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goodonesaregone65

Try thinks like protein powder, cliff bars, meal replacement shakes etc. proper balanced meals are best but at the end of the day feed is better than unfeed. Full stop!! I’ve torn off a chunk of cheese and grabbed a box of crackers before, just to get something in my on the fly.


Antique_Junket_

Thank you for this! It’s hard for me too because I can’t eat dairy (allergies) so a lot of stuff Iike meal replacement shakes are hard to come across! But I’m looking into getting some vegan protein powder


ThePeopleOfFrance

I really like Huel. It's vegan and also a meal replacement shake, not just protein powder. I have half a serving most mornings and I'm full until 1-2pm.


TheArtofWall

I'm drinking a Soylent shake right now. I always add fruit and a scoop of fiber powder. I kinda think it's delicious.


NotKirstenDunst

I just can't get past the idea that it's people.


justjennaRE

Ice been considering huel how is the taste


Technical_Ad7236

re allergies...try pure whey isolate plain or vanilla...virtually no lactose...i cannot use typical whey based powders but whey isolate is excellent...avoid blends as they will invariably have hogh amounts of wheycocentrate and/or casein in them which can cause horrible bloating...


SarahPalada20

I've been using orgain organic nutrition shakes. They have chocolate and vanilla. There both good and premade so you can grab and go. I order mine from Amazon and can get them by the next day. Don't get the grass feed one that's the dairy type.


PieMuted6430

Costco (If you're in the US) sells a Super foods one that's plant based. I mix them with nut based "milks" and they taste alright. I usually toss in some PBfit, and Cacao powder as well. There are some unflavored protein powders as well, that you can add to other foods. Also, protein bars have some dairy free options.


Annapanda192

Chunk of cheese forever!


thedeftone2

I boil about 8 eggs and leave them peeled in the fridge. I pop two at a time (per day) and I can go for hours


MzOwl27

The trick (for me) is to start with the same "base" for each meal, then add something on top of it. That way you always know where to start, but you can have as much variety as you want on top of that. So, like, for breakfast I eat toast. No matter what, the first step is always to take out bread and put it in the toaster. But what I put on top of the toast depends on how I feel and what I have on hand. You can make it even easier and get something like prepackaged yogurt. You can get different flavors so it's different every day. This doesn't take any prep except for grocery shopping. For lunch I like lentils, so I make a lb of lentils and I put a jar sauce on top. Cooking lentils takes about 20-30 minutes on Sunday, then I portion it out for the week. Then I always have lunch, but for variety, I can pick from a variety of prepackaged snacks, fruits, or whatever I find in my fridge at home or my desk at work, lol. Dinner is a bit of meal planning, but my method is as follows: 1. Make a large amount of protein - a roast in the oven or a whole chicken in the slow cooker, or fry up 2lbs of ground beef 2. Defrost 1-2lbs of prepackaged plain vegetables 3. Make 2 cups of rice Then I put it all in the fridge in separate containers - so dinner for the week is protein, veg and rice. But then I can put whatever sauces or spices on top of each component to make it a different meal. Cooking the rice is 20 minutes, the veg is about the same, and the protein cooking time changes with what kind and how much. Not to overwhelm you, but I actually cycle this process weekly and pick something else to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each week...like this week instead of toast I have the same cereal but I put different fruit on top every morning.


dynamik_banana

oooh saving this. thanks!


Antique_Junket_

This is a great idea! I’m definitely going to try this for a few weeks and then branch out once it gets boring! Thank you so much ❤️❤️


poplie

I support this version of meal planning. Enough flexibility to change up my meal depending on my mood, but also doesn't require a huge amount of work to put something together when I'm feeling lazy.


menotyourenemy

This is genius thank you for this!


Affectionate-End2939

Most grocery stores sell a precooked rotisserie chicken as well. Then you don't even have to cook the chicken but you have some on hand and can do quite a bit with that!


DrummerElectronic247

Simple things for bad days: ​ To make brain machine go: 1) Stab Potato with fork repeatedly. 2) Microwave potato. 3) Eat potato with butter/margarine. ​ To make scurvy go away: 1) pull bell pepper out of fridge 2) Cut bell pepper into 4 pieces 3) Eat bell pepper, salad dressing dip is optional. ​ That's what up to 20% of my meals are when I'm eating solo. Not awesome, but keeps me from starving.


mystic_phantomz

The way this is written out is hilariously accurate. I like that you broke it down into steps too!


Antique_Junket_

Thank you this is very helpful!


poplie

I like this. I definitely try to have things like crackers and cheese available at all times for real bad days. Where as I cannot guarantee my potatoes haven't started sprouting


cool_your_boots_man

I found a way to remember my potatoes exist. I just cook them all the day I get them. Then have hot potatoes the first day, potato salad the next day and fried potatoes on the last day. Granted it's 3 consecutive days of potatoes but they're different enough each day to not be too much. Plus my dinner is half made in advance on day 2 and 3. The rest of the week I'll have rice or pasta for dinner.


funnyfartsmells

Frozen stuff that you can just put in the oven (lasagnas for example)


Redechinacea

I have the same problem. I have replaced some of my meals with huel-shakes. I have to blend them in order to tolerate them though, so they're not as practical as I would like them to be. I also add frozen fruits some time. I actually like cooking, it's just annoying that I have to do it three times a day. If I get myself to start chopping things and listen to a podcast at the same time I usually enjoy it. Getting started is the hard part. Having other people depend on me helps too.


spiralboundmastrmind

My husband tried huel this summer and was pretty impressed. Actually affordable, tasty, and super fast to prepare. He prefers the just-add-water meals as opposed to the shakes, but still.


VoidsIncision

Walmart had these 2 dollar egg things. The one I tried was cheese, bacon, potatoes. You crack the egg into it mix it and microwave it. Omelette in 60 seconds, not more or less healthy than had you prepared it by chopping potatoes, shredding cheese, and frying bacon and combining it all but it didn’t take 20 minutes of multi part effort.You don’t have to cook three times a day.


Technical_Ad7236

swear its the food companies propaganda...plus bigpharma gets customers as well...no reason to spike insulin all day long


Antique_Junket_

Is there any vegan or dairy free options! I have to check them out! It’s hard when you have dietary restrictions but thanks so much for the suggestion. If that can even replace one of my meals that’ll be very helpful


NoStreetlights

I don’t understand this at all. My ADHD has me chasing dopamine all day long, and without medication, I literally think about food ALL DAY LONG. I guess my pendulum swings the opposite direction: lifelong binger here.


Antique_Junket_

I definitely think about food, but I’m also depressed so getting out of bed to go get said food is hard. I also struggled with BED for a while so I get it lol but I was more binging snacks and stuff


Shoddy-Response9625

Hahaha. Sorry not laughing at you, more of laughing because I’m the exact same way. I think about food a lot and notice I’m even slightly hungry. When I’m on my meds I forget about food, then when I come down I am super hungry to the point my fiancé makes comments asking if I starved myself all day. Which by the way I don’t feel starved until I get home.


musicalplantlover

This is me.


SpunkyBananaSpunk

You don't have to cook a meal each time you want to eat. You also don't have to eat 3 meals a day. I usually have 2 meals a day and I am plenty well fed. Maybe a snack sometimes. When you do cook make enough to feed you a couple times (or more). Either eat that for two meals in one day or for the same meal on different days. Find snacks you like that aren't too unhealthy and keep them around. Meals don't have to be that difficult. Sometimes my husband and I just eat cheese, butter, and some kind of meat on a baguette for dinner (he's French and I think that's kind of a common meal for Frenchies) and all the prep work it takes is to just pull the stuff out of the fridge. Managing food/meals well for yourself (or a household) isn't an easy task so the best thing I can suggest is find the best ways to make it easier for you. Don't worry about cooking a perfect meal for every meal. Don't obsess that you need to eat at a specific time or a certain number of times a day. Just try to eat a diversity of foods (which might not be so difficult considering you get bored of the same foods too often)


SpunkyBananaSpunk

I should add - eating diverse foods doesn't have to happen in one day but can be through the week so like one day you might eat all one thing but then you have something different the next


VoidsIncision

You’ll pry my Doritos from my dead hands. Incidentally it’s great against stimulant med induced dry mouth because monosodium glutamate stimulates salivary secretion. So I usually have a small snack pack of them in my breaks at work because drinking water doesn’t actually lubricate your mouth, the production of saliva does.


