Expert: Autumn - 11/13/2006

Question
i know i am underweight.. i WANT to gain weight.. but i just don't get hungery much. usually i can eat a bologna sandwich and can be satisfied. but i know i NEED to eat more but i am done if i am no longer hungry. i dont throw up or suddenly stuff myself til i'm sick or think i am too fat.. what disorder do i have? also, i have no clue in the kitchen... any ideas where i can get recipies and help planning the weekly menu?

Answer
Hello Sherry! To answer your question, I don't believe you have an eating disorder. You most likely just have a low appetite, which can be normal. You could also have a loss of appetite, which could be caused by several different things, and it's best to go to the doctor if this is the case, and tell him what you've told me. Have you always had such a poor appetite, or is this just recently? How many calories are you consuming daily? You should aim for around at least 1500 calories a day, which probably seems hard for you since you feel satisfied with just a sandwich. I'd recommend instead of focusing on 3 meals a day, to just eat tiny, healthy meals throughout the day, so that you are getting the adequate amount of calories without that "full" feeling all the time. Fruit and veggies are good things to snack on since they're so light, and to add a punch of calories healthily, you could have nuts or seeds. You could also try "meal replacement" drinks/shakes, and drink one or two of those a day as a snack. Energy/Nutritional bars are also great. It'd be a really good idea to start keeping a food log, write down everything you eat and how many calories they contained, so you can see what improvements can be made and if you're getting enough calories. If you increase your calories and still aren't gaining any weight, start increasing the amount of calories by 500 calories a day. As far as recipes and planning a weekly menu go, there are great resources on the internet.  
I'll include some I've found through google just now:
http://whfoods.org/new7day.php

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/shawnee/healthy_eating_on_a_budget.htm

http://www.chatelaine.com/foodrecipes/tools/mealplans/article.jsp?content=904936

http://www.menus4moms.com/kitchen/weeklymenu/

If those aren't of any help, just do a google search for "weekly meal plans" "eating healthy" "healthy recipes" and you should find plenty of good sites.
(Please note that I did notice some of these say you can lose weight on them, but it seems as though you don't eat as much calories as the total, so I doubt it'd have that effect on you)
Some other things I'd like to note is that you should indulge a bit every now and then, eat a couple of your favorite cookies, have a slice of pie, etc. Also, make sure you get plenty of protein, and I'd recommend taking vitamins as well.
Now, the best thing you could do for yourself is visit a nutritionist as well as your doctor. They can help you gain weight and offer you advice far beyond what I can, and from my own experience a nutritionist will actually come up with a menu plan just for you. So that's really the BEST bet. It's good that you know you need to eat more,  and I'm happy to hear that you know you are no where near fat and realize that your eating habits aren't healthy. I wish the best for you, and if you have any other questions don't hesitate to ask. I hope I've helped!
Have a beautiful day and stay strong!