Caloric, soft food? [Heads up for weight talk]
July 3, 2024 10:38 AM Subscribe
For various reasons, I have a lot of abdominal pain and total loss of appetite. I'm already underweight and I've lost another 6 pounds over the last few weeks. I'm working with my doctors and a nutritionist who agree that I need high calorie, soft foods for the time being. I'm struggling and could use some ideas and advice.
My go to has been smoothies with fresh fruit, OJ, Kefir, and Calorie/protein powder. I think all said and done each one has bout 3-400 calories. The problem is they're all I've been eating for the last little while and they are starting to make me feel grossed out and gaggy. This is often a problem for me. I eat the same thing until I can't bear to look at it and then it's back to the drawing board.
This has happened with mashed potatoes, cream of wheat, and scrambled eggs in the past. Although enough time has gone past that I'm slowly able to add them back in.
My hope is that if I can work up a roster of tolerable foods, I can rotate them and try to break this cycle. But I'm not sure what else to try. Being totally without appetite makes it hard to think about what to eat.
I have no food limitations other than nothing super solid and nothing spicy. In addition to new foods, I'm also open to different flavor profiles for my smoothies. I live in a small town with limited grocery/take out options but definitely access to the basics.
The goal is maximum calories as eating large amounts is out of the question and while I can handle things like noodles in Pho, that's about my limit in terms of solid food. Any ideas? And thanks!
My go to has been smoothies with fresh fruit, OJ, Kefir, and Calorie/protein powder. I think all said and done each one has bout 3-400 calories. The problem is they're all I've been eating for the last little while and they are starting to make me feel grossed out and gaggy. This is often a problem for me. I eat the same thing until I can't bear to look at it and then it's back to the drawing board.
This has happened with mashed potatoes, cream of wheat, and scrambled eggs in the past. Although enough time has gone past that I'm slowly able to add them back in.
My hope is that if I can work up a roster of tolerable foods, I can rotate them and try to break this cycle. But I'm not sure what else to try. Being totally without appetite makes it hard to think about what to eat.
I have no food limitations other than nothing super solid and nothing spicy. In addition to new foods, I'm also open to different flavor profiles for my smoothies. I live in a small town with limited grocery/take out options but definitely access to the basics.
The goal is maximum calories as eating large amounts is out of the question and while I can handle things like noodles in Pho, that's about my limit in terms of solid food. Any ideas? And thanks!
How about congee/okayu? It is basically rice you boil with extra water so that it makes a gloopy porridge. Then you either eat it plain or add things to it such as vegetables or meat or maybe some calorie/protein powder if you want to up its caloric value.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 10:43 AM on July 3 [4 favorites]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 10:43 AM on July 3 [4 favorites]
Hoe do you feel about peanut butter or tahini in your smoothies?
posted by Zumbador at 10:43 AM on July 3 [5 favorites]
posted by Zumbador at 10:43 AM on July 3 [5 favorites]
Can you eat soft bread?
Soft bread + yummy salted Irish or Amish butter
Soft bread + the butter + brie
posted by phunniemee at 10:43 AM on July 3 [2 favorites]
Soft bread + yummy salted Irish or Amish butter
Soft bread + the butter + brie
posted by phunniemee at 10:43 AM on July 3 [2 favorites]
I don't know if this is sufficiently caloric - but hummus is darn tasty and full of good protein. My chef-y neighbor recently shared a sample of a hummus variant she made with fava beans that was pretty amazing.
Also, I have seen a number of recipes using blended cottage cheese as a dip or something similar. I've stayed away from cottage cheese (because curds...I just couldn't) but blending full-fat cottage cheese with some other flavors you like might be tasty.
posted by pantarei70 at 10:44 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
Also, I have seen a number of recipes using blended cottage cheese as a dip or something similar. I've stayed away from cottage cheese (because curds...I just couldn't) but blending full-fat cottage cheese with some other flavors you like might be tasty.
posted by pantarei70 at 10:44 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
This is also a good time to make ice cream a major food group
posted by advicepig at 10:50 AM on July 3 [22 favorites]
posted by advicepig at 10:50 AM on July 3 [22 favorites]
How about adding nut pastes and butters, including yummy nut butter and honey on soft bread? High in calories and high in protein. And there's always Nutella, which I consider one of nature's perfect foods.
posted by citygirl at 10:51 AM on July 3
posted by citygirl at 10:51 AM on July 3
Avocado, nut butters, full fat dairy - could all be added into your smoothies if needed, added to other dishes, or just eaten by the spoonful if you can. Creamy desserts if you can stomach them - creme caramel, creme brulee, full fat yoghurt, chocolate mousse.
posted by penguin pie at 10:51 AM on July 3
posted by penguin pie at 10:51 AM on July 3
Mashed avocado. Maybe salmon? Make a salmon mousse if you can't eat straight salmon. Hollandaise is good with salmon.