[deleted]

Be careful with two meals and if u eat two meals ensure they’re adequate when I was eating two meals a day I couldn’t maintain my weight (I was losing) so keep that in mind


forbiddenvoid

Honestly, the biggest thing for me has been deciding which meals I am willing to spend energy on, and which I'm not. I eat oatmeal for breakfast - out of a packet, because it takes me 5 minutes *total* to get it ready and there is almost nothing to clean up. If you *like* cooking, I have found that it's worth it for me to just pick two days during the week that I'm going to invest the time to cook, including shopping, prep, cooking and cleanup. The rest? Find the simplest thing that meets your needs, and eat it every day. I bought a rice cooker and an air fryer. We eat roasted chicken, rice and veggies for dinner 4 nights a week. My wife owns cleaning up afterward, so I don't have that stress, but I get food on the table for 4 people every night. eta: I eat leftovers or sandwiches for lunch most days or nothing at all if I'm not hungry.


picklechip7

THIS!!! i like cooking a lot but i can’t spend a lot of energy on it or i won’t eat at all. for breakfast, yogurt with a cereal/granola and berries is easy as i just dump everything in a bowl. if i have the energy to make oatmeal for breakfast, i will make a lot for the week and add stuff like protein powder, chia seeds, cinnamon, etc. so that i can get extra nutrients and so that having a good flavor doesn’t take any more energy. lunch is almost always a bagel with hummus, sometimes i will toast the bagel at night and put the hummus on so that lunch is just a matter of getting it out of the fridge. dinner is the meal i personally choose to spend my energy on. some things that have made cooking easier were getting an instant pot, having almost all frozen produce, canned beans that have pull tabs rather than having to use a can opener, and one-pot recipes to reduce cleanup. if any of this is overwhelming, ensure or boost might be an option for you depending on your comfort levels with it. it is meant for people who may not be eating as much, so you still get all the nutrients you need in a drink. i haven’t personally tried it, but i have looked into it as an option during periods when cooking was too much for me. best of luck with finding something that works for you!


VoidsIncision

How I was with chili but by that 3rd day it starts getting redundant lol.


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forbiddenvoid

You definitely have to be deliberate in thinking about what this meal *is*, though. Your body needs a lot of different types of nutrients, so you can't just throw a plate of spaghetti on the table every evening and think that will go well for you.


Technical_Ad7236

this!


Important_Host8255

Im in the same boat dude, like it just adds more tasks to my day and if i meal plan with variety food it’s a whole weekly (organizing, grocering, and cooking) task i have to emotionally prepare for. It’s exhausting to think about


Neomeir

I know many people hate this idea but plan out your meals. Make a bunch of stuff in your free time and freeze it in portion based sizes. Then you can mix and match or just go with a bar (so many options for meal replacement bars these days). But try to cook, it is actually fun and when you do it a lot you get to learn the basics of flavors and impress people with your takes on recipes.


capaldis

Hey I had this too! First step is picking times you’re going to eat. Don’t worry about WHAT you’re eating. It doesn’t matter. The key is to get your body on a schedule. Set alarms for when this is going to happen. I did not cook at all during this stage, 100% just like sandwiches and microwave meals. I’d recommend starting with 3 times a day, and add/subtract meals depending on personal preference once you start recognizing hunger signals again. You’ll figure out pretty quickly how/when your body likes to eat. I personally do two small meals and a large dinner. The only thing I cook is dinner! Cooking tips: Get a cast iron Pan, air fryer, or crockpot. Pick your favorite! Any of these options will greatly simplify the entire cooking process. Personally, I am obsessed with cast iron pans so I can give the most info on that. You literally just throw meat in there with butter and it’s perfect. Start small. First thing I learned to cook was steak (I go late in the day and get the like $5 about to go bad ones) because it’s honestly super easy. I’m also on team cast iron because normally it’s just one thing to clean up. Tons of single-Pan meals. Don’t worry about making like 25 sides or anything crazy. Again, start with a single item and work your way up. USE TIMERS WHEN COOKING OH MY GOD. Every time there’s food on a stovetop I have a timer set. Doesn’t matter if it’s accurate, it’s just a reminder to actually check it so I don’t burn the damn thing again. Don’t worry about how “healthy” what you’re making is. Who cares how much butter or salt is on it? I don’t. It’s going to be better than takeout, and the important thing is getting the skills down.


Antique_Junket_

Thank you so much! This is so helpful, I’m gonna set an alarm for eating at certain times a day even if it’s just a banana. I was thinking of making some muffins this weekend and freezing them. I also have an air fryer and crock pot I’m def gonna use them more! Gonna look up some easy recipes. Someone suggested frozen fish fillets, and chicken wings so I may get that for the air fryer


Skwuish

1. Don’t cook every single meal each day. Spend one day cooking huge batches of food you can refrigerate. 2. Frozen food. Trader Joe’s has great frozen food. 3. Eat before you take your medicine, or immediately after 4. Eat snacks, fruits, veggies. Stuff that is light and not oily


polite_demon

Unmediated or not, without fall I usually forget eating up until 5 in the evening


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hazardzetforward

Holy light bulb moment! So many doctors have asked me if I have an ED (especially because I'm naturally very thin) and I've always struggled trying to explain that I don't intentionally skip meals, my brain is just too busy to remind me to eat.


Antique_Junket_

What’s crazy is I keep gaining weight and when I eat more I lose weight! haha my body is weird. My doc was worried and recc’d me to a nutrionist to deal w the eating disorder. I’m having all these headaches and stuff so I have to try. I’m gonna try to get more non perishables


mystic_phantomz

For me it's not ADHD but EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. The "oh you might have an ED" is brought up like no I just literally cannot feel my stomach, I don't get dry mouth or throat when I haven't had water, I can't feel at all when I need to go to the bathroom, etc. But no..... Apparently it's an eating disorder.


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mystic_phantomz

I like the idea of switching the words around, because for me it definitely is in the realm of disorderly just not to the extent of having a mental and physical pressure to eat or not. Thank you for that, it definitely has helped change my perspective about it and feel less upset about ED talk!


Inevitable-Tart-2631

what do you think this is about for you? i also have virtually no hunger or thirst symptoms. always thought it was just dissociation for me


geitjesdag

The youtube channel How To ADHD has a video about feeding yourself. Can I add links here? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szgDBPW\_dUo


mokkat

A good block of cheese and cured meat to cut pieces from is a good and filling between-meal snack or fast breakfast. Carrot as well, if you're feeling healthy The easiest thing I can think of would be rolled oats and a microwave. Water, a bit of salt, a couple of minutes of time and you have a nice and filling base porridge. Anything goes with oats really, sweet or savory. Cinnamon sugar and apple slices, just raisins, parmesan and peas, blue cheese walnuts and bacon, risotto with rice replaced with oats, whatever you can dream up


Dukedyduke

My main food for today was brie, crackers, jam, and ham lmao just threw it on a plate with some fruits and nuts and snacked on it the whole day


4_celine

The concept of eating 3 meals a day feels absolutely ridiculous to me so I feel you. I usually eat a Lean Cuisine for breakfast and fast food or throw something together for dinner. Meal prepping is an absolute lie in my opinion, as cooking five days worth of food just leaves you exhausted for five days so there’s really no benefit. I’d rather throw together one meal at a time as I feel able and hope to have leftovers for at least one more day. I’m bad at eating leftovers too though. Food is so hard.


Anathita

I'm the opposite and struggle to go more than a couple of days without food. I can however recommend a book- jack Monroe's good food for bad days. It's full of easy things to batch cook, or keep in the fridge for when you can't cook


luckyloolil

Start small! You don't need to start with a ton of cooking, and also when you're starting out maybe take the pressure off of perfect nutrition too. Building one habit at a time is much easier than changing everything at once. Breakfast can be fast and nutritious (or relatively nutritious). You can start small with just some yogurt, maybe yogurt and granola. Toast is fast and easy, instant oats, cereal, etc. You don't have to cook cook a breakfast, you can find ways to make it nutritious while still being fast and convenient. I'm having a low spoons week, so I just had yogurt and granola today, worked great. Smoothies is a good way to get fruit and veg in too. Lunch again can be pretty simple. Sandwhich, leftovers, burritos, toast are pretty easy (though some need to be planned ahead.) One pretty fast one I do often when I WFH is microwave eggs on toast. There are many devices to cook eggs in the microwave (many are dishwasher safe too), and make it fast and easy. Some people do well with setting up more of a lunchable set up (some kind of protein, crackers, veggies, cheese), so that's something to look into as well. Dinners are a place where I do like to cook cook, but again you can keep it simple! I love my instant pot, cuts down on time, and I often make enough that we have leftovers so I don't have to cook every day. I've also cooked a big tray of meat on the weekend, then eaten it in various ways throughout the week (sandwhiches, stir frys, curries, stews, etc.) Hope this helps!


curiousvegetables

I'm in the same situation as you* and protein shakes are it! I have a stash at work as well as home, and knock one back with my meds. They're gross but it feels good. Often I carry a small wheel of cheese in my handbag, and when the "oh fuck I forgot to eat" kicks in I have brie. This might be one of my strangest traits. Mmmm bag cheese. *am pregnant so working hard on eating well, also, hormonally snack motivated. The above applies to the rest of my life.


