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NUTRITION HOTLINE

Reprinted from Eating Disorders Today
By Diane Keddy, MS, RD
Fall 2003 Volume 2, Number 1
©2003 Gürze Books

Q. Is there a healthy meal plan that would accommodate anyone recovering from an eating disorder?

With the exception of anorexia nervosa, once you are in recovery from an eating disorder, your nutritional needs are similar to those of someone who has not had an eating disorder. Your body's requirements for calories, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals are based on factors which include your age, height, weight, activity level, and medical and genetic history. If you have had anorexia, the number of calories that your body needs to maintain your weight may be higher for several years after weight restoration. A physician or a registered dietitian familiar with eating disorders can help you determine your unique caloric needs.

For most people, The USDA Food Pyramid can be used as a general guide. I encourage clients to choose mostly whole instead of refined grains, a serving of nuts and beans daily, and to have 4-5 different colors of fruits and vegetables each day. Unsaturated fats are the best choices, especially olive and canola oils. Lean meats, non-fat or low-fat dairy products, poultry, fish and soy foods are good protein sources.

Serving sizes are best determined by your hunger and fullness levels. A good start is to have a serving of protein, complex carbohydrates (whole grain bread or cereals, starchy vegetables, rice, pasta, etc.), fat (margarine, butter, mayonnaise, salad dressing, oil), and a fruit or vegetable at each meal. A serving of protein, complex carbohydrate, fruit or vegetable is the amount that can be held in the palm of your hand. A serving of fat is 1 teaspoon for margarine, butter, mayonnaise, or oil and 1 Tbsp. for salad dressing. For daytime snacks I recommend a fruit, complex carbohydrate, or vegetable with a protein food. Eating a balance of carbohydrates, protein and fat at meals helps to regulate blood sugar levels and provides for optimum energy output. I also recommend a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement with 100% of the RDAs, and 1000 mg calcium per day if you are not eating 3 servings of milk, cheese, yogurt or calcium fortified foods per day (like soy milk or orange juice). Give yourself permission to have a daily serving of a sweet food, when desired, to help avoid feelings of deprivation and subsequent overeating or binging.

Below is an example of a healthy food plan for a person requiring 2000 calories per day:

Breakfast
1 whole wheat English muffin with
peanut butter
8 oz. non-fat milk
1 banana

Snack
1 apple and string cheese

Lunch
1 turkey sandwich on whole-wheat bread
with cheese, mayonnaise,
lettuce and tomato
8 oz. light yogurt
I serving grapes

Snack
1 serving whole-wheat crackers with salsa

Dinner
1 chicken breast stir-fried with
1 cup Chinese vegetables
1 1/2 cups white or brown rice

Snack
1 serving ice cream, sorbet, brownie or
fruit salad

If you have not already read Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD and Elyse Resch, MS, RD, I highly recommend it for assistance in establishing a normal eating pattern. It is available at www.bulimia.com.

Diane Keddy, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian with a private practice in Newport Beach, CA.

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Additional Resources:
Nourishing Connections: Controlling Your Biology versus Honoring Your Hunger
Nutrition Care for Clients with Diabetes and An Eating Disorder
Nutrition Hotline - Determining a 'Healthy Weight'
Nutrition Hotline - Finding a Healthy Meal Plan
Nutrition Hotline - Low Carb Diets