Pate is normally very high in fat.
Soup made with sweet potato, coconut cream, a bit of lime juice and maybe peanut butter.
Possibly you could eat cauliflower cheese or mac'n'cheese if you overcooked it?
Ice cream and other soft dessert products, like a trifle.
Also, you could try taking a high calorie food you like that's too solid and putting it in the blender.
posted by quacks like a duck at 10:52 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
Pate is normally very high in fat.
Soup made with sweet potato, coconut cream, a bit of lime juice and maybe peanut butter.
Possibly you could eat cauliflower cheese or mac'n'cheese if you overcooked it?
Ice cream and other soft dessert products, like a trifle.
Also, you could try taking a high calorie food you like that's too solid and putting it in the blender.
posted by quacks like a duck at 10:52 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
Maybe oatmeal? It can be loaded up with add-ins like peanut butter, flax meal, protein powder, brown sugar. Or for more savory, maybe grits or polenta with poached eggs and (overcooked?) leafy/soft vegetables. Could also add butter/olive oil for extra oomph.
How about ice cream/soft serve? Really moist cake?
Yogurt, in its many incarnations for variety?
Maybe hummus or bean dips spread on super soft bread with the crusts cut off?
Also, I personally like Orgain brand nutrition shakes, as a calorie/nutrient supplement.
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 11:03 AM on July 3
How about ice cream/soft serve? Really moist cake?
Yogurt, in its many incarnations for variety?
Maybe hummus or bean dips spread on super soft bread with the crusts cut off?
Also, I personally like Orgain brand nutrition shakes, as a calorie/nutrient supplement.
posted by CtrlAltDelete at 11:03 AM on July 3
Applesauce, pudding, soups without a lot of chewing-required stuff in them (or perhaps with the stuff blended).
posted by Stacey at 11:03 AM on July 3
posted by Stacey at 11:03 AM on July 3
There are so many different kinds of porridge - the congee and oats already mentioned, cornmeal, breadfruit, semolina, wheatlets… you can add sugar, honey, maple syrup, dairy or coconut cream, animal or nut milks, nut butters, eggs, jam, preserves, fruit, vegetables, cheese… sweet or savory, they’re as blank a slate as bread
posted by wheatlets at 11:03 AM on July 3
posted by wheatlets at 11:03 AM on July 3
Rice porridge/congee/juk, most often made with chicken or chicken broth (link goes to a recipe that uses rotisserie chicken) -- easily and deliciously flavored with a dash of sesame oil and soy sauce. I know you said you are in a rural area, but I am hoping that Kadoya sesame oil or similar is available!
posted by spamandkimchi at 11:05 AM on July 3
posted by spamandkimchi at 11:05 AM on July 3
I present to you the Ask A Swole Woman column on Swoalts, which was about how to load up your oatmeal with protein to complement a weightlifting program.
And suggest also a potato leek soup with heavy cream (or coconut cream if you want a break from daisy). The flavor is mild but pretty different than mashed potatoes, and I think the texture is pretty distinct too.
You could also try a carrot soup with cream or yogurt garnish, heavily dolloped.
I also thought of ice cream, maybe a milkshake would be a nice substitute for a smoothie sometimes.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 11:10 AM on July 3
And suggest also a potato leek soup with heavy cream (or coconut cream if you want a break from daisy). The flavor is mild but pretty different than mashed potatoes, and I think the texture is pretty distinct too.
You could also try a carrot soup with cream or yogurt garnish, heavily dolloped.
I also thought of ice cream, maybe a milkshake would be a nice substitute for a smoothie sometimes.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 11:10 AM on July 3
Sounds like noodle soup is a go, how about more of those?
Ravioli Soup, Ravioli en Brodo (add extra cheese!), Wonton Soup, Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup (contains whipping cream and butter!).
Here are some high calorie soup ideas.
Avocados?