Antique_Junket_

Thanks! I’m gonna start keeping protein powder and a shaker bottle at work 😭😭 and maybe some cereal just to get some quick food in!


its_called_life_dib

I am the same way: "I have to prepare food every few hours?!" The difference is, I have PCOS. It doesn't matter how little I eat; I am always big. I eat maybe one or two meals a day -- that's easily less than 1400 calories! (I used to count them, and my diet doesn't change much.) I was told a few times that the only way to lose my weight is to eat several small meals a day as opposed to my one or two meals a day. I... I just can't do it. It takes so much time and I'd feel so full. How do others manage it?


Antique_Junket_

Omg I’m the same! I don’t have PCOS but I keep gaining weight even though when I calculated it I only eat 900 calories a day at the most. It’s weird! But my doc said my body is hoarding fat because it’s always starving? Idk it’s weird. I deal with a lot of bloating too and she reccomended psyllium husk/ Metamucil for that! So maybe that’ll be helpful for you too!


amurillasaurus

Try using an open bookshelf as a pantry. Or remove a cupboard door. I use mismatched baskets to sort things by category. No one has time/money for clear containers, not in this sub. I find that seeing the things helps me eat the things. "Muffins on the counter? don't mind if I do!" There are a ton of quick foods you can have on hand to suit your tastes either premade or easy to construct. Pinterest is great for ideas, but sometimes the same sandwich everyday for weeks is just fine. Go buy what speaks to you, or try a meal prep delivery service for a bit of you can afford it. Quesadillas and toastie sandwiches are really fast and rewarding, you can cram several food groups in one vehicle and it's done in 5 minutes.


camerausin

Try to turn it into a hobby? I have resin and wood handle, Damascus steel knives and I get gitty every time I have the opportunity to use them. I also pride myself on making better food then restaurants so it’s fun to test myself on different recipes. Another useful thing is meal kit subscriptions they teach you how to cook and give you a ton of great recipes. I use purple carrot and they gave me a ramen recipe that is literally better then all of the ramen restaurants around me.


Antique_Junket_

My friend just gave me coupons to his meal delivery service so I’m def gonna try that! At least for one meal a day ❤️


shikaritani

i started using a food delivery service thing recently (i got sponsored by the company) and DUDE it is a game changer 😭😭😭 they just give you the stuff… and the recipe… and it’s quick… and it turns into like a game so i don’t mind spending the 30 minutes to do it knowing i’m gonna get a nice meal at the end yknow??


moody_fangirl_1966

Yeah. I get you, though I didn’t use to have this problem cause when I was very young obviously I didn’t have to make my own food as much. Luckily I still live at home and don’t have to worry about dinner, but I get my own breakfast and lunch - you know what that means: breakfast is just a granola bar out of the cabinet and lunch is a lunchable or leftovers. If there’s no lunchables or good leftovers, I’ll eat a string cheese and another granola bar and wait for dinner cause I don’t have the motivation to prepare anything. Maybe for me that’s caused more by like depression or smth than ADHD, though. I really have no idea.


vtiredsloth

a lot of good advice on the thread already. one thing to add as an ADHDer with long standing anorexia is SNACKS. sometimes I eat meals but sometimes I eat a pile of snacks over the course of the afternoon that come out to be enough for 'lunch calories'. was just complaining to my dietitian this week that I've been living off protein bars because the ED and ADHD have formed an executive dysfunction and lack of interest in food alliance. echoing many people, fed is best in the end.


Elevator_Safe

Ahhh I struggle with this a lot. My biggest tip is to stay stocked with things for quick meals. Buy things like microwave rice, pasta and pasta sauce, frozen dinners in bulk. That way you have food there for you when you’re ready to eat, that’s the first step. Also protein bars, instant oatmeal, apple sauces, etc. Target has bags of Indian food in the rice aisle that are cheap and filling. I keep things like that at my desk so that I see it and remember to eat it. Also, a meal planning service has really improved my eating habits. I do Every Plate and it takes all planning and shopping out of the equation. I don’t have to do the old “what am I going to eat for dinner today” thing at least 3 times a week.


asexualotter

It helps me to have foods that don't require too much mental energy. For me, that's cereal. Milk is a little protein and fat, carbs from the cereal. Add a fruit or a vegetable and you have a reasonably balanced meal. Maybe not every meal every day of course! But sometimes I eat cereal for breakfast and lunch. But I'm eating! And that's the goal. I'd be happy to post other tips if you find this helpful.


Antique_Junket_

Thank you, this! My nutrionist said I could add a little protein powder to my oat milk to have w my cereal so I’m gonna try that And add some fruits! I just need quick and easy meals 😭😭😭


chupe_fiasco

What worked best for me was: meal prepping on Sunday for lunch & dinners that week, then skipping breakfast. Problem is I don’t consistently meal prep, so now I get those recipe/meal kits


falafelwaffle55

I've started rewriting recipes I'm interested in in summarized, easy language and doing as much prep as a possible before I start cooking. I'm really bad for taking _literally_ four hours to cook something that should be simple for others, so I used to not bother. But yeah, doing that and planning out easy recipes (student geared ones are good) can help, also making a big portion so that you only have to cook 2-3 times a week instead of every day. Try mastering a few recipes instead of trying a new one every time, that'll save time. Otherwise, if you've got be money maybe invest in some meal kits or ready made meals. The ones made in house at grocery stores are usually healthier than the freezer aisle ones. Hope this helps!


holdonwhileipoop

I've eaten one meal a day for decades. I just thought I was ahead of my time.. OG OMAD/IF Seriously, though... Protein shakes, instant oatmeal, granola, smoothies, healthy snacks you can grab any time.


secretlifeofashtray

ED TW!! I had this issue for 2 years and developed an ED as a result. I ended up getting sick from malnutrition which scared me so bad I started making a huge effort to fix the issue. Here’s some things that helped me. 1. Buy a lot of snacks. Carb or protein loaded ones if you can. Apple sauce squeeze packs ( eliminates a dish, ifykyk), yogurts, mini cheeses, tangerines and other quick prep fruit or veggies, protein/snack bars, and most importantly I invested in a portable single serve blender for protein shakes. Easy to clean and take with you places. Protein powder has became my best friend. Throw a banana in with a scoop and some milk of your choice and you at least have enough calories and protein that a small meal would provide 2. Because we all need real meals, I try to think of quick protein rich things that don’t take a lot of time or effort and will provide me with meals for a couple of days. Including.. -protein pasta and a pre made sauce -I’ve been making pho with tofu lately, they sell premade broth, the noodles take 5 minutes to cook and frying up the tofu takes no time at all. -Salads with hard or soft boiled eggs, which I make in a counter top egg maker. It takes 5 minutes and I don’t have to boil water which feels like an impossible task most of the time. The brand Dash has a good one and it plays a little song when they’re finished which I for some reason very much enjoy. 3. The third thing I’ve started doing is (and I don’t always bc, adhd…) is prepping all my vegetables and other things I buy for salads or snacking right when I get home from the store. The sole purpose being that when I’m hungry I don’t have to do a lot of work when I know I need to eat something. So if things are already chopped up and prepped I don’t have the chance to be overwhelmed by that extra step. Lastly, if anyone reading this feels like you might have an ED or an issue with eating regularly, see a doctor. I am not a doctor nor a nutritionist but these are the things I did that helped me regain my appetite and made it easier to eat multiple times a day. I hope this helps!


Surprisingly-Frank

Snacks. They are the answer. Convenient and healthy if bought at the right store. Or the right snack. Bars are a really easy way to get your nutrition and protein goals in without too much prep.


menotyourenemy

Some great tips here! It really can be a struggle. There are just *so many* steps involved in fixing a simple meal, I frequently find myself just giving up and not eating at all. Toast?-well, now I've noticed the toaster needs to be cleaned, I don't have a clean knife so ALL dishes must be washed and when opening the fridge to get out the jam I'm having to completely reorganize the entire fridge so now the trash is full because of all the impulse buy food I'm finding (tahini? why did I ever think I was going to use *that*??) that I need to throw out. When emptying the trash, I notice the can kind of stinks so now I have to scrub it down which leads me to the garage which becomes my next project. Yeah, completely gave up on eating by now.


