how to use food planning for eating disorder recovery
As eating disorder nutritionists supporting clients to restore a positive relationship with food, food planning is one of our most powerful tools. Food planning has several benefits, including:
Building structure and predictability around meals and snacks.
Reducing anxiety around eating and decision-making fatigue.
Restoring optimal nutrition and balance and addressing any nutritional deficiencies and depletions.
Supporting clients in developing a more flexible approach to eating.
To be effective, food planning should be personalised and tailored to each client’s needs, likes and stage of recovery.
five principles of creating effective food plans
1. prioritise nutritional density in eating disorder recovery
Clients with eating disorders are often undernourished due to restricting, binging or purging behaviours. One important goal of food planning is to help clients improve their nutritional input – ensuring optimal energy levels and macronutrients (like protein, carbohydrates and fats) to support their recovery.
tips:
Include all macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates and fats) and a portion of fruit/vegetables focusing on balance and variety.
Gradually increase portion size for clients struggling with restriction.
Legalise all foods/drinks to avoid creating or endorsing food rules or restriction.
2. focus on flexibility, not rigidity
Rigid food plans can perpetuate control and anxiety that might underlie eating disorders. Instead, build in flexibility and adaptability into food plans to support eating disorder recovery.
tips:
Providing options to allow for client likes and preferences.
Use visual guides to help with portion sizes rather than specific weights or measures.
Gradually add more flexibility and choice into the plan as clients gain confidence.
3. meet clients where they are
Food plans must build on what the client is eating right now so they are challenged without being overwhelmed.
tips:
Focus on achievable changes/additions to food plans and celebrate progress.
Frame deviations as ‘learning experiences’ rather than mistakes or failures.
Promote autonomy by encouraging the client to own the food plans and asking them to make suggestions.
4. incorporate ‘fear’ foods slowly in eating disorder recovery
Fear foods – those that the client avoids because they feel unsafe in some way – are common in eating disorders. Part of recovery involves reintroducing these foods in a safe and supportive way.
tips:
Focus on creating variety with ‘safe’ foods first to help clients to build confidence to make changes.
Incorporate ‘less safe’ foods slowly and with smaller portions.
Progress by incorporating ‘less safe’