Best to you - this sounds like a challenge but you seem up for taking care of yourself!
posted by latkes at 11:11 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
Ravioli Soup, Ravioli en Brodo (add extra cheese!), Wonton Soup, Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup (contains whipping cream and butter!).
Here are some high calorie soup ideas.
Avocados?
Best to you - this sounds like a challenge but you seem up for taking care of yourself!
posted by latkes at 11:11 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
Do you like hot drinks? One hack is to add protein powder to lattes or hot chocolate or milk steamers - when I couldn’t gain weight sometimes switching the temperature up helped.
Similarly, puréed soups with high-cream (coconut or milk or cashew) content could help - potato-cheddar or other higher calorie bases.
posted by warriorqueen at 11:14 AM on July 3
Similarly, puréed soups with high-cream (coconut or milk or cashew) content could help - potato-cheddar or other higher calorie bases.
posted by warriorqueen at 11:14 AM on July 3
Fried rice. The rice is easily digestible carbs, and the oil is calorie-dense fat. Cook the rice longer and with a little extra water to soften it (before frying) and add well cooked and finely chopped meat or vegetables of your choice.
You're definitely on the right track to seek variety. The reason many gimmicky weightloss diets work is because you naturally get tired of eating only one thing. To gain weight, do the reverse: eat lots of different things.
Also, your priority is calories. so (unless you've been medically advised against it), supplement your meals with sugary drinks (soda, juice), which provide a lot of calories without being filling. A 20 oz bottle of Sprite is 224 calories. A 16 oz cup of orange juice is 220 calories.
Also recently: Please share your healthy, high-calorie recipes
And Gainit community in Reddit has many suggestions.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:25 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
You're definitely on the right track to seek variety. The reason many gimmicky weightloss diets work is because you naturally get tired of eating only one thing. To gain weight, do the reverse: eat lots of different things.
Also, your priority is calories. so (unless you've been medically advised against it), supplement your meals with sugary drinks (soda, juice), which provide a lot of calories without being filling. A 20 oz bottle of Sprite is 224 calories. A 16 oz cup of orange juice is 220 calories.
Also recently: Please share your healthy, high-calorie recipes
And Gainit community in Reddit has many suggestions.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 11:25 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
I had a friend whose kid needed to gain weight, and the pediatrician suggested potato chips. Your ask got me thinking about that, and I remembered that World Kitchen Chef José Andrés makes a Spanish style tortilla with potato chips. I have made it, and the chips get soft and chewy just like the traditional one. This might be a yummy item to add to your rotation.
posted by momochan at 11:46 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
posted by momochan at 11:46 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
If it is critical that the food be soft, then I think you are looking at soups, porridge, puddings, purées and custards.
If you have been running a calorie deficit, there is a good chance that cooking is going to be a challenge, because going short of calories can temporarily make you short on energy, motivation and brain power.
Do you have a crock pot, or a rice cooker? Either of those might help to make porridge or soups easily, but they also toughen meat because they cook at a too high temperature for that. The reason I am suggesting them however is that if you make up a pot of soup and overcook it, you end up with several servings of quite soft, easy to digest food and can put anything into it, to ensure you are hitting lots of food groups. You can also use soup to make bread or crackers soft enough to eat.
if you think that soup is a good idea, a pot simmering on the back of the stove will result in a softer result than cooking in an appliance. You don't have to go to huge amounts of effort. No need to boil bones and remove meat from those bones and strain and chop onions and presoak beans.. You can start with a regular can of commercial soup, or with bouillon cubes, or liquid bouillon, and throw in things like frozen mixed vegetables or canned vegetables. You don't have to add meat unless you feel up to it and it sounds good. Usually boneless chicken is a good bet and usually a decent pair of kitchen scissors is the fastest way to get it into soup sized pieces - add the meat when the soup is nearly ready to serve, and that will protect you from the danger of over cooking it into something tough.
Sticky rice, arborio or sushi rice will make a much softer dish than western variations.
Consider making fish chowder with milk, potatoes and sole. Use frozen onions too instead of chopping fresh ones. The fact that they are frozen means they will be soft as soon as they defrost. I suggest you get frozen de-boned fillets of sole, as the fish is so delicate it can disappear into the milky broth leaving only the taste and nothing large enough to chew.
If you do make soup, having it with buttered bread dipped into it will add calories and make some breads that would otherwise be too tough to work through quite manageable.
