*Trigger warning* Eating for Health and Wellness

[Guest_1055]

I have been struggling eating and eating healthy foods over the last couple of weeks. I really do not want to go back further to how I use to eat, that is eating junk food, takeaways, copious amounts of chocolate, processed junk and comfort eating.

Finding it challenging to stay motivated to actually prepare what I know helps me feel better mentally, emotionally and physically. Plus I have been feeling overwhelmed with other stuff happening in my life, which somehow makes it more challenging. The old unhealthy comfort eating thing is coming back. And I think I am getting concerned and scared about that. I so much do not want to go back to how I use to be. I was so sick. Plus I now have some physical things not right in my body , so I need to be more careful and mindful of what I eat. ( Pre cancer cells , high blood pressure )

I was eating really well since Febuary of this year, it’s just the last couple of weeks I haven’t.

So I would like to use this thread to help me be accountable to Beyond Blue people. So like a diary where I can post and report what I eat. And also any healthy eating tips, motivating strategies to help eat better or anything related to healthy eating for our bodies including our mental health.

[Kanangra]

Hi everyone, I'm new here and I hope it's ok to post this. The current medication I'm on has left me with no appetite, which is really unusual for me. I just can't think of what to make for dinner? Nothing appeals to me. Any tips for healthy, probably fairly bland, meals would be very much appreciated.

Thank you

[Guest_1055]

How you going there Kanangra?

I think if I did not have much appetite, I would properly make some really wholesome soups. For me it would all be whole plants. Like no meat or dairy. I would also make smoothies using green leafy vegetables like spinach plus some fruit in it to make it nice. I would also eat a few raw nuts like walnuts. Maybe just a little porridge too.

At the moment I am into homemade hummus. That would be easy for you to eat I am thinking.

Not sure if that is any help to you.

[Kanangra]

Hi Shelley Anne, thank you for your suggestions. And it's nice to meet you.

At the moment I can't stomach and meat, chicken or fish so some vege soup sounds great.

Every couple of days I get a call from my local Community Mental Health Centre to see how I'm going. I spoke about my lack of appetite with the lady who called and she suggested yoghurt. Straight away that sounded appetising. So I went and got some along with some bananas to make smoothies.

Thanks again Shelley Anne.

[Guest_1055]

Nice to meet you too and you are welcome.

Your smoothie sounds good. I am unsure whether you are used to green smoothies. But maybe you could add some baby spinach into it. Just blend it in first to the liquid ( depending how powerful your blender is) you can hardly taste it. And you can just sip away.

[Guest_1055]

Ok so all this last month I have been struggling with emotional and binge eating. I go ok for a few days, then I don’t. I have a history of binge eating. Except for last year, where I enrolled in this nutrition and cooking course run by a health coach who was a chef. It helped me in many ways plus I felt accountable and supported. Often I would post up meals that I would eat. This was a private Facebook group. So I got to see pictures of other people’s meals as well. I am no longer in this group due to my money needing to go elsewhere.

[Guest_1055]

This is what I ate today.

Some toast with homemade hummus. The bread was not one I really should be eating. It was multigrain, but I definitely could taste white flour. White flour is not good for me.

Lunch... Large green smoothie with frozen pineapple, green grapes, green leaves and coconut water. Yummy

Dinner... Salad bowl of cos lettuce, ( lettuce a bit soggy, as I did not spin it enough in the spinner thing. I was in a hurry) This was topped with green beans, carrot, cabbage, cauliflower and garlic that had been fried in veggie stock only. Then finally I topped this with small roasted potatoes and a drizzle of cashew aioli. Oh yummy!

I also drunk a iced chocolate made on bonsoy and sweetened with maple syrup.

I have no issues drinking water. I do not drink tap water though as the one around here has nasties in it. We buy natural spring water from the mountains at the moment. I drink lots of water.

Also there was left over vegetables. So that will be part of my lunch or dinner tomorrow.

[Guest_2496]

Yum! I love the sound of your smoothie and coconut water is a great tip. Also I haven’t heard of cashew aioli! That sounds good.

I had - smoothie of banana, plain yoghurt and milk

salad (packet one called something like broccoslaw - basically dry slaw with a mix of veg) and tuna

veg soup (carrot, broccoli, cauliflower, garlic, shiitake mushrooms) and sliced pork

(I did eat some ice cream, and twisties during the day but my main meals are so much better than recently so it’s a positive step)

[Guest_1055]

Yes it sure is a positive step! I am so happy for you. The salad in the packet, is that like one from Woolies or Coles. I have seen a collection of different premade salads there. I can sort of imagine yours, like raw crunchy broccoli, carrot and shredded cabbage maybe? It sounds quite colourful.

I like all those things in your veggie soup except the pork.

And you ate heaps of veggies. So good!

The cashew aioli is a homemade one. I made it for the first time tonight. The bought one in bottles often has not good oil or fats in it. And sometimes refined sugars. I learnt all about this last year.

[Guest_1055]

Mmm I have eaten hot chips. Personally I know it’s not beneficial for me. It’s just when it’s overcast, and rainy they just taste better. I am not sure if I feel discouraged or not. But I do regret eating them all.

The only other thing that I have eaten today are grapes. And plenty of them. 😢

[Guest_1055]

Focus on progress not perfection is the quote going around in my head. And if you fall off the wagon, simply get back on it. And when you make your next meal, choose to have has many leafy greens as you can.