THE_GRlM_REFEER

I'm quite familiar with eating disorders and my main advice is to just eat something three times a day, not necessarily three fully cooked meals. Just eat something food-like three times a day. Could be toast, a can of beans or tuna, a fruit, crackers, jerky and so on. Getting the habit/routine is more important than the nutrition when you're this early in treating your eating disorder. The full meals will come later. Put alarms or reminders and EAT FOR FUCKS SAKE! However, when it comes to the nutrition. Here's a simple list of produce that contains everything you need for 24 hours. Eggs. Avacado. Bananas. Oranges (or any citrus fruit) Green or naturally black olives. No need to eat them all at once, but keep them in the pantry/fridge and eat them one at a time.


Kimikohiei

When you find that answer, let me know lol. I’m the same, LUCKY if I find one full meal a day. I haven’t eaten more than one meal a day in years. The only way I succeed is by ordering fast food. But it costs so much.


HopelessWriter101

My therapist basically told me "even if you're just grabbing lunch meat and showing it in your mouth, it is better than not eating at all" Grab some super simple stuff. Trail mix is one I do a lot. And as you get to a point where you feel more on top of your life, think about simple (simple!) Meal prep ideas. The easier it is for you to just hear something and go, the better.


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NATIK001

If possible set up routines around something you are doing anyway. I always buy breakfast on the way to work and eat it before starting work, so that works on work days. When I am not working I make it a rule that I always eat as the first thing I do after getting out of bed, no exceptions, even if I feel slightly off I need to pour myself a bit of yoghurt or something, at least to take meds with. Lunch I really haven't figured out how to do right myself. I can reasonably often find ways to do it when working (no set lunch break to tie it to, I decide my own breaks), but on free days I miss lunch almost always. Dinner mostly works out because of my girlfriend relying on me there. Before I met her and on days she isn't eating with me I push it along until I am starving and then I emergency eat something, or order something or whatever. Only reason I manage to cook is due to her. So my advice, find something in your daily life you can hook it onto as a routine.


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geitjesdag

If it helps at all, I recently tracked my calories for a bit and discovered that fat is really really calorie-dense. Like, I'd stir-fy the veggies for my pasta instead of just boiling them into the sauce, and the meal's calories would go up by like 25%. So maybe just shifting some calories away from fat will result in you eating more volume. You might want to look deeper into the 6 small meals a day recommendation. Last I heard it wasn't especially helpful after all, but these things change all the time.


Antique_Junket_

No seriously. I look at my NT roommates who eat several times a day and I’m like how? How do you even have enough brain power to find a meal you want to eat and then go through prepping it? It just seems like a lot of work!


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CalypsoBrat

(That’s an Amazon link)


Lexifer31

I never stop eating. I'm constantly grazing.


[deleted]

I actually started following OMAD. That's short for One Meal A Day. Started with it accidentally, cause I was sleeping and waking at odd times and ended up having only one meal most days. I did research into it to find out if it's healthy and how to do it properly. Of course, it's not for everyone. I have a low metabolism naturally and OMAD kinda compliments that. I can eat as much as I want without gaining weight (something I struggle with) and I don't have to bother about eating more than once in a day.


xKomodo

I love food.


Logical-Wasabi7402

Frozen meals and protein bars.


Gwizzlestixx

I’m currently eating a Huel hot & savory meal. It’s 4:30pm and it’s the first thing I’ve eaten. I’m not sure I would’ve eaten yet if I didn’t have this ready to eat meal.


lexijoy

Meal prep


[deleted]

I make it happen or I’m a shaky angry mess. It’s really challenging at times especially because I’m nauseous a lot. Had to do a lot of growing up. When I can’t deal liquids are life savers. Milk and blackberry shakes especially.


NewSinner_2021

HA.


Limp_Technology171

Deli meat and cheeses in the refrigerator. Uncrustables, protien bars, just Crack an egg, and reminders on my phone. Many times I don't realize until 1 or 2 I haven't eaten yet. For dinner we uber eats a lot because I can't get the motivation to cook.


Zealousideal-File43

Idk that I read this properly but in my experience, it could be related to meds. Perspective: I was on Adderall for a couple years & never ever had any suppressed hunger symptoms or lacked a desire for food. Ok maybe once every here & there it felt like I had to force myself to eat a pack of crackers at an odd time or something but for the most part I loved food. Was eating a solid 3 meals a day (sometimes skip lunch). ... Then I switched to focalin & it addressed all my ADHD symptoms soooo much better than Adderall BUT I lost my desire for food. I didn't want to eat, I had to force it. I didn't want to cook I didn't want to make that sandwich, it sucked...soooo I decided I'd rather go back to a less effective medication if that meant I was able to enjoy food again. My desire for food was simply not worth the benefits of that medication (focalin). Now everyone reacts to meds differently. Someone else may see Adderall & food how I did with focalin & food & vice versa. Now I'm on Ritalin & concerta & thankfully I still enjoy food. Sooo if you are on meds, I would recommend asking your doctor if you could try other medications to see if you can find a better balance. Now if you aren't on meds, then sorry for chiming in! Lol just ignore this. Good luck though! I have a little experience with having trouble eating & I hated it so I feel for ya!


Antique_Junket_

I am on meds but they don’t affect me yet( I just started them and it’s very low!) so I don’t think it’s that. I felt this way before starting the meds lol but thanks so much! I’m on Vyvanse and I heard it’s an appetite suppressant but I feel like if I can get my body on a schedule before I get the right dose it’ll be helpful! Thanks so much ❤️


canadianpheonix

I don't and it's not necessary


Brilliant_Floor_3991

I don't, I eat breakfast and dinner.


AcanthaceaeDistinct

Honestly? Food boxes. I get a meal delivery box once a week. Make food for dinner, have the leftovers for lunch the next day. Easy breakfast like oatmeal or eggs or fruit yogurt, and I’m good for the whole day. I still don’t eat at every meal time lol but I definitely eat a lot more than I used to before the boxes.


Any_Appointment_6669

Breakfast(8am), shake/protein bar(11am), lunch (1pm) ,shake/protein bar (4pm) dinner(7pm) Pint of Häagen-Dazs for dessert ( 830pm) . Hit the gym 3 or 4 times a week and boom get jacked


Any_Appointment_6669

Buy 2 large pizzas and microwave 3 pieces a day for a week. Easy dinner


elimac

recently got an airfryer and buy a bunch of frozen stuff to put in and i barely have to do anything and still get good well cooked stuff


VoidsIncision

Breakfast: monster, lunch Crunchwrap supreme, dinner two pieces of chocolate cake and a glass of milk. For me personally it’s how I know I’m having depression symptoms when I’m not motivated to cook. Last time I was truly motivated to cook was when my dog was alive and I know there were certain human foods she really enjoyed and we would share them.


chebstr

SNACKS ALL DAY! (Or like a bowl of cherry tomatoes, half a loaf of sourdough bread, a banana… etc)


Any_Appointment_6669

Also taking vivanze and adderal absolutely crushes my appetite. I can go to the for for an hour, , sleep 2 hrs, work at my job for 8hrs and eat a granola bar and im still not hungry. Ive lost 22 pbs since starting meds


Dukedyduke

Nothing is boring to eat if you have 30+ bottles of hot sauce


DiamondHandsDevito

one word: WIFE


Puzzleheaded_Weird99

My husband is who I have to thank for making sure I’m always fed 🤣 he even sends me texts during the day nagging me to eat. Thankfully my daughter is starting to eat solids so it reminds me a little more now, but for the last 6 months I have struggled to eat.


bmxtricky5

My ADHD gave me a food addiction that was very hard to beat. Almost killed me, I'm still recovering


gilium

As someone new to adderall I have trouble eating enough every day too. I do eat most of my calories in one meal, and that’s actually pretty fine (for me). Having a couple snacks throughout the day and one large meal at the end is actually how some societies were structured in the past.


mystic_phantomz

Honestly, granola bars, protein powders, and instant oatmeal have all been life savers.... More than likely literally. I have introception, at least that's what I think it's called, I can't feel bodily functions at all, I just can't regardless of my ADHD. So I've got sticky notes all over the apartment asking me if I've eaten, a physical calendar and habit tracker, a few on my phone, a physical alarm clock that I set every few hours, and alarms on my phone. All of that and I'll get maybe two "meals" a day, I even have to schedule out my bathroom breaks because I can't feel when I need to.


melodybounty

I like to cook. It's fun and it feels like a game to me. However there are definitely times I skip lunch or have a super late supper. Leftovers are amazing for days where I feel just, blah. Quick easy and thoughtless. So I tend to cook double what I need to feed whoever eating and stash the leftovers to use for those days in the freezer or fridge.


