
Assess Appropriate Level of Care
Before deciding on a nutrition intervention, the appropriate level of care must be determined. Dependent on the severity of an eating disorder a team may recommend one of the following levels of care:
Assessing Current Behaviors and Risks
The extent and combination of behaviors will play a role in determining the appropriate level of care. A patient can suffer from restriction, bulimia, binge eating, over exercise, laxative and diuretic abuse, etc.
Assessing Individual Energy Needs
When assessing for energy requirement some dietitians may use equations such as Harris-Benedict and Mifflin St.Jeor can be used to measure resting energy expenditure (REE) or basal energy expenditure (BEE) [2]. Others may use the recommended starting range of 30-40 kcal/kg [2].
Types of Meal Plans for Eating Disorder Recovery
When creating a meal plan it’s important to understand what a patient is suffering from and the overall role of nutrition in recovery. Remember the more severe the eating disorder the more structure required.
Gradually Building Goals and Interventions
You can see a common theme in all meal plans is healing the body and learning that all foods fit. Along with appropriate nutrition must come a couple key components in supporting knowledge, growth, and healing.
How to plan meals for a loved one recovering from eating disorder?
Here are some tips to help you plan meals for a loved one who is recovering from an eating disorder . Plan for the week ahead. On a weekly basis, sit down and plan your family's meals for the week. Assemble meals. Plan at least four to five dinners for the entire family weekly.
How to plan a meal plan?
You can include items from recipes that you will cook or prepared items you will assemble for each meal. Decide when you will go shopping. Plan at least one large shopping trip per week to get you through the bulk of your planned meals.
Why do caregivers need to supervise after eating?
The caregivers of someone in recovery might also need to provide supervision during and after meals to ensure the person is not overexercising or engaging in other eating disorder behaviors. Compensatory Behaviors in Eating Disorders. Many healthy foods to be incorporated into the diet of someone in recovery from an eating disorder are perishable, ...
How to recover from eating disorders?
Recovery from all eating disorders requires the normalization of regular eating patterns. Research has shown that this goal is best accomplished through planned and structured eating. 2 . In residential and inpatient settings, meals are planned and provided for patients.
Why do people with eating disorders avoid grocery shopping?
Some people with eating disorders avoid grocery shopping because it makes them anxious. If someone with an eating disorder is afraid of binge eating, they might not keep their kitchen stocked. In either case, a person could end up not eating enough and might even be more likely to binge eat.
How to plan a healthy breakfast?
Have options. When you're planning breakfasts, try to have two meals that can be alternated. Don't forget snacks. In addition to planning for snacks as part of a weekly meal plan, don't forget to add the ingredients you'll need to your shopping list. Keep weight goals in mind.
Why is meal planning important?
Making an effort to learn about and implement meal planning can ultimately pay off, as the strategy has many benefits, such as: Having a list and a plan for a shopping trip helps ensure a person only buys what they intend to buy and doesn't become overwhelmed by choices. Meal planning is often more cost-effective compared ...
What Is The Purpose Of A Meal Plan In Eating Disorder Recovery?
Eating disorders, especially those involving very low caloric intake, will require a meal plan carefully constructed by a registered dietitian to re-nourish safely. Eating disorder recovery meal plans will vary from person to person.
Is It Safe To Initiate Eating Disorder Recovery Meal Plans At Home
This will highly depend on the level of restriction and total amount food a person is consuming through the day at the time the plan is to be initiated.
Recovery Meal Plan For Anorexia
If it is deemed safe by your medical team that you follow a meal plan in your home, here is a meal plan that will be safe to follow for most people.
Bulimia Recovery Meal Plan
Bulimia can present itself with varying levels of restriction. Thus, the meal plan for recovery will vary somewhat based on the symptoms that a person is experiencing.
What Is The Rule Of Three's In Eating Disorder Recovery?
The rule of threes in eating disorder recovery is a simple way to remind ourselves when and how to nourish.
What Does The Plate By Plate Method Look Like In Eating Disorder Recovery?
The plate by plate approach focuses on the composition of each plate at every meal.
Have Can We Be Successful With A Recovery Meal Plan?
Easy disorder recovery is no easy feat, and is certainly something that no one should face alone.
What is a meal plan for eating disorders?
Individuals with eating disorders frequently employ a meal plan developed with the help of their dietitian. This plan provides structure and supports a person in having the type and amount of food their body needs, divided over consistently timed meals and snacks. The level of structure provided by a meal plan can vary from a highly detailed ...
What is a meal pattern?
In this style of meal planning, a person works with their dietitian to create a “meal pattern,” which outlines the timing, type, and amount of each food category over the course of the day.
What is intuitive eating?
Intuitive Eating. Intuitive eating focuses less on creating an external framework by which to make eating decisions and more on reconnecting with the body’s physical hunger and fullness signals to guide the timing and amount of food chosen.
Why do eating disorders use intuitive eating?
Eating disorders are masters at using approaches such as intuitive eating to justify over/undereating or to avoid certain foods out of “ preference ,” when in reality it just serves as a way to legitimize disordered eating behaviors.
Is a meal plan better than another?
No meal plan style is necessarily better than another; what is important is that it provides the right level of support for that person at that time. As a person’s ability to manage food intake changes, their meal plan is often adjusted as well. Let’s look at some of the different styles of meal plans in a bit more detail.
Is intuitive eating the same as mindful eating?
