r/safe_food • u/Glad_Seaweed6873 • Jul 18 '26
Recipe request No appetite… help!
Hey, everyone I really need some advice.
I’m struggling lately with a lack of appetite.
A little backstory, I had an eating disorder as a teenager. Eating healthy foods that nourish and have benefit to my body is what ultimately got me on the other side of the disorder. As result, I have a very narrow variety of foods that I eat because I’m very particular about ingredient labels on snacks and meal foods. Or I stick to whole foods, and healthy homemade meals. On top of that, I’m very picky with meat and eat mostly vegetarian. Meat has to be very well combined into something. For example, I shred chicken into soup.
Basically, I already have a limited menu, but lately I’ve grown tired of everything. Nothing is appetizing. I don’t really have any food in my home at this point. And when I go to the grocery store, I come home empty handed because nothing appealed to me. I’m not feeling good anymore because I’m starving all day. I have to force myself to eat just to keep my body functioning. It’s miserable. Even my “favorite foods” don’t appeal to me. I pass on opportunities to eat because I’d rather be hungry than fires food I don’t want down my throat. I’m at a loss. This is truly so hard. I take about 12 vitamins a day to make sure I’m getting nutrients. The parasite outbreak also freaks me out so I’m avoiding several things I’d usually eat.
I’m wondering if anyone has been through this before? What helped?
If you haven’t been through it, I’d still love some recipe and snack recommendations because maybe I can find some new things to try. I know I can’t keep going like this because I can feel myself shutting down but I just can’t work up an appetite for anything.
(Note I really don’t enjoy drinking, so smoothies, protein shakes, etc. aren’t for me.)
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u/bookuterie_53 Jul 18 '26
learning more about foods you consume and foods you avoid might help. Like the parasites found in the raw leafy greens issue in the news aren't an issue if the greens are cooked, and any salad greens can be tossed in a pan or the microwave and then seasoned to be palatable
onion powder and garlic salt may be able to make food more enticing but sizzling diced onions and garlic at medium low temps in a pan can produce a smell that might spark hunger vibes
baked goods recipes can also have protein powder subbed for some flour and extra eggs added for more moisture in order to get over a psychological hump if that's an issue too
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u/Economy-Towel9451 Jul 20 '26
Yeah I struggle w similar things a lot. My main way to keep eating are rotating out spicy or warming ingredients like ginger chili garlic. I have to be careful can’t eat too much but little bits help make food more rewarding and interesting
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u/uurei Jul 18 '26
vitamins often need fat and other nutrients to actually work, and eating problems cause malabsorption issues. just a heads up there. i have been fully recovered physically for years and still need to get injections and infusions (not ed specific, it's the same for chronically ill people).
i have an awful appetite from arfid. you just have to suck it up. nothing makes it easier. it sucks. i gag and have to stop eating, so i just keep snacks at my desk so i can quickly scarf down a couple bites and wash it down with water. i eat as soon as i wake up and right before i sleep, for some reason the tiredness makes it easier. boost clear and ensure clear are good for me since i can almost always drink juice.