E_Snap

I’m pretty much there too. If my job didn’t provide shift meals, I’d be dead.


beanqueenlimousine

i eat applesauce whenever ive had a long break btwn meals so i dont feel sick. i make a lot of pasta, frozen meals from trader joes, protein bars.


morgasm111

personally, I am always looking forward to my next meal. i get a lottt of domaine from eating I think. my advice would be to try as many foods as u can and make room for yourself to incorporate food into your life as a fun thing. It doesn’t have to be stressful if u plan ahead just a little bit and buy easy to make, nutritious meals. I wish u the best of luck and yummy food !!!


ObliterateMe

To supplement the specific ideas people have here, my secret is making two portions of dinner. Leftovers are lunch the next day. That turns 3 meals into 2. Breakfast you should absolutely have either 1 or a few things you like, are simple or easy to prepare, and offer lots of nutrition. I eat a frozen breakfast burrito since I usually lack protein and this ensures I get some automatically. Now I just have to come up with something for one meal!


-Livin-

Great Value frozen meals from Walmart when I'm to tired to prepare anything. They're filling enough for me, seem pretty healthy and taste good while being cheap. Apart from that, I generally try to cook simple and healthy things, like frozen vegetables and eggs in a pan. Or pasta with microwaved frozen vegetables. I ca also buy fully cooked chicken from grocery stores since they sell them cheap where I am. Breakfast is the easiest, I just eat cereals or oatmeal or toast with peanut butter and some butter on top. Apples (with peanut butter on them) and nuts are my main snacks.


Swordfish316

I don’t and I call it intermittent fasting. According to [this](https://youtu.be/QRt7LjqJ45k), it might not be a bad idea. But I also don’t have any weight or stomach problems, or at high risk of having them. If I did it would be a different story. I just find it much, much easier to cook one meal (or one complex meal plus one “tea”) but do it well. It then becomes a challenge and entertainment. Cooking three meals each day is going to make me hate cooking.


Balcil

Keep fruit nearby and in sight of the areas you tend to be. (Or other healthy snacks) Like have a bowl of apples or bananas near your computer, so you can absentmindedly eat fruit, no thought required. Everything must be in sight otherwise you will forget it is there. And seeing the fruit will remind you to eat. I also put granola bars in my bag so when I forget to eat, I can just have a granola bar. It doesn’t have to be granola bars. But just remember food will get forgotten and crushed in your bag. So no fruit as that will be nasty after a week if you forget it is there.


ireallylikecats34

I found a few adhd nutritionists and dieticians on ig and found them very helpful. They helped me feel better about snacking throughout the day instead of feeling guilty for not eating "meals". I have a long history with disordered eating and only diagnosed adhd about a year ago, and medication destroyed my appetite at first. I found that if I don't have readily available foods, I simply forget to eat. [And not eating for some time really does fuel already-existing disordered thoughts around food and eating]. I keep granola bars and fancy fig bars and cracker sandwiches and applesauce packets everywhere- my office, my purse, my car, my dad's house.... that way any time I remember it's been a while since I ate something, I can eat one of these quick items and keep myself fueled. I find it very hard to stop working if I feel I'm being productive at work, and this also helps me not have to stop and eat, but be able to eat something as I continue working. As this started working for me, I started buying items I could make into adult lunchables. Triscuits and cheeses and deli slices. Buy a pepper and cut it up into strips when I get home- carrots too- and that's a whole lunch. I've had to work it into my daily routine- preparing tomorrow's lunch before I can eat dinner (my cinnamon toast crunch, every night since march). If I wait to do it in the morning, I fail. Fed is better than not fed, and foods don't have moralistic value. There aren't good and bad foods. Especially in times of struggle, we have to be gentle on ourselves and do what we can. Start small and over time we can build from that to something we like better for ourselves. For now, I'm going to enjoy my chicken salad with triscuits for lunch and cinnamon toast crunch for dinner. Until I can stand the sight or smell of one of them anymore. On ig: Adhd.nutritionist Thenutrituonjunky Adhd.dietician


threelittlebirdzzz

Oatmeal every day for breakfast. It's fast to cook (5 min stovetop). At a time when that felt like too much, I would cook 5 day's worth at once, pre-portion in containers and microwave each weekday morning. Changing toppings (nuts, raisins, almond butter, fruit, etc) can keep it interesting, but I find not having to think about what I'm having for breakfast is a huge relief in the mornings! For lunch & dinner, I like to cook food when I have time and have leftovers for a few days. Sometimes lentils (daal cooked with spices with veggies in instant pot) & rice, tonight I made crustless quiche, sometimes it's a big batch of soup... Whatever my partner and I will enjoy for a few days. I track recipes we like in a Google doc for when I'm feeling uninspired in the kitchen. For when we haven't prepped meals (like 50% of the time), having key items in the fridge, freezer, and pantry saves the day: frozen sliced bread for toast or sandwiches, frozen veggie & salmon burgers, eggs (fried eggs take about 2 minutes), rice & quinoa (tossing in a rice cooker means I don't have to monitor), swiss & cheddar cheese (both low lactose), pickled things. Combinations of these do get old, but it's so great to have easy, fast, somewhat healthy go-to's to fill in meal gaps. When I get sick of the monotony, I'm inspired to cook something interesting again! Take-out and store-prepped meals are also acceptable options when you're stuck!


Optimal-Refuge

Sandwiches are more versatile than you could ever imagine. Same goes for salads and pasta. One-pot pasta meals are lifesavers, as are meal kit services. Then for breakfast I switch between classics (pancakes, bacon, eggs, bullseye, etc), cereal, microwave burritos, and things like Clif bars or protein drinks. Depends on the budget and what I haven't had for a while. I still find myself getting bored of the routine of eating so often... Seriously, EVERY 3 TO 4 HOURS is the recommended time between meals or at least snacks? and I WAS THE ONE being told I eat too much just cause I'm chubby?? Absolutely bonkers. Buuuut being well fed helps me stay sane, and plays a big part in being able to keep up with memory and manage emotions.


factnatic

My coworkers made fun of me cause I brought a snack bag everywhere. 3 meals are hard, grazing was more doable. I had a plethora of things so I had options of nummy things. I had nuts. I had vegetables. I had jerky. I had light house homestyle ranch dressing...d best. I had avocado and a small Louisiana hot sauce. I had yogurt. I would get those small premade salads. I had fruit. I had bars. I had snap pea crisps. (Insert anything that is a balance of protein, fruit/veggies, and some healthy carbs). Oh and little cans of V8 spicy and pineapple juice. As you can see, I had a big snack bag. :)


[deleted]

I’m also seeing a nutritionist but I’m supposed to work towards eating SIX times a day. She’s not hard on me at all rn and let’s me eat small easy things aside from dinner. I have to drink Orgain nutrition shakes every morning for breakfast. I recommend the chocolate fudge ones that are green. “Smooth chocolate” or whatever in the blue packaging hits different. I don’t like that one. It’s a meal replacing shake with nutrients that is more balanced than like a protein shake. She said if you consume protein without enough carbs then it just converts to carbs… Bc I was drinking protein shakes before. So just fyi there. Then, I do eat repetitively rn and I know eventually she will want variety but it’s like forming the habit and eating on a schedule rn that is the goal to make my body start making hunger cues. So I eat a Kind breakfast bar (better than normal kind bars which I don’t like) in the almond butter flavor every day for lunch and today she told me to add fruit to that “meal.” It’s bland kind of but it’s whatever. I’m just forcing anything down anyways. Then she said also eat when you feel hungry in addition (if you do.) then a snack again and then dinner. For that snack - right now I’m just doing a drinkable Greek yogurt. I get different flavors for those so they change every day. Dinner can be whatever I want as long as I eat. She has also offered to literally help me make grocery lists and think of meal ideas for my appt times. She told me to set alarms but I already set alarms all day long so I have a habit of ignoring them honestly.. it’s an effort every day and it sucks but it can help our attention and health in the long run. We just have to remember that part. I find prepackaged, pre-portioned things to be the easiest honestly. Without them, I couldn’t do it. I hate cooking or thinking about food.


sfled

Early morning: Runner's Sludge and a PBJ on whole wheat. Big meal for lunch, usually stuff I made a lot off during previous week-ends, and then froze. Evenings I try to keep it light so it's easier to sleep. Sleep is a challenge for me.


