from RAW VEGAN to PALEO to I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO EAT ANY MORE :(

HELP i just dont know what is healthy anymore everyone tells me so many different things i just need a sound balanced food plan for good health.

im so sick of raw fruit and veggies now im so sick of lean meat and nuts i just need some help.

I don't know how helpful this is going to be, but when I read this post, it reminded me of a recent epiphany, if you will.  I think that whether trying to lose weight or gain weight, the worst thing we can do for ourselves, psychologically, is place restrictions on our diet.  In this time, in this place, where we are fortunate enough to have access to pretty much everything, the best we can do in my opinion is to eat what we need, when we need it, in the proper portions. 

Terribly generic, I know, but hopefully it helps a little.

There are all kinds of ways to eat healthily which is why it doesn't pay to be too rigid.  The usual recommendation is that you build your menu around plants (vegetables, grains, fruits, pulses/legumes) and use other foods to balance in moderate amounts.  That includes chocolate as well as lean meat, cakes as well as cheese, french fries as well as olive oil.  

Rather than a balanced food plan there is a more simple, visual technique.

Think of a plate divided into four sections.  Imagine two of those sections of it covered with vegetables and/or salad.... cooked and/or raw.  One quarter with lean protein.... meat/fish, beans, eggs, tofu etc..  One quarter with complex carbohydrate.... rice, pasta, bread, potatoes etc.  Oils & fats are used sparingly either as a cooking medium or as a dressing.  That's a good image to work with as your base....

Aren't your recovering from an ED, spek? In which case, you shouldn't be looking to follow any kind of faddy, restrictive diets, but working on becoming less restrictive and having more freedom with food.

Do you see a nutritionist? If so you might like to work with them on creating a meal plan or exchange plan.

My advice would be, the wider variety of foods you eat, the more likely you are to be healthy. Yes, you need some protein, fat and carbohydrates every day. But humans are omnivores; we are designed to be able to eat almost anything; meat, nuts, fruit, veg, eggs, bread, butter and oils, pasta, sauces, chips and chocolate. You name it, we can probably eat it.

So I think your first priority should be weight gain, if you are still in the gaining process - getting to that 2500+ daily. Then your second priority should be breaking down fear barriers and learning to eat fear foods as part of a normal diet. Third priority would be to eat a wide variety of foods, eating what you feel like eating if you aren't listening to the ED.

A balanced diet- grains, veggies, fruit, dairy and meat/beans! 

 I use www.mypyramid.gov  to make sure that I am getting everything I need in my diet.  Click on "my pyramid plan" Once you fill in your information(height, weight, etc) it will tell you how many calories you need in your diet, as well as what your diet should consist of(ex. 6 c of grains, 6 c veggies, etc).  If you are trying to lose/gain weight adjust your calorie intake slightly up/down. 

This is an awesome site to explore how to maximize eating healthy.  There are lots of resourses for planning menus, charts to follow, etc. 

Good luck!

I agree with meryl. Every word.

And, like you said in a previous post - food shouldn't be so hard. :) Variety can be scary when you're recovering, but it really is the spice of life!

Is there any food that you cut out before that you're REALLY missing now? Maybe having some of that can help ease you into eating a wider variety of foods.

If you need anything at all, feel free to msg me any time.

God bless. <3