If you decide that custards or milk puddings are possible it is usually much easier to make them in the microwave, as that reduces the chances of scorching. You basically microwave two minutes, stir vigorously, and put back into the microwave for another two minutes repeatedly until the mixture thickens.
Stewed fruit has long been something fed to invalids or people with bad teeth. Many places still sell jars of stewed prunes, because people eat them to deal with constipation. The downside of stewed prunes is that they are going to be very sweet.
Ramen noodles are an option, because they are made of soft wheat instead of hard wheat. Do you like rice noodles and can you get those?
You can also think of things that you'd like to eat but which sound too tough to get down and consider if they would still be appetizing after being pureed with an immersion blender.
I have done very well with frozen spinach cooked in broth made with chicken bouillon. The broth kept it from being overwhelmingly vegetable. It's not going to be high calorie unless you add fat, but it will get more vegetables into you.
I like to make steamed puddings - not a milk pudding, or even a sweet pudding, but a savoury one. Look for savoury bread pudding recipes, or recipes for Indian pudding. I make them with cornmeal, but because they get boiled they are nice and tender and can be eaten with a spoon.
And finally, consider baking a squash, or boiling up some turnip and some carrots, and having them mashed with butter. Both are nice and mushy when cooked enough. and if the squash is starchy it's quite filling and is a good comfort food.
posted by Jane the Brown at 11:52 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
If you have been running a calorie deficit, there is a good chance that cooking is going to be a challenge, because going short of calories can temporarily make you short on energy, motivation and brain power.
Do you have a crock pot, or a rice cooker? Either of those might help to make porridge or soups easily, but they also toughen meat because they cook at a too high temperature for that. The reason I am suggesting them however is that if you make up a pot of soup and overcook it, you end up with several servings of quite soft, easy to digest food and can put anything into it, to ensure you are hitting lots of food groups. You can also use soup to make bread or crackers soft enough to eat.
if you think that soup is a good idea, a pot simmering on the back of the stove will result in a softer result than cooking in an appliance. You don't have to go to huge amounts of effort. No need to boil bones and remove meat from those bones and strain and chop onions and presoak beans.. You can start with a regular can of commercial soup, or with bouillon cubes, or liquid bouillon, and throw in things like frozen mixed vegetables or canned vegetables. You don't have to add meat unless you feel up to it and it sounds good. Usually boneless chicken is a good bet and usually a decent pair of kitchen scissors is the fastest way to get it into soup sized pieces - add the meat when the soup is nearly ready to serve, and that will protect you from the danger of over cooking it into something tough.
Sticky rice, arborio or sushi rice will make a much softer dish than western variations.
Consider making fish chowder with milk, potatoes and sole. Use frozen onions too instead of chopping fresh ones. The fact that they are frozen means they will be soft as soon as they defrost. I suggest you get frozen de-boned fillets of sole, as the fish is so delicate it can disappear into the milky broth leaving only the taste and nothing large enough to chew.
If you do make soup, having it with buttered bread dipped into it will add calories and make some breads that would otherwise be too tough to work through quite manageable.
If you decide that custards or milk puddings are possible it is usually much easier to make them in the microwave, as that reduces the chances of scorching. You basically microwave two minutes, stir vigorously, and put back into the microwave for another two minutes repeatedly until the mixture thickens.
Stewed fruit has long been something fed to invalids or people with bad teeth. Many places still sell jars of stewed prunes, because people eat them to deal with constipation. The downside of stewed prunes is that they are going to be very sweet.
Ramen noodles are an option, because they are made of soft wheat instead of hard wheat. Do you like rice noodles and can you get those?
You can also think of things that you'd like to eat but which sound too tough to get down and consider if they would still be appetizing after being pureed with an immersion blender.
I have done very well with frozen spinach cooked in broth made with chicken bouillon. The broth kept it from being overwhelmingly vegetable. It's not going to be high calorie unless you add fat, but it will get more vegetables into you.
I like to make steamed puddings - not a milk pudding, or even a sweet pudding, but a savoury one. Look for savoury bread pudding recipes, or recipes for Indian pudding. I make them with cornmeal, but because they get boiled they are nice and tender and can be eaten with a spoon.
