How often to eat-your opinions?

Ok, so Ive always heard that your supposed to eat several smaller meals throughout the day.  This works really well for me because Im recovering from anorexia, so right now I can't really handle a lot of calories at once.  But I eat like 7-8 mini meals a day, and I eat really slow so sometimes my meals end up only being 1-2 hours apart.  But is this too often?  Is it healthy to eat this many times a day?  Ive heard so many things about this, I dont know what is true.  Mostly everyone I know eats larger meals, and just not as many or they just eat junk food b/t meals, lol.   This is obviously more convenient if you have a full time job, but right now, with it being summer and my job is very flexible, eating like this works for me.  But then I also read articles saying that you have to be careful and can eat too many mini meals.  The thing is, most of this info is written for people maintaining/losing.  Last time I checked I was 77 lbs, so I need to gain.  Right now I can't even get to  1500cals, but am planning on making a new meal plan to increase.  But I dont like feeling completely stuffed, and if I cut back on the number of meals, theres no way Id get enough! So, is eating like this ok or even healthier than eating larger meals? What do you all do?  Im curious to get opinions from people in the same boat as me.  Or should I even be worried about this and just concentrate on getting enough calories and not worry about timing of meals?

And I also have one more question.  Does anyone know if you can eat too much of 1 type of food?  Like I love milk, so I eat quite a bit of dairy.  I also find nuts/nut butters make it easier to get in calories quickly.  Could there be any disadvantages to eating too many?  I dont eat meat, so this is basically how I get protein.  Right now I usually dont go over 3-4 servings of milk or 1/4 cup nuts+1 tbls of pb a day.  Does this sound ok? 

Sorry if this sounds crazy, my ocd has gotten sooo bad lately and everything makes me worry like crazy.  Im so paranoid, and just looking for some reassurance I guess.  Thanks so much for any advice!

Original Post by cass877:

But then I also read articles saying that you have to be careful and can eat too many mini meals.

They probably meant it's not advised to split your food up into so many meals because you wouldn't get the level of fullness that you do with larger ones spaced more widely apart, it can feel like you're constantly snacking but constantly hungry, and therefore eat too more than planned.

But that's not really a problem in your situation.

Eating lots of small meals is healthy, keeps the metabolism running and your blood sugars stable throughout the day.

And I also have one more question.  Does anyone know if you can eat too much of 1 type of food?  Like I love milk, so I eat quite a bit of dairy.  I also find nuts/nut butters make it easier to get in calories quickly.  Could there be any disadvantages to eating too many?  I dont eat meat, so this is basically how I get protein.  Right now I usually dont go over 3-4 servings of milk or 1/4 cup nuts+1 tbls of pb a day.  Does this sound ok? 

If you get sufficient variety from other food groups, and the proper nutrients overall, I'd say it's OK - you might try finding other sources of protein though, like eggs, seitan or tofu. Nuts are very nutritious and healthy, I don't see a problem with eating lots, especially when you're looking to up your intake. Walnuts, for instance, are a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids, they lower cholesterol and have lots of antioxidants.

Other healthy, calorie-dense foods you could use are olive oil and avocados, and whole grain bread is great.

I eat tons of dairy too, no meat. Also, I several small meals a day, just like you, and often include nuts. Usually I just snack all day, with some meals being a bit larger and others smaller snacks like fruit. Anyway, I'm no expert, but eating like this has worked great for me so far. Cheers, and keep up the good work!

 

I also eat frequently and I think it is better for our systems to deal with smaller amounts throughout the day.   The amount of dairy & nuts you use are close to the normal suggested limits, at least for the food pyramid.  Try gong to MyPyramid.gov - United States Department of Agriculture - Home and see what they suggest you eat.

It sounds that you are really working hard at developing a healthy lifestyle change, but sometimes we need a little help from a professional. Perhaps you could discuss your diet with a doctor or  a dietitian. Keep up the good work, you are well on your way.