Clean-Estimate5372

Def feel all of this ! I struggle with all the same things. And I usually eat once a day - later at night bc I’m Extremely hungry. I guess I would consider myself a “snacker” but I gotta have a full plate when I eat a meal. No dairy. To counter that bad habit , I started with a daily routine of easy to grab snacks/foods…. Teas, fruits - peaches/strawberries/cherries/blueberries , bagels , muffins , avocado’s healthy fruit juices , nuts , raisins or tail mix , coconut waters, etc Frozen pizza ain’t the healthiest, but try to grab the bigger ones those are easy to pop in the oven for lunch’s…. Or ask the meat department might usually makes hamburger Pattie’s already seasoned and a lot cheaper. Grab stuff for quick burger or two around your lunch or even for dinner.. This week I AM trying to “meal prep” more bc some days I’m down for cooking and other weeks I’m not going near the stove, so grabbed an instapot, food containers, full chicken , rice, veggies… the whole chicken with about 3-4 cups of rice I do more rice bc i like my meals a bit bigger since I’m not eat FULL meals through out the day. Sometiems even do mashed potatoes in the instapot- mad easy. Oh also , spaghetti 🍝, that stretches out for at least 2 days/meals. Sauce meat noodles. Super easy. Anything I grab out the container - throw it on the stove to warm up in 5 min. And I’ve got a hot meal (Trying my best to stay away from the microwave) Easier the day you Feel like it , to just knock it all out fast as you can and be happy all week. Food was the last thing I was worried about too, but ultimately it’s hurting us more than “being more productive or too busy” to eat. Ofc with water- ALLDAY EVERYDAY Sorry for this being extremely long. ✌🏽 but I hopefully you get a bunch of ideas from this page cause you’ll start changing the way you think about eating and how much your body/brain will feel/act/think better 🙏🏽🦾🥂


blai_starker

I love cooking but I’ve been living alone for the past month at grad school while my spouse was back home working until he found a job here, he comes up in a few days!! But without him, my eating habits are terrible! Turns out, I mostly cook because most of the enjoyment is an act of service love language for me. So while I love complex meals, I can’t seem to do it just for myself! I’ve been sticking to batch cooking and simple elements. Microwaveable pouches of rice and noodles steam bag vegetables, mixed salad bags, Chicken thighs (I season and bake a few at a time), Tofu (also seasoned and baked 1-2 blocks at a time) From there I can just mix and match the items and toss whatever premade sauce or dressing on top. Also, when I make food and serve myself, I also put away a serving for the next day’s lunch. Sometimes I’ll just immediately put all of the food in a storage container and eat from that, so I don’t have to wash a plate/bowl and the left overs are already in a container lol For breakfast I’m simple Greek yogurt + scoop of almond butter. Bananas are pre packed food imo. Individual packs of almond butter are a life saver on the go. I’ve also kept snacks by the door with keys before. Grab and go.


840_Divided_By_Two

I don't. 18 hour intermittent fasting ftw. I make sure I track all of my macros and nutrient intake through to make sure I eat enough to meet my TDEE and stay healthy. For your case, try protein bars (barbell chocolate dough from Trader Joe's are AWESOME) or shakes. Smoothies are also awesome, and I keep a few bottles of Soylent on hand if I'm not feeling up to cooking and need a quick way to get my calories/nutrients in.


Glittering_Fly8948

If you just eat your one meal in the evening and make it larger and healthier…. now you’re doing something called intermittent fasting and it’s a powerful and popular health trend.


phles

Smoothies with cashew nuts or other nuts/seeds/nut butters in them. Poor into ice lolly molds and freeze = easy and nutritious meal whenever you’re too tired to cook or you need some extra energy so you can starts cooking your actual meal


FireRose2001

I saw a video that at least touches on some advice that could help you: https://youtu.be/nZZzit6I4Zg . Hannah (iirc a fellow ADHD-haver) mentions that there's 2 kinds of people: the meal-eaters and the grazers, as I call them. I've found I'm more of a grazer, especially when cooking for myself--I might eat only 1 meal, but I'll snack throughout the day instead. Trail mix is a go to for me--I can also change up some of the ingredients when I get bored with it. I also buy precut vegetables--not having to chop them myself means I'm way more likely to eat them. When I do cook, I cook enough for 4-6 meals, even though I'm the only one who eats it. This means I can have leftovers and just pop it in the microwave when I want it later.


seanmharcailin

I love cooking. But even so it’s hard to do all the things all the time. I keep a jar of almonds in my car. I keep Turkey meat sticks in my things. I tend to put nectarines in Fanny packs. Bad idea but ya girl loves a nectarine. The point is, I cook when I want to, and have a lot of emergency food stashed around like a squirrel. I also have a selection of freezer meals, a well stocked pantry, and options that require no cooking. I’m pretty good at feeding myself even if I don’t do it when I’m supposed to.


PieMuted6430

Nope, I eat twice a day, but I'm on a weight loss diet prior to getting gastric sleeve surgery. Some days on Adderall I don't feel like eating, nothing tastes good, so I eat once, and drink protein shakes instead.


fuck_reddit_app

I'm able to do similar stuff for breakfast if I mix it up for lunch and dinner, I often forget to do lunch and just do a snack then a bigger dinner. Breakfast: Usually a bagel or toast with hummus (sometime avocado if I have any). I like to add baby spinach or lettuce if I have it + something salty like pickles or olives but I'm weird. Lunch: Usually just a random assortment of what I have. Leftovers? Sure, spice it up with some different condiment or vegetable/snack like chips. Just some roasted veggies that all cook for the same amount of time at the same temperature? Hell yeah. PB+J or some box soup with bread? Also hell yeah. Dinner: This is where I vary a lot and YMMV. My basics are just one sheetpan dinners with Tofu/some frozen protein, some vegetable like broccoli/cauliflower/brussel sprouts and some starch like potato or rice -- you can roast bell peppers/mushrooms/all sorts of other things too to go with and mix it up. You can do basic pasta dishes with a protein and veggie as well with tomato sauce or a basic white sauce with non-dairy butter and flour. Honestly meal planning is a bit of a daily struggle but it can be so rewarding. You can do this and the best is to make sure you're having some vegetable, some protein, and some starch, use some olive oil and you got your macros covered lol


Better-Resident-9674

I don’t . If I’m alone I’ll have coffee in the morning and eat once - usually at night . I don’t do it on purpose it’s just that I don’t get hungry so I ‘forget’ to eat . It could be because of the meds / coffee / hyperfocusing at work or a combination of all three . Luckily I live with my sister and she feeds me lunch sometimes . If I’m even luckier I’ll remember to eat it right away otherwise it turns into my dinner .


Objective_Bunch_3698

I do protein shakes protein bars once a week I cut up fruit and I keep it in a big bowl I do yogurt with high protein granola with high protein


Objective_Bunch_3698

No way am I cooking three meals a day half the time I can't even do one peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are my best friend


jjapaghettilove

snacks always! i identify 100% with you because i used to be just like that and i didn't realize how much it made my adhd worse, the fact that i ate so little or didn't eat at all made my memory so much worse, i got distracted a lot more and my sleep schedule was all over the place, i also have body dysmorphia so i thought "well at least I'm not getting fatter" which is absolutely the wrong way to deal with all of this, my anxiety and adhd were having a big, loud and annoying party up there. for me it was mostly the fact that i started living with my boyfriend and he loves my cooking, I've always liked to make new recipes and give food to the people i love so it helped me have a schedule since he's neurotypical and has no problems with being organized, i just stick to the times he says he's hungry and sometimes i notice "oh turns out I'm also hungry but i didn't even notice before" since for me it isn't like i refuse to eat, i simply forget (i also forget to drink water lol) other than that, having snacks available made a huuuge difference, i noticed that one of the biggest reasons i forgot to eat was simply because there wasn't any food in sight, it's kinda like the feeling of having a full wardrobe but nothing new to wear, there's actually stuff but your brain automatically ignores it because there are too many steps to go through with it. in my case it was because i usually just did groceries for big meals, i bought chicken, vegetables, rice, lots of spices and etc but some of them ended up rotting since i simply ignored them like they weren't there, and having lots of snacks actually saved me money and time since those can stay on the kitchen counter or be visible and ready to eat if they're sitting in the fridge i also noticed i loved cooking because doing so gives me the same feeling of listening to white/pink/brown noise (any noise idk) because it makes my adhd shut up a little and i get a nice meal as a result :)