And finally, consider baking a squash, or boiling up some turnip and some carrots, and having them mashed with butter. Both are nice and mushy when cooked enough. and if the squash is starchy it's quite filling and is a good comfort food.
posted by Jane the Brown at 11:52 AM on July 3 [1 favorite]
This is the perfect time for ice cream. It comes in enough flavors that you're less likely to get bored.
posted by shadygrove at 12:41 PM on July 3
posted by shadygrove at 12:41 PM on July 3
Another vote for ice cream, or gelato. When I was pregnant (both times) I couldn't eat much, but gelato and ice cream worked for me.
My grandkids aren't picky but they are small and learning to eat, and I've found some miniature penne lisce that I serve in a tomato sauce for them. The junior likes them in any sauce specially with carrots, but the eldest wants the sauce to be totally smooth. You do you. But there can be a lot of butter or oil in that sauce, and cheese. Think of the famous Marcella Hazan tomato sauce. You can use any spoonable pasta.
I mentioned in the other thread that risotto is the perfect food for someone who struggles with putting on weight, but I strongly suggest you look up old recipes, like Elizabeth David's. You might find more inspiring ideas in her books, because they are from a time where underweight was more of an issue.
You can make a sort of mousse of tuna blended 1:1 with butter, or blend 1 part tuna with 1/2 butter and 1/2 mayo. Season in the blender/food processor with stuff like a bit of cherry tomato, a bit of capers, a bit of lemon juice. Or don't, it's fine without. But you may need a bit of salt and pepper. Now roll slices of cheap white bread, so they get really thin. You can either toast them on one side or let them be, they will make great soft sandwiches either way. I like them made with sardines too. Triangles taste better.
Soups blended with cream and an egg yolk are nourishing and tasty. You could make a soup based on store-bought chicken broth with asparagus and blend the lot with cream and egg yolk before serving (don't add the egg yolk before turning off the heat).
posted by mumimor at 1:09 PM on July 3
My grandkids aren't picky but they are small and learning to eat, and I've found some miniature penne lisce that I serve in a tomato sauce for them. The junior likes them in any sauce specially with carrots, but the eldest wants the sauce to be totally smooth. You do you. But there can be a lot of butter or oil in that sauce, and cheese. Think of the famous Marcella Hazan tomato sauce. You can use any spoonable pasta.
I mentioned in the other thread that risotto is the perfect food for someone who struggles with putting on weight, but I strongly suggest you look up old recipes, like Elizabeth David's. You might find more inspiring ideas in her books, because they are from a time where underweight was more of an issue.
You can make a sort of mousse of tuna blended 1:1 with butter, or blend 1 part tuna with 1/2 butter and 1/2 mayo. Season in the blender/food processor with stuff like a bit of cherry tomato, a bit of capers, a bit of lemon juice. Or don't, it's fine without. But you may need a bit of salt and pepper. Now roll slices of cheap white bread, so they get really thin. You can either toast them on one side or let them be, they will make great soft sandwiches either way. I like them made with sardines too. Triangles taste better.
Soups blended with cream and an egg yolk are nourishing and tasty. You could make a soup based on store-bought chicken broth with asparagus and blend the lot with cream and egg yolk before serving (don't add the egg yolk before turning off the heat).
posted by mumimor at 1:09 PM on July 3
Also bread pudding, rice pudding, pudding in other flavors and Jello. My grocery store sells all of those but bread pudding premade.
A number of TV dinners are pretty soft, such as Garlic Chicken and these Chinese-style ones.
Pastas with any of various sauces, such Swedish meatballs, stroganoff, spaghetti.
Also, meatloaf.
How about chicken or fish? You can get packets of flavored tuna.
Milkshakes.
posted by NotLost at 1:36 PM on July 3
A number of TV dinners are pretty soft, such as Garlic Chicken and these Chinese-style ones.
Pastas with any of various sauces, such Swedish meatballs, stroganoff, spaghetti.
Also, meatloaf.
How about chicken or fish? You can get packets of flavored tuna.
Milkshakes.
posted by NotLost at 1:36 PM on July 3
CAKE!
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 1:40 PM on July 3 [1 favorite]
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 1:40 PM on July 3 [1 favorite]
Lunch meat?
Eggs: baked, soft boiled, hard boiled, fried, poached.
Bread? Sandwiches?
Bananas.
Custard.
posted by NotLost at 1:46 PM on July 3
Eggs: baked, soft boiled, hard boiled, fried, poached.
Bread? Sandwiches?
