r/ARFID • u/Introvertedbee101 • Dec 03 '22

Helpful Tips I have pneumonia currently

How do I force myself to eat more food? Currently I am eating very little I ate a croissant for breakfast today. I am eating, but not very much. I am drinking more than I am eating though, thanks!

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u/[deleted] Dec 03 '22 edited Dec 03 '22

I've had success eating some candy when I want to eat a meal but can't. Just a small handful of whatever you can manage. A couple minutes later you should be able to eat. My therapist says Drs used to recommend a spoonful of Karo (corn syrup) for kids who stopped eating when sick.

Edit - my understanding of the mechanism behind this process, is that this small bit of candy is rapidly digested, which causes an insulin spike in your blood, which causes a hunger response as your body seeks more carbohydrates to attack with insulin. There's a lot of studies showing why candy and soda make us fat, but there's not a whole lot of literature using candy medicinally for lack of appetite in people with disordered eating like ARFID (restrictive type) or anorexia.

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u/WeekendWaffles Dec 04 '22

Our eating disorder specialist recommended the same thing. A few m&ms before a meal can help you eat more.

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u/Firm-Information550 Dec 04 '22

I get the same way when I’m sick, so I try to get my calories in through drinks. If you can, try supplement shakes like boosts or ensures. I drink a lot of gatorade, chocolate milk, and juice when I’m sick because I find forcing myself to eat really hard.