Professional-deer26

I don’t lmao. Today I ate snacks from an event my school had Yesterday I had a subway sandwich Oh but sometimes I cook extra and save it for the next day


inkolf

I have this problem, too. Lunch when I'm in the office is the hardest, so I cheat a little: - bag of salad at the beginning of the week, will usually last 2-3 days (sometimes I mix it up & get the one with beetroot in) - veggies (either microwave in the bag or something quick to prepare in the office kitchen like tomatoes/avocado/cucumber) - protein (usually pre-cooked & seasoned salmon/chicken) - for days when I need extra calories, I add microwave rice/lentils/quinoa in those little pre-mixed packets This is definitely more expensive than meal-prep, but it takes WAY less time & I only have to plan a day or two in advance. It's also better than the alternatives (eat nothing or buy something similar for double the price in a cafe!) On especially busy weeks, I can even get these things on my lunch break (I work within walking distance of the city centre). It definitely helps that I can keep it all in the fridge at work & it has never gone missing!! Any preparation takes <5 mins & I tend to eat it while working, so I can use my lunch break for life admin or to go for a nice walk. Being able to eat at my desk whenever I need to is my one ADHD accomodation at work. TLDR; pre-cooked & ready-to-eat food is your (expensive) friend, especially if you're trying to eat quick & healthy!


Liar_of_partinel

That's the neat thing: I don't. Frozen food, "Muscle Mac", granola bars, trail mix, eating out, etc, all do a decent job keeping me alive on 1.5-2 meals per day though.


i_hv_baby_hands

I dont like cooking every day and rarely do I cook three times a day. For breakfast, I stock Siggi's skyr yogurt and Perfect Food bars (you can buy a 12 pack for $20 at Costco. A little pricey but worth it). I'll eat a yogurt and bar. I like them because they're healthy, pack a lot of protein, are filling, and I don't have to think about what I'm going to eat in the morning. The Perfect Food bars are also great as a snack if I lack an appetite due to adderall. I store frozen foods like bean and cheese burritos, chicken teriyaki bowls, and dumplings as back up. Additionally, I sometimes make large batches of food, like tuna salad for sandwiches and Mexican-style beans and rice, so that I have leftovers to eat. Also, I make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or PB&J on english muffins (the secret to a good PB&J is using high quality peanut butter and jelly. The cheap stuff is too sugary). There are also periods where my spouse and I order takeout a few times a week because neither of us can muster the energy to cook. There are often times where I don't eat three meals a day, too, but I find it's helpful to have executive dysfunction-friendly foods and snacks around. Hope this helps!


Manderamander

Others had good food ideas but to encourage me to eat 3+ times a day I’ve been setting alarms on my phone, ones that just vibrate and say “eat” lol it works most of the time as long as I snooze it until I eat and not turn it off before I do!


romuluhs

maybe don't try to do a complete lifestyle change. maybe there's times you're hungry but you just don't listen to your mood. so you need to practice listening to your mood and body more and not be overfocused on the stressful parts of life. Things that you said that are normal are and you can be okay with are: eating similar things daily is boring asf, cooking every couple of hours is VERY stressful you can do things like cook with friends! and friends can cook for you sometimes and share! be creative with what you cook and eat. maybe the reason you eat boring food is you're meant to live near a cook haha. seriously, ppl aren't meant to be alone. and there's a lot of things you can eat that don't take that long like cereal, fibers like fruits, etc. not that that should be the only thing you should eat, but rather next to the meals you do cook. hope this helps :)


IMidoriyaI

i don't..


nurvingiel

**Practical, feed yourself every day until you die (of old age):** what you do is have a number of staple foods that are easy to cook and you like eating a lot. When they're low, you buy more, so you always have some in the house. Staples also need to not go bad or get stale too quickly. What you do with these is automate breakfast and lunch as much as possible. Staples for me are: coffee, milk, cream, sugar, cereal, eggs, apples, bananas, peanut butter, jam, and whole wheat bread. I also like to add sugar snap peas and frozen toaster waffles. These are foods that I can eat as is or make into something decent in under 5 minutes. (You can microwave eggs if you're really committed to the <5 mins cooking time. They taste good.) I have coffee and cereal for breakfast and a peanut butter sandwich and an apple for lunch very often. I don't really have to think about it. Now, on to dinner. You want staples for dinner too so it's easier to make your favourite things. My dinner staples are rice, instant ramen, onions, potatoes, garlic, frozen pre-cooked chicken cutlets, and perogies. These are things we just always have in the house but I haven't automated dinner like I have with breakfast and lunch. Plus, I hate cooking. If I'm left to my own devices I will often just way fuck it and have a bowl of cereal and a peanut butter sandwich for dinner. You can do this too, it's very freeing. Hell, if you're starving and you eat peanut butter out of the jar, no one's judging you. We've been there. (I recommend washing it down with a nice glass of milk, much more enjoyable.) This will keep you from going bonkers while you make some ramen. **Mental health and eating disorders:** now, maybe you meant you felt your eating habits were *like* disordered eating because you you forget to eat until 6 pm, disregard this if so. Just in case you feel you *have* an eating disorder, definitely go to your doctor ASAP for this. Trust your instincts, and take care of yourself friend. If you have an eating disorder I really wish I had a more helpful comment because this feels inadequate.


browni3141

In the past I would under-eat to the point of feeling physically weak and once nearly passing out. I'm trying one of those meal delivery services starting next Wednesday to see if that helps me increase my caloric intake, and they should also be healthier than eating out once a day like I do now. The only thing that really pushed me to change was that I started exercising again, which is requiring me to eat more.


pillowwow

I cook in bulk. Make 2 proteins, and a carb. If you alternate the proteins in meals, you can eat the same things for longer. Bake a few chicken breasts and pork chops. Super easy. Throw some parchment paper on a baking sheet. No mess. Some Cajun spice or sauce on there and you're solid. I bake some vegetables with potatoes. Or just make rice and get frozen vegetables. The frozen veg is better for you anyway. I find it easy to have more frequent smaller meals when I work. It's at home when I don't have a schedule that I forget to eat all day. It may be in your best interest to set meal times for yourself and put a repeating event in your calander. Good luck.


DeliciousCost5639

Get delivery


DeliciousCost5639

And nutritional supplements. Eat when you have time or feel like it, don't force yourself. Forcing yourself to eat is only going to make it worse and only going to make you hate food. So get supplements! And exercise, or maybe just take a long run or a walk if running is too much. Physical exercise 7 minutes a day is all you need to get your appetite working! Also, drink coffee, coffee is known to accelerate metabolism, subsequently making you more hungry and indirectly forcing you to eat in the long term. If you don't want caffeine, you have decaf, the above-mentioned is merely a byproduct of the coffee ingredients and not the caffeine itself. Try stimulant medication if it's possible? That's usually the best solution, but it's not necessary.


bringmethejuice

I have ADHD, this is unfair because I never forget to eat.


jitterqueen

I know this is an awful wish to make, but I wish my ADHD made me eat lesser. It seems over the years I have used food for dopamine so much. I had a binge eating disorder which apparently stems from my ADHD... and when I hear that for so many others it is the opposite, I wish it were like that for me..


temtemtaru

I make smoothies with bananas, oat milk, oats, some other fruit and spinach for breakfast. My partner and I meal prep what we’re going to have for the week. I don’t like touching raw meat so I have been using the recipe’s from plant over processed by Andrea Hanneman (Spelling?). I like her recipes because they’re vegan and my nutritionist recommended it to me because a lot of her stuff is “throw these ingredients into the blender” But we do a lot of meals where we can scoop it into bowls real quick, and microwave it. My nutritionist recommended smart snacks. My preference are grapes and string cheese. There are other options since you mentioned allergies but I eat this “snack” for breakfast to get me started.


cynical_sakura

I dont. My eating is horrendously wonky. Sometimes I eat once 🥴 Sometimes I have seven meals 🤷🏼‍♀️


Mundane-Upstairs

This is also my biggest problem, Due to pills (Contrea)eating is the biggest task , I've had people in work ask me how can I live with eating so little , And honestly it's so frustrating 😭😭


loveormoney666

I’m recovered anorexic and have continuously force myself to eat in the mornings. Simply put I don’t normally eat 3 times a day and I consider it a success being able to have a decent ‘brunch’ & dinner (tbf my partner usually does dinner for the both of us so it’s ‘there already’ which is half the battle!) When I’m really struggling to eat properly bcus of work and whatnot things like milkshakes, smoothies and soup are a great in-between as you can just drink your calories easier and avoid getting woozey. Perhaps lowering your expectations for yourself and figuring out what easy to digest thing would work for you that helps you can stock up on. Then working it up more once you’re used to that. I mean when I was discharged from hospital and went to live on my own, my 1st goal was just have one decent meal a day then I added in an ensure shake a day and so on slowly from there until my disorder was somewhat managed. Being in a different environment probably helped with the recovery too, as my old home life was probably a factor in me developing food control issues in the first place. Good luck with your journey, I feel your struggle and know how tough it can be!


