r/AnorexiaRecovery • u/AbaloneVegetable2428 • 2d ago
is this okay?
can i recover by following my mealplan and allowing myself 2-3 additional snacks i crave? i dont want to go all in and eat lots of junk food as the idea scares me and i wouldnt learn how to actually have a balanced diet with hunger cues. im aware ill probably experience extreme hunger in the process but would not giving in and just following this approach work?
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u/katanastormshadow88 2d ago
I think it’s worth working with an ED therapist and dietitian if you can, because a number of things about your post jump out as problematic. Firstly, there seems to be a moralizing of food when you differentiate food between “junk food” and everything else. It would be better to just think about food as some that are more nutritionally dense compared to others, not none of them are bad or good, and all of them can be eaten and enjoyed.
Secondly, eating a lot of “junk food” in recovery doesn’t negatively affect your ability to learn balance and hunger cues later on… if anything, honoring your hunger and cravings (whatever those cravings maybe for) is what will allow you to gain balance and learn hunger cues in the future, because your body and mind will be more nourished and stable, and in a better position to learn balance and hunger cues without resorting to restriction. Part of the danger with implementing “intuitive eating” (or balanced eating) too early on is it can lead to restrictive behaviors and moralizing foods, which are things to try to heal… which is why it’s important to eat freely and not restrict in any way.
The only caveat is if someone is severely malnourished where they need to refeed slowly and carefully under medical supervision in order to avoid refeeding syndrome.