Am I eating right

I'm trying to maintain on a 1800 calorie diet. so here's what ive ate today.

Oatmeal w/ apple

100% whole wheat toast

3 egg whites & 1 whole egg

Handfull of nuts & almonds

Chicken salad.(Lettuce, mustard, chicken breast)

1 corn cob

 

 2 sugar-free jello cups- 60 cals each

I was wondering if my diet lacks anything?

Except for the corn, I don't see any other veggies. Try adding some veggies to your eggs to make a bigger, healthier, more filling omelette.

Otherwise, sounds good so far. But you are eating more than this, right? Because this definately doesn't add up to 1800 calories. :)

thOriginal Post by muttlover:

Except for the corn, I don't see any other veggies. Try adding some veggies to your eggs to make a bigger, healthier, more filling omelette.

Otherwise, sounds good so far. But you are eating more than this, right? Because this definately doesn't add up to 1800 calories. :)

 

Yes, I eat way more than this.

Later i'll probably have some more fruit(apple and/or orange), nuts, and maybe a yogurt.

And probably some more packs of sugar-free jello puddings.

while the sugar free jello cups are a good low cal snack choice, they really do not have much nutritional value to them. I think you should only have 1 or 2 a day, and find more healthful foods to fill the gaps... yogurt would be great and it is like the consistency of the jello cups since you seem to enjoy them, so like the same thing except with calcium and protein... and you could add some fruit and cereal and make a parfait! mmmm...

Your diet looks good..but I agree with muttlover about adding some more veggies. Some vegetables that I like to eat are spinach, carrots, squash, broccoli,and cauliflower. You could also add some beans to your diet too. They provide lots of good protein and fiber. Chick peas, soybeans, and black beans are really good.

I think this looks rather healthy, however, it seems that this is no where near 1800? Sorry, but I was eating those jello cups during my ED so I know how addicting they can be for snacks because they are only 10 cals a cup but seriously....you need to add more protein and fiber...oatmeal is great but how about adding the nuts or granola to it? I agree with carmen on the parfait, I love those.

Where is your dinner though??

Original Post by bobbyj:

I'm trying to maintain on a 1800 calorie diet. so here's what ive ate today.

Oatmeal w/ apple

100% whole wheat toast

3 egg whites & 1 whole egg

Handfull of nuts & almonds

Chicken salad.(Lettuce, mustard, chicken breast)

1 corn cob

 

 2 sugar-free jello cups- 60 cals each

I was wondering if my diet lacks anything?

Sorry, I'm not going to encourage you here.

Your diet is freaking terrible. You're a teenage male, and you need WAY MORE FOOD than 1,800 calories to maintain. And I agree with everyone else, the stuff you listed probably doesn't even come close to 1,800.

 

Good job with the whole wheat and mustard instead of mayo in your chicken salad, but stay away from the starchy vegetables like corn and go for the greens.  You should have about the equivalent of a half-head of lettuce in green vegetables every day.  Veggies are low-cal and filling (because of their fiber and water content).

Instead of the jello snacks, I'd recommend plain yogurt (yes, the gross unflavored kind), and a 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of Splenda.  It'll turn into a tasty regular yogurt, and you'll get more nutrients than the jello.

Go for fruit too.  Imagine the size of 3 small/medium apples.  That's about the max of how much fruit you should have all day.  Try to skip fruit juice too if you can; it's better to have a piece of fruit - fewer calories and no additives.  And too much sugar from fruit isn't good for you either.  When the body gets too much sugar, it increases insulin levels, which can lower your immune system and help your body store fat. 

Grains: about the equivalent of 5-6 slices of bread.  

Meats/protein... depends on if you are lifting weights and want to retain muscle.  The new Food Pyramid is really helpful, it's just about picking the right foods to fit into those categories, and the servings depend on what your fitness goals are. 

I agree with the beans for protein, but technically, beans aren't a complete protein unless joined with rice or something similar (go for brown rice :)

As you've already read, 1800 probably isn't enough intake if you're active.  Have you done the calculations using your height, weight, etc. to determine how many calories you naturally burn (based on your activity level)?  You should eat about 500 less calories than that number to lose weight, otherwise eat that number of calories that you burn to maintain your same weight (but males shouldn't eat less than 1800 regardless of current weight).  

Finally, take a multivitamin.  They don't make up for completely eating the wrong things, but they can fill in some blanks.

bobbyvj,

i know that in today's world where lean cuisines are so small, it can be confusing to figure how how much you should be eating.  but honestly, young people who are growing need a lot of nutrition.  otherwise, you risk sabotaging your body's development, and you set yourself up for a lifetime of failed diets.  don't restrict your diet until you really have to (like if you're older and overweight).

you need to be eating more food, more FAT, more PROTEIN, more vegetables.  more food.  so breakfast might be 2 servings of oatmeal w/2 egg omlette made w/broccoli and mushrooms (frozen or canned is fine).  snack could be two slices of whole grain toast (or a hunk of a fresh and artisinal multigrain from the bakery!) w/butter and jelly and an apple.  for lunch you could throw those nuts and almonds into a salad w/chicken and feta cheese and tomato and onion and corn and balsamic vinegarette w/mustard to spice things up and two mushed up sundried tomatoes.  i'm thinking you're talking about the sugarfree pudding cups, which are yummy.  good for you, have a couple.  dinner can be curry beef w/noodles and two oranges.  good luck!