Intuitive eating is often used interchangeably with “mind ful eating,” though subtle differences exist. The term “attuned eating” is sometimes preferred, as it incorporates the idea that we are likely to be influenced by a host of factors that prevent us from being truly intuitive eaters.
How to recover from eating disorder?
Eat appropriately and adequately nourish yourself. Nutrition rehabilitation can be one of the hardest and most important pieces when in recovery at an eating disorder treatment center.
Why is nutrition important for eating disorders?
Patients’ thoughts and behaviors around food are generally negative and destructive, and many individuals need to restore weight in order to restore the clarity of mind necessary to fully engage in therapeutic interventions. Even for those patients who are at a normal weight at the time of admission, nutrition exposure and education is critical in addressing issues related to their underlying relationship with food.
How many meals do you have to have in a day?
Depending on your individual needs, you will have three meals and one to three snacks per day. During meals, you will be able to chat with peers and will have an opportunity to participate in light table games (trivia, etc.). Staff members will also join you at your table to help provide support and structure during meals.
Can you adjust your menus when you change your meal plan?
You will be able to adjust your menus when any meal plan changes are made. If you have any questions about meal planning and what foods to select, know that your dietitian will be here to support you and answer your questions. When you arrive, we will explain this process to you in greater detail.
What is the treatment for eating disorder?
In Tabitha Farrar's Eating Disorder Recovery Kit for Adults she explains that the process of preparing meals yourself can send anxiety levels through the roof. Farrar suggests that if you're overwhelmed, try to let someone else make your food and let them do it alone. This leaves you to only worry about eating it.
How often should I plan my meals for the week?
Make some time once a week to plan your meals for the week ahead, using the above tips. This will allow you to make sure you are eating a balanced diet while also taking away the stress of choosing what you are going to eat.
How to eat large amounts of food at once?
Focus on getting a variety of food groups in your meals. Try to include some protein, fat, carbs and fruits and vegetables.
Do avocados help with recovery?
They contain many nutrients including some B vitamins which have a role in helping the body get energy from the food we eat. Avocados provide a good source of energy in manageable portions, making them a great option when starting your journey to recovery.
Asheville Eating Disorder Treatment Services
Recovering from an eating disorder almost always requires treatment. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, treatment plans for eating disorders must be highly individualized, based on each person’s unique needs and issues.
How Nutrition Education Helps
Eating disorders like bulimia nervosa , anorexia nervosa, and binge eating disorder can take a major toll on your health and wellbeing. People with an eating disorder may lose touch with their body’s natural signals concerning fullness and hunger.
What Nutrition Therapy Does
Nutrition therapy goes beyond education and helps individuals identify their personal beliefs about food and bodyweight that may be contributing to their disordered eating.
The Value of Keeping a Food Journal
Keeping a food journal can be an important part of the eating disorder recovery process, according to a study published in the Journal of Food and Nutritional Disorders. A food log enables the dietitian to see a bigger picture, and it allows people in recovery to monitor their own progress.
PROFESSIONAL STAFF TO CARE FOR OUR CLIENTS
Tapestry staff members bring decades of combined experience providing empathetic, effective treatment for eating disorders and behavioral disorders.
AN EVOLVED APPROACH TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE
Through years of experience, we know that these conditions are rarely isolated. We understand that disordered eating and substance abuse are often the result of underlying mental health issues such as trauma, depression, and anxiety disorders.
THREE BEAUTIFUL TREATMENT FACILITIES
Each aspect of our facilities is designed to put you at ease and make you feel as at home as possible.
What is a free food?
A free food is any food or drink that contains less than 20 calories or less than or equal to 5 grams of carbohydrate per serving. You can add these to your meals but please use with moderation!!
How much fruit exchange per day?
Your eating disorder meal plan will probably include about 2-5 fruit exchanges per day (check with your dietitian).
Is meal planning an exact science?
A good thing to remember is that meal planning is not an exact science, even though when planning your eating disorder meal plan you will want it to be! It is more of an art and you should remember “close enough is good enough.”. When you are first learning this exchange system, you should measure or weigh the amount of food specified for each meal.

Assess Appropriate Level of Care
- Before deciding on a nutrition intervention, the appropriate level of care must be determined. Dependent on the severity of an eating disorder a team may recommend one of the following levels of care: 1. Inpatient Treatment Center 2. Residential Treatment Center 3. Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) 4. Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) 5. Outpatient When reco…
Assessing Current Behaviors and Risks
- The extent and combination of behaviors will play a role in determining the appropriate level of care. A patient can suffer from restriction, bulimia, binge eating, over exercise, laxative and diuretic abuse, etc.
Assessing Individual Energy Needs
- When assessing for energy requirement some dietitians may use equations such as Harris-Benedict and Mifflin St.Jeor can be used to measure resting energy expenditure (REE) or basal energy expenditure (BEE) . Others may use the recommended starting range of 30-40 kcal/kg . Once energy requirements are estimated it is the dietitian’s responsibility to monitor labs, vitals …
Types of Meal Plans For Eating Disorder Recovery
- When creating a meal plan it’s important to understand what a patient is suffering from and the overall role of nutrition in recovery. Remember the more severe the eating disorder the more structure required. As a patient progresses through the process of renourishing their body, they are also able to progress to less structured meal plans. The most structured meal plan starts wit…
Gradually Building Goals and Interventions
- You can see a common theme in all meal plans is healing the body and learning that all foods fit. Along with appropriate nutrition must come a couple key components in supporting knowledge, growth, and healing.