpful to get the extra servings of veggies through something like drinking V-8? 😉
I guess it would be alright as a last resort, but V8 has a lot of sodium so you probably shouldn’t rely on it too much.
I used to feel the same way when I was a newbie health freak but as time went on it got easier. This does make sense to me though because the fiber content in vegetables can be overwhelming in the stomach if too muchis eaten. My acupuncturist always told me to eat meals with no more then 5 ingredients and that meant veggies too. She also told me to never eat raw vegetables as my stomach is unable to handle that so I stick to most meals being 5 ingredients that is it. One vegetable, one protein with an herb and one ligth grain (basmati brown rice, quinoa). Love and Shine CourtStar
bahaha, i am the same way! mainly because i needed the calories and if i eat veggies i get too full. Plus i have this nut butter obsession. So, my solution? green veggie powder in yogurt and smoothies, and lots of veggies at dinner to make up for it, kinda. hehe. Enjoy your non veggie season. You look good!
plus its way better on the gut. you know, the bloat/gas solution. TMI
I’m thinking about the green powder! Which one do you use?
haha, the cheapest! or what’s on sale. they all work well in my opinion and if you mix it with peanut butter you cant taste it.
Listen to your body girl! You get a ton of variety and nutrients by the looks of your eats so I wouldn’t worry about it to much! And if you feel good with what you’re doing then stick with it!!!
Oh my goodness – I know exactly what you mean .. Ever since I upped my veggie intake, I get bloated so easily and my digestive system has really taken a toll .. sometimes I browse through the daily eats of some bloggers and I’m curious as to whether they have any digestive issues, with the amount of veggies they’re eating! It’s gotten so bad that I considered taking BEANO LOL (have you heard of it?) At the same time, I have a hard time NOT eating any veggies at all because veggies really are good for you in a lot of ways. I guess .. eat them in moderation? (that’s probably the first time anyone suggested eating VEGGIES in moderation, haha).
Hehe yeah I’ve heard of Beano, and I’ve used it on a few occasions where things got particularly bad. But I don’t want to always have to take pills so that my stomach can handle what I’m eating 😕
Since I love snacky dinners, what I will sometimes do if I notice this makes my veggie intake pretty low for the day I will have a Greens Plus bar (which are so good!) or throw some Amazing Grass greens powder into a smoothie. Not as ideal as the real thing but easy to digest and convenient.
I was actually thinking about looking in to some kind of green powder… My mom used to give me some when I wouldn’t eat my veggies as a child so I’ll have to ask her about it.
If your stomach doesn’t like tons of veggies in one sitting, then I fully support you backing off on them! I don’t think our bodies are meant to digest massive piles of raw veggies in one sitting – I found that once I started focusing on food groups besides veggies, my stomach was MUCH happier. As HL bloggers, I think we feel pressured to maximize our vegetable intake at every meal – which isn’t necessary and clearly not the best thing for our health.
I still love my veggies, but now I do my meal sized salads once or twice a week as opposed to every day. Although I might decrease it even more – I’ve noticed that unless the salad has a ton of protein or a sweet potato included, I’m hungry again about an hour later.
Favourite veggies: baby carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and spinach.
DUDE YESS!!! There are just some days when I just plain loathe veggies and fruit and just crave meat and then other days when all I want to do it eat carrots and peanut butter haha I think it’s all about moderation in the grand scheme of things. So what if you go cray cray on fruit one day and then go without any for a week because you got sick of it! 😉
Hmm favorite veggie….that’s tough. I’d probably have to go with carrots or roasted okra! 😀
no, don’t force yourself to eat more veggies. Our bodies are all different and can’t fit neatly into any “guidelines.” I don’t eat many vegetables (although lots and lots of fruit, and I do eat very healthy overall…except tonight, considering I just ate an entire small pizza and am about to have a cookie…but hey, it’s the weekend in college…), and I feel better (way way better) this way.
I still consider those college weekends part of a healthy diet 😉
If you feel good, don’t change a thing! Sometimes I’ll go a day or two without any veggies. There are tons of vitamins in fruit and you can always take multi vitamins!
Since I love snacky dinners, what I will sometimes do if I notice this makes my veggie intake pretty low for the day I will have a Greens Plus bar (which are so good!) or throw some Amazing Grass greens powder into a smoothie. Not as ideal as the real thing but easy to digest and convenient. 🙂
This is one of my favorite ‘HLB”s to read now. I love that you’re not trying to fit into the typical healthy-living blogger/role model. I think it’s important to listen to your body – if you feel better eating less veggies, than keep doing what you’re doing. I don’t feel so great when I eat a ton of raw veggies either… I prefer juicing to get that instant vitamin infusion. Overall, I think steamed veggies are best for our digestion. This time of year is ideal for warm, filling, comforting foods, and nature provides us with just that!
Hi Jo! OooOo I agree that steamed veggies are GREAT for digesting! I love veggies in all shapes and forms, but steamed is the easiest for the stomach.
Awwr, thanks Jo <3 Steaming was always my favorite way to enjoy veggies as well, but there were some (ahem, broccoli and brussels) that gave me grief no matter how I ate them.
okay lady, if you keep this delicious lookin’ cereal bowl deal up, I might just fall into eating it more often than I should! 😛 haha.