Bananas.
Custard.
posted by NotLost at 1:46 PM on July 3
Soft cookies.
Brownies?
Pancakes, waffles, french toast.
French fries. Tater tots.
posted by NotLost at 1:49 PM on July 3
Brownies?
Pancakes, waffles, french toast.
French fries. Tater tots.
posted by NotLost at 1:49 PM on July 3
Full fat Plain Greek Yogurt with maple syrup or honey.
Gratin Dauphinois is sliced potatoes baked in cream and cheese in a casserole.
Brandade: salt cod mashed with potatoes, milk, oops lots of garlic. A terrific spread on a baguette though for when you are better.
Mushroom soup made coconut milk: 12 oz mushrooms sliced and sautéed, 1 or 2 scallions chopped, a bit of fresh ginger and garlic minced, 1 T yellow or white miso, and 2.5 cups of broth. Bring to boil, simmer 5 min. Then add 1 can of coconut milk. After 2 min use a stick blender to purée. Seriously good.
A bowl of steaming hot white rice with an egg or two cracked and stirred in is pretty easy. Add lots of butter and salt.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 2:27 PM on July 3 [1 favorite]
Gratin Dauphinois is sliced potatoes baked in cream and cheese in a casserole.
Brandade: salt cod mashed with potatoes, milk, oops lots of garlic. A terrific spread on a baguette though for when you are better.
Mushroom soup made coconut milk: 12 oz mushrooms sliced and sautéed, 1 or 2 scallions chopped, a bit of fresh ginger and garlic minced, 1 T yellow or white miso, and 2.5 cups of broth. Bring to boil, simmer 5 min. Then add 1 can of coconut milk. After 2 min use a stick blender to purée. Seriously good.
A bowl of steaming hot white rice with an egg or two cracked and stirred in is pretty easy. Add lots of butter and salt.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 2:27 PM on July 3 [1 favorite]
Refried beans? You can definitely find brands that aren't spicy. You can even make your own or just ... mash up beans and add whatever else (cheese, definitely).
Pureed bean soups are also a thing and adding extra fat to those would be easy enough.
Would slightly overcooked macaroni and cheese be soft enough? I know some frozen brands mostly become a pleasant mush.
posted by edencosmic at 2:49 PM on July 3
Pureed bean soups are also a thing and adding extra fat to those would be easy enough.
Would slightly overcooked macaroni and cheese be soft enough? I know some frozen brands mostly become a pleasant mush.
posted by edencosmic at 2:49 PM on July 3
Weird things I like, that you might not think to try:
Sip cold heavy cream from a cup. Add sweetener or chocolate syrup if you like.
Add heavy cream to your coffee.
Make rich hot chocolate using half & half.
Eat sour cream straight.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 3:01 PM on July 3 [2 favorites]
Sip cold heavy cream from a cup. Add sweetener or chocolate syrup if you like.
Add heavy cream to your coffee.
Make rich hot chocolate using half & half.
Eat sour cream straight.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 3:01 PM on July 3 [2 favorites]
These all might be too not-soft but in case they aren't: Fish and chips? Maybe cheese tamales with crema? Or sweet potato tempura? German spaetzle?
posted by dearadeline at 3:38 PM on July 3
posted by dearadeline at 3:38 PM on July 3
If you can pay attention while you’re eating try to notice if certain temperatures are better or worse for you. Sometimes people find very cold foods much easier to eat more of, sometimes it’s room temperature because it’s least noticeable, sometimes perfectly warmed food will be the most fragrant and get their appetite hormones to kick in. So if you can determine a pattern you might have better luck with the things you choose to make. Like if you are better able to eat warm things just after waking up, opting for porridge or a blended soup to sip instead of a cold smoothie, or if you need room temperature snacks for grazing throughout the day so you are not disrupted by contrast you could have medium hard cheeses, tapenade and pesto on soft bread, or bananas spread with peanut butter.
Some blended soups I really like:
Tomatillo chicken soup, it’s basically a roasted tomatillo, poblano, red onion, and cilantro salsa blended with chicken stock, then sour cream stirred in. I have it with shredded chicken but you could add very well cooked and half smashed white beans if that works for you, or use a broth that has a better nutrient profile for you. Would also be great with rice like a juk/congee.