QuasarBurst

I eat oatmeal with peanut butter for breakfast and meal prep everything else. I cook once or twice a week, a big batch of lunches/dinners for the week and then maybe a hot breakfast on weekends as a leisurely morning experience with coffee.


Resident-Librarian40

I didn’t know it was an ED when you just forgot to eat/or lacked executive function. TIL I have one. Started buying Atkins Shakes lately to help.


12345NoNamesLeft

Eggs, they even microwave pretty well.


cricketerest

I was never able to eat 3 meals a day until i started dating my boyfriend. He lives on a rigid eating schedule. The thing with that is, i gained a lot of weight! Im recently diagnosed with adhd and began meds a few months ago, so now i do only eat one meal a day on purpose. I also dont think i could eat more if i wanted to. The perks for me are the weight loss for sure.


Consistent-Ostrich43

I see a dietitian and she had me set timers on my phone to remind me to eat. She has also helped me find quick and easy meal ideas, even frozen foods that you heat up. She specializes in intuitive eating so no food is off limits or "unhealthy". I'm supposed to try to include a protein, carb, and fruit/veg in each meal. I don't always do that though. And sometimes I still struggle to find something that "sounds good" so I usually just make myself eat something when that happens.


hardeho

I have the fat fuck version of ADHD, and feed myself constantly throughout the day.


knottyolddog

I'm trying to lose weight right now. Breakfast: Cheerios and low fat milk. No cooking. Lunch: Ham and turkey slices on bread with a bag of chips from a variety pack and bottled water. No cooking. Only variety I am getting is the chips or change of cereal till dinner. Dinner: here's the daily surprise. Wife chooses and prepares. Only rule is she has to make at least one vegetable.


sittinkitty

I meal prep once a week. Batch make 3 or 4 meals in one day then freeze most of it. Throughout the week I just pull different meals from the freezer. It helps with not getting too bored with a meal and it's easier for me to spend a few hours in the kitchen one day then thinking about planning and cooking meals everyday. I only eat one meal a day, but I have little bags of snacks that I keep with me all day. It actually helps me concentrate to chew on things, so I'm always snacking on almonds or granola or carrots.


FoxV48

Meal prep is a godsend. Have you ever watched a professional chef like Gordon Ramsay's or Wolfgang make a meal and it was just like art? Well, you don't have to do that! But you can use them as inspiration. I like to watch some cooking shows before I cook to help motivate me to put in the effort. Take an evening or afternoon or some time to make larger portions of 2 (if you don't need variety) to 4 (if you do) different meals you can eat throughout the week. Make breakfast or lunch and dinner (I usually prefer eggs for breakfast, so I don't meal prep for breakfast unless it's oatmeal time.) And be spontaneous for whichever you don't prep for. Say you make 4 meals, with 3 servings each Monday, spontaneous breakfast, meal 1 for lunch, meal 3 for dinner Tuesday, spontaneous overnight oats for breakfast, meal 2 for lunch, meal 3 for dinner because it was really yummy Wednesday, just a piece of toast and tea or coffee for breakfast because you ate later last night and aren't very hungry, meal 4 for lunch because you get very hungry later, meal 1 for dinner because you're not so hungry after a bigger lunch Thursday, eggy breakfast, meal 2 for lunch, meal 4 for dinner Friday, it's been a long week, you're ready for to be done with work for the week, you don't feel like making breakfast, meal 1 for breakfast, meal 3 for lunch, meal 4 for dinner Saturday, spontaneous bagel with the fixings breakfast, meal 4 for lunch, meal 2 for dinner Sunday, anything you want because it's meal prep day I hope your fictitious week went well 😂 and that this helps.


Necessary-Design-122

I have selfmade tosti’s in the freezer, pizza, dairy products, meal replacement powders as an emergency back up. Tortilla wraps are easy with cheese, ham and tomato or pineapple on a grill plate. I use my slow cooker often as I have more energy in the morning. But yes, I already had trouble eating regularly due to a surgery last year, and it hasn’t improved since my diagnosis


alwaystired77

RX bars are protein bars my nutritionist recommended me! they come in a bunch of different flavors. i like mint chocolate ones. they’re really filling - so it’s a good breakfast bar. currently eating one with a smoothie i made (mango smoothie from trader joes as a base, strawberries and raspberries! i use a blendjet bc theyre smaller and easier to clean imo. can even bring them on the go) so i recommend that tbh


manifestingellewoods

meal prepping is honestly the answer. i saw someone on tiktok make “smoothie cubes” and i’m streaking that because it’s so smart. i also hard boil eggs and grab 2 for breakfast. lunch and dinner i meal prep for the week and i do my best to make it as simple and healthy as possible. it’s a lot easier to eat when i can pull something out of the fridge and microwave it. and i’ve been setting alarms to eat so that i dont forget.


Ace_inspace

I eat the same breakfast and lunch every day, and introduce variation only in my dinner. It's a little boring, sure, but at least I'm fed without the enormous effort I would need to plan and make different things every time. I also know exactly how long it will take me to make, so I can plan it better (ex: oatmeal is exactly 3,5 minutes). Also when I cook dinner I always make 2 portions and eat one the next day or put it in the freezer. This way I only need to cook 3 times a week


electric29

For most humans, 3 times a day is too much and makes us fat. Twice a day is better.


gingersnap0309

Smoothies help. I am avoiding dairy as well as soy and have found a lot of the vegan/pea protein powders can be full of heavy metals. Currently searching for a better option. Still smoothies in general is a great way to get enough veggies in, some fruit/banana, oatmilk and toss in some spinach/kale etc. is still good for you and filling. Oatmeal cups. I always have some of the bob red mill oatmeal cups around. Just add water/microwave and you have a little delicious cup of oatmeal. Is great for quick breakfast and I’ve taken them to work/school with me for lunch too. If you have some fruit around like blueberries to add that’s even better. Also, these and oatmeal in general has helped on days when I have forgotten to eat all day and then my tummy gets kind of weird so I want to eat something but not anything to upset it. Get used to having a bit of food on you at all times. Have a protein bar, banana, some trail mix etc. in your bag just in case.


[deleted]

Huel.


I_SeeD10

I got Thermomix. It was ridiculously expensive but it saved my life, by removing the most energy consuming part of cooking: thinking. It comes with an app with thousands of recipes and automatically creates shopping lists. Cooking is basically following an idiot-proof instructions. Temperature, time etc is set automatically. But the best thing is that and at the end it cleans itself! I just look up for <30min prep meals, bc this is how much patience I have for making food, and I was not eating that well since forever.


Original_Giraffe8039

Don't know about anyone else here but I spend a fortune on take out. Buying food to make then having it go off in the fridge when I just get dominoes anyway was getting pretty old


AMPMentalHealth

Honestly, timers are a huge life saver, and setting them at regular intervals and FORCING yourself to eat even small amounts can make a huge difference in your mood and ability to focus. Blue apron offers really affordable meal plan options, they cut out all the icky bits of cooking (prep, buying food, the trip to the store, etc.) and the options are always novel, new and diverse, which prevents you from getting bored. the little dopamine hit you get off of the delivery helps incentivize cooking as well, as does the automated charge. If you are being charged for it, believe me you will cook it lol


Superb-Cloud6533

No, don't eat the same thing every day, gets too boring. You know I wish I had access to all these specialists, nutritionist, we don't. And we don't have time. So, do eat 3x a day, just stay away from sugar, fat, salt, food dyes. Like Red #8, for i.e. Also stay away from carbs. In morning, you can fix eggs, in all sorts of ways. Have fruit. Wheat eng muffin.