This is an interesting thought! I believe that everyone’s body is a bit different and some people feel WAY better eating “too many” veggies while others do not. For myself, it’s always a good idea to balance all food groups out as much as I can, but with lesser bread and meat than veggies. Too much meat sends my digestive system down the tubes as I have a sensitive stomach( and I agree that tummy issues can be physically draining), but TOO much veggies to the point I can’t eat anymore can make me really bloated. I think for you (and this is just my opinion), it’s a good idea to eat however you feel is right within moderation. Since we all know that veggies are still super healthy and good for us, I think it’s important to include it in your eating, but perhaps less often than before. But until you are fully better with your intuitive eating, I think it’s best to not overdo it. And then there’s the other side! If we “rebel” against our past ways of eating and living and do too much of another new pattern of eating, then that in itself can become negative too. Does this make sense?! 😀 Have a wonderful day, beautiful!
That definitely makes sense, Ellie 🙂 And I agree that jumping from one extreme to the other is never a good thing, which is why I’m trying to keep an eye on things and not let myself go too overboard. I mean, I definitely notice myself starting to crave more veggies after going a day or two without many of them, so maybe everything is as it should be and I shouldn’t worry about it too much.
I have been in this over-veggie situation far too many times to count! The absolute worst time was when I was in college… and I was eating a huge salad from the epic salad bar in the dining hall for both lunch AND dinner, oh and pretty much zero grams of fat on the salads (fat free dressings, not nuts, cheese, etc), so nothing was ever absorbed. To say I was in near-constant pain would be an understatement. I couldn’t even be near anyone by the end of the day… TMI for sure. I have cut wayyy back now and I am feeling better for it
I definitely understand what your going thru – since being in recovery for the past year it’s funny how my tastes have changed – I have soo much more energy now that I have expanded my diet to include chicken and turkey and now rely less on veggies. I still love veggies but don’t miss those days of stomach woes when eating too many veggies. I think you should eat what makes YOU feel good. Nothing wrong with breakfast for dinner – especially if it includes yummy cereal messes! (Cinnamon harvest is one of my favorite cereals too!)
Listen to your body! It will all work itself out as it’s supposed to! I’m not a huge veggie fan either but do try to get in my veggies!
You have to remember, a serving of vegetables is relatively small compared to what food bloggers/healthy living bloggers/whatever label you choose actually serve themselves. A serving of fresh leafy greens is two cups and a serving of cooked greens is 1 cup. Most other cooked or raw vegetables have the same 1 cup = 1 serving size. And honestly, I think we tend to overestimate what a cup of vegetables looks like. Think about how many broccoli florets you could fit in a 1 cup measuring cup – I’m thinking 5-7 florets, max. I used to eat double that amount, plus tons of other vegetables.
Honestly though, I’m with you – eating less vegetables has made my stomach feel SO much better. I really do think there is such a thing as too much fiber, and my stomach was definitely hitting that mark. Eat what makes you feel good, and don’t worry about your vegetable intake, and trust your body instead. There will come a day when you REALLY want some vegetables moreso than breakfast for dinner. And really, think about what a true recommended serving size of vegetables is compared to your servings of veggies during ED days….I know my serving sizes were WAY bigger.
Hehe that’s a really good point – my serving sizes were definitely way bigger as well, but it’s just too easy to go overboard on the veggies because they’re not exactly that satisfying as you’re eating them until you reach the point where you’ve already eaten too much and just feel plain uncomfortable.
I usually get my veggies in at dinner! It’s really easy for me to make a side salad and roasted veggies or something. It’s hard because I pack my lunch for work every day so I take things that are quick like a sandwich and fruit.
Hmm, I get what you’re saying and if you DO truly feel more comfortable eating these kinds of foods, then heck, no reason to force yourself to eat anything close to the amount of veggies you ate before (and yes, you probably did eat way too many anyway!). BUT… I’ve been noticing this trend of “breakfast for dinner” among a lot of ED sufferers or people in recovery. I for one have a sweet tooth (you’ve said you do too), and it is something I struggle justifying still on a regular basis even though I’m eating way more and eating pretty much normal foods/amounts. It’s still the things like chocolate, muffins, sweet breads, even some cereals that freak me out a bit — mainly because yes, I still limit myself those, so when a hankering comes around, it *seems* out of control!
ANYWAY, I was just wondering… maybe eating these breakfast-type concoctions for dinner is your way of still being in that “screw you ED” mode where you just want to eat exactly what your heart desires within the realms of being safe. I mean, I’ve just noticed that a lot of your meals tends to be, well, kind of what I would consider a large-ish snack. So I don’t know, maybe it’s just that part of you that still needs to “normalize” (for lack of a better, p.c. word) after force-feeding yourself a meager diet full of fruits and veggies?
Could be, but then again it’s been a good long while since the meager fruit and veggie diet days, and this style of eating is actually pretty close to the way I ate before I got sick, so maybe this is actually my version of normal?
Okay, at the risk of sounding like a broken record yet another time: A great post, Amanda!
I do eat a lot of veggies but seeing as I noticed I was using them to bulk up my meals to the max am trying to decrease them as of late. Some of my favourites are kabocha, bok choy and parsnips but then again, it’d be easier to say which ones I don’t like. Fruit is still appearing in much larger quantities – hey, I have a huge sweet tooth and sneak in some apples, berries and mango in between my daily chocolate, okay?!
Honestly, I think the “one size fits all” is incorrect once again when it comes to the fruit and veggie recommendations. Some people love fruit more, some veggies. You say you’re feeling better with less vegetable roughage – I fully agree with you here! – and even notice and energy increase? Awesome, then keep it that way! Digestive issues are a certainly no fun and can ruin a whole day – at least for me. There’s no need to stress about something that doesn’t even improve your life quality, right?
You’re definitely right about that one, Miss! And I used to be so guilty of trying to bulk up my meals with tonnes of veggies because I was afraid of being left hungry, but the only thing that really did was make me extremely uncomfortable yet still somehow unsatisfied 😕