Carrot and fennel soup, use the white bean trick for lots of protein. It’s just carrots, fennel, some onion, and salted water or vegetable stock, blended up with cooked white beans and topped with minced fennel fronds. You can add turmeric for color, too, and ginger for flavor. This one is pretty good cold, depending on your tastes.
Borscht is divisive. There are more borscht recipes than there are grandmas in the world, but blended borscht can be a tremendous vehicle for sour cream and a very different flavor profile than you might expect. There are recipes that are great cold, and ones that are much better hot. You can find ones that trend more sour or more sweet, or ones that lean into the earthiness of beets. I like to sometimes do one that’s pretty earthy, with a beef broth base and deeply browned onions. A sour borscht with pickled cabbage and lemon can be amazing and refreshing. If you are in a place where fresh beets have good green tops right now, it is especially nice to blend them into a sweeter borscht. Don’t forget to add potatoes because they will balance out the strong flavors and help everything meld.
posted by Mizu at 3:46 PM on July 3 [1 favorite]
Some blended soups I really like:
Tomatillo chicken soup, it’s basically a roasted tomatillo, poblano, red onion, and cilantro salsa blended with chicken stock, then sour cream stirred in. I have it with shredded chicken but you could add very well cooked and half smashed white beans if that works for you, or use a broth that has a better nutrient profile for you. Would also be great with rice like a juk/congee.
Carrot and fennel soup, use the white bean trick for lots of protein. It’s just carrots, fennel, some onion, and salted water or vegetable stock, blended up with cooked white beans and topped with minced fennel fronds. You can add turmeric for color, too, and ginger for flavor. This one is pretty good cold, depending on your tastes.
Borscht is divisive. There are more borscht recipes than there are grandmas in the world, but blended borscht can be a tremendous vehicle for sour cream and a very different flavor profile than you might expect. There are recipes that are great cold, and ones that are much better hot. You can find ones that trend more sour or more sweet, or ones that lean into the earthiness of beets. I like to sometimes do one that’s pretty earthy, with a beef broth base and deeply browned onions. A sour borscht with pickled cabbage and lemon can be amazing and refreshing. If you are in a place where fresh beets have good green tops right now, it is especially nice to blend them into a sweeter borscht. Don’t forget to add potatoes because they will balance out the strong flavors and help everything meld.
posted by Mizu at 3:46 PM on July 3 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you all so much! This is immensely helpful and the kind words did me some good as well.
posted by jeszac at 3:55 PM on July 3 [3 favorites]
posted by jeszac at 3:55 PM on July 3 [3 favorites]
Many fruits, fresh or canned. Use honey or sugar to add calories.
posted by NotLost at 5:56 PM on July 3
posted by NotLost at 5:56 PM on July 3
What about hot chocolate made with half and half? Maybe add some protein powder in there too? You could add some kind of nut butter to your smoothie. Or avocado to the smoothie.
For the smoothie, I'd also recommend trying out frozen fruit, which might make it easier to get more variety in the smoothie flavor. Just add more liquid or make the smoothie ahead and let it sit in the fridge if you want it to be a thinner consistency.
Maybe a nice creamy tomato soup that you add a whole bunch of cheese too? Or French onion soup?
posted by litera scripta manet at 5:57 PM on July 3
For the smoothie, I'd also recommend trying out frozen fruit, which might make it easier to get more variety in the smoothie flavor. Just add more liquid or make the smoothie ahead and let it sit in the fridge if you want it to be a thinner consistency.
Maybe a nice creamy tomato soup that you add a whole bunch of cheese too? Or French onion soup?
posted by litera scripta manet at 5:57 PM on July 3
Two things that come to mind are: 1. Egg salad, maybe with extra yolks to increase the calories, either a basic eggs+mayo+mustard mixture or something like this. 2. A creamy orzo dish like this with extra butter, extra heavy cream, and dark meat chicken chopped or shredded small enough for you to eat.
Also, this question reminded me of the existence of keto "fat bombs"--not sure if that would play nice with your stomach, but they could be a creative way to get extra calories in if you can tolerate them.
posted by theotherdurassister at 6:58 PM on July 3
Also, this question reminded me of the existence of keto "fat bombs"--not sure if that would play nice with your stomach, but they could be a creative way to get extra calories in if you can tolerate them.
posted by theotherdurassister at 6:58 PM on July 3
Heavy Cream. Particularly as whipped cream (preferably homemade - whip 1 pint whipped cream with 1/4 cup sugar and 1tsp vanilla). You can stir this with other flavorful, calorie-dense things like lemon curd (Bonne Maman is a good jarred one) or chocolate ganache for a fast chocolate mousse.
