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Eating disorders like bulimia nervosa (BN) nearly always revolve around irregular eating patterns. In the case of BN, that includes cycles of binge eating, where an objectively large amount of food is consumed, and purging episodes, which can involve fasting or other extreme dietary measures.
Being so involved in irregular and disordered eating patterns can make someone lose track of their own hunger and satiety cues and make it difficult to return to more "normal" ways of eating. That's why instituting a consistent and adequate meal plan is one of the key factors of bulimia recovery.
Still, even after—or during—treatment, it may be difficult to keep up with these new habits, especially during times of stress. Below are a few helpful ideas around how to eat "normally" after bulimia treatment and how to build and maintain healthy eating patterns during recovery.
To be clear, "normal" eating is a very subjective phrase and is not meant to describe one specific diet, plan, or program. There are many different ways to consume food and beverages as part of a regular routine. Essentially, "normal" eating means eating that's not connected to disordered thoughts or behaviors.
In many ways, the ideal way to consume food and beverages is by listening to your hunger and satiety cues. These little internal tugs can help you understand when you're hungry, how hungry you are, the types of foods you may want to eat, and when to stop eating. Ideally, people who are in tune with their hunger and satiety cues:
Eat for pleasure as well as health
Don't feel the need to restrict or deny themselves certain foods
Include a nutritious balance of foods in their diet
However, hearing and staying in touch with these internal nudges can be difficult, even for those not in eating disorder recovery. That's why nutritional education and meal planning are such major parts of bulimia nervosa treatment.
Initially, most patients will be placed on eating plans that include distinct meals and snacks to help establish healthier and more consistent eating patterns. This helps instill the idea of intentionality in eating, leaving less room for maladaptive coping behaviors to take over.1 The goal is for patients to become accustomed to eating in a consistent manner and eventually be able to make their own decisions about when and what is right for them to eat.
Tips for returning to “normal” eating after eating disorder treatment
Getting back into a consistent eating pattern is not easy when recovering from an eating disorder. Many people in bulimia nervosa recovery can feel anxious or uncertain about preparing and eating balanced meals, even with a desire to get better.
Here are some suggestions for how to ensure that you’re providing your body the nourishment and nutrition it needs, while not letting your fears overwhelm you.
When you’ve been stuck in a cycle of binging and purging, you can lose track of your body’s natural cues for hunger and satiety. Once you have been following a meal plan and eating regularly for a while, it may be possible to listen to your body to gauge feelings of hunger and fullness.
Tools like the hunger/satiety scale can be helpful ways to start listening to your internal cues. Food journaling is another good option for getting a sense of your natural eating rhythm. And if you're still seeing your therapist, they can provide more support and ideas around how to start trusting your own body again.
What foods to eat when recovering from bulimia
Eating disorder treatment is a highly personalized endeavor. Everything, from treatment methods to meal plans, should be tailored to an individual patient's specific history and needs. Consulting with an eating disorder dietitian is a great way to understand the specific foods that may be best suited for your recovery journey.
With that said, it's generally important to eat a well-balanced and adequate diet in eating disorder recovery.
Some foods to keep in mind when meal planning include:1,2,4
Healthy fats. These come from foods such as avocados, fish and fish oils, nuts, seeds, and olive oil. "Fat" may be an especially scary word in eating disorder recovery, but healthy fats are what help your body absorb many essential vitamins, as well as keep your organs warm and your skin healthy.
High-protein foods. This includes poultry, beef, and fish, of course, as well as nuts, legumes, eggs, and certain dairy products. Proteins help your body stay strong and healthy, and are the building blocks for healthy nails and hair.
Carbs. Another scary word for many people recovering from an eating disorder, carbs are actually essential parts of the human diet. They provide the body and brain with a reliable source of energy. Complex carbs, which can be found in legumes, starchy vegetables, and whole grains, are best.
Fruits and vegetables. Fruits of all kinds, but especially berries, provide many important antioxidants to the body, which help with cellular upkeep and repair. Vegetables are frequently packed with vitamins and nutrients. Both are healthy sources of fiber, which helps regulate digestion.
Finding help in eating disorder recovery
For people in eating disorder recovery, especially those who have struggled with these conditions for a long time, it can feel scary, difficult, and confusing to imagine a "normal" eating routine or relationship with food. Approaching this process gradually, with the support of medical professionals, family, friends, and peers in recovery, can help alleviate these fears and foster a sense of patience and acceptance during the recovery process.
Over time, you may surprise yourself by feeling ready to transition to a more flexible and intuitive style of eating. But it's important to remember that there's no one way to eat "normally" after bulimia recovery. So long as your nutritional needs are being met and you're doing your best to eat consistently and honor your hunger and satiety cues, rather than relying on disordered eating behaviors to inform your eating schedule, you're doing well.
If you find yourself struggling with these concepts, that's okay and perfectly normal. Recovery hardly ever happens in a straight line. Just as it's important to stick to a consistent eating plan, it's important to stick to other routines that help support your mental health. Regularly speaking with a therapist can be a great way to stay on track and deal with any potentially triggering situations.
Meal support and delivery at Within
At Within, we take the guesswork out of meal planning and help you build the skills you need when you finish your treatment. We not only provide comprehensive meal support to give you a safe place to eat and voice any struggles you're having, but we also provide nutritious (and delicious) meals delivered straight to your door.
Learn about our meal provider, CookUnity
Disclaimer about "overeating": Within Health hesitatingly uses the word "overeating" because it is the term currently associated with this condition in society, however, we believe it inherently overlooks the various psychological aspects of this condition which are often interconnected with internalized diet culture, and a restrictive mindset about food. For the remainder of this piece, we will therefore be putting "overeating" in quotations to recognize that the diagnosis itself pathologizes behavior that is potentially hardwired and adaptive to a restrictive mindset.
Disclaimer about weight loss drugs: Within does not endorse the use of any weight loss drug or behavior and seeks to provide education on the insidious nature of diet culture. We understand the complex nature of disordered eating and eating disorders and strongly encourage anyone engaging in these behaviors to reach out for help as soon as possible. No statement should be taken as healthcare advice. All healthcare decisions should be made with your individual healthcare provider.
Resources
What is Normal Eating? (n.d.) Department for Health & Wellbeing, Government of South Australia. Accessed November 2024.
What foods should I eat when recovering from bulimia?
When recovering from bulimia nervosa, it's important to maintain a well-rounded, balanced diet. Incorporating a variety of foods that provide complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, fiber, protein, and essential vitamins and minerals is key.
In general, foods like legumes, whole grains, eggs, olive oil, nuts, seeds, poultry, fish, and the whole range of fruits and vegetables will build the basis of a healthy recovery diet. The specifics depend on you, your medical history, and your current dietary needs.
Speaking with an eating disorder-trained dietitian or nutritionist is a good way to build a healthy eating plan for bulimia nervosa recovery.