I agree on sour cream.
Also, canned Coconut milk or cream can add a _ton_ of calories to a smoothie or other desserts. I used to make a smoothie with coconut milk, frozen strawberries, dark chocolate chips (pulverized into it), baby spinach, and cocoa powder that was almost 700 calories. Also, if you chill the coconut cream it is also pretty yummy by the spoonful.
Peanut butter or other nut butters. Either by the spoonful or added to the smoothies.
posted by miscbuff at 8:32 PM on July 3
I agree on sour cream.
Also, canned Coconut milk or cream can add a _ton_ of calories to a smoothie or other desserts. I used to make a smoothie with coconut milk, frozen strawberries, dark chocolate chips (pulverized into it), baby spinach, and cocoa powder that was almost 700 calories. Also, if you chill the coconut cream it is also pretty yummy by the spoonful.
Peanut butter or other nut butters. Either by the spoonful or added to the smoothies.
posted by miscbuff at 8:32 PM on July 3
Check out this question from January about liquid/soft foods. Back then I recommended creamed spinach and coconut curry chickpea lime stew, as well as recipes designed for people who've had oral cancer.
posted by expialidocious at 9:52 PM on July 3
posted by expialidocious at 9:52 PM on July 3
This has happened with mashed potatoes, cream of wheat, and scrambled eggs in the past.
I can usually get around food fatigue by adding different spices or condiments to things like this - enough that the flavors are substantially different. Similarly for things like smoothies you can go for distinct flavor profiles - a sour smoothie, a sharp-tasting one (add ginger and maybe black pepper), a citrusy one, a spice-y one (cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg...), a herbal one (mint? basil? tea?), a mellow one (maybe fried bananas and honey or vanilla extract, no OJ), etc.
It sounds like you've been trying to eat very healthy and that makes sense, but if gaining weight is a priority then this might be the time to start thinking in terms of high fat or even high sugar.
posted by trig at 10:38 PM on July 3 [2 favorites]
I can usually get around food fatigue by adding different spices or condiments to things like this - enough that the flavors are substantially different. Similarly for things like smoothies you can go for distinct flavor profiles - a sour smoothie, a sharp-tasting one (add ginger and maybe black pepper), a citrusy one, a spice-y one (cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, nutmeg...), a herbal one (mint? basil? tea?), a mellow one (maybe fried bananas and honey or vanilla extract, no OJ), etc.
It sounds like you've been trying to eat very healthy and that makes sense, but if gaining weight is a priority then this might be the time to start thinking in terms of high fat or even high sugar.
posted by trig at 10:38 PM on July 3 [2 favorites]
Hummus has already been suggested, but it's so easy to make (and/or comes in so many varieties at the store). Eat it with crackers, scraps of naan or pita bread, veggies, chips, anything goes. Potatoes supply a lot of what your body needs. Bake a potato and load it up with fatty toppings. Sour cream, cheese, bacon bits, green onions, chili, go nuts. There are so many ways to make potatoes. Home fries, jo-jos, baked, twice baked, scalloped, potato soup, on and on. Pretty good calorie load and makes a great vehicle for caloric toppings.
I hope your pain eases soon, and that you are able to quickly find a dietary path that is not only beneficial, but also enjoyable!
posted by xedrik at 5:01 PM on July 5
I hope your pain eases soon, and that you are able to quickly find a dietary path that is not only beneficial, but also enjoyable!
posted by xedrik at 5:01 PM on July 5
I had a similar question a few years back. Maybe some of the answers there will help. My favorites for feeling vaguely human were egg custard and congee, though it sounds like egg heavy dishes might be out for you.
My autistic kid will really focus on one limited set of foods until they can't stand one of them anymore, and then we're off to another food for a good long while. To stretch things out, it may help to make more variations on whatever is your favorite workhorse.
posted by moira at 9:34 PM on July 6
My autistic kid will really focus on one limited set of foods until they can't stand one of them anymore, and then we're off to another food for a good long while. To stretch things out, it may help to make more variations on whatever is your favorite workhorse.
posted by moira at 9:34 PM on July 6
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I hope your pain resolves quickly.
posted by humbug at 10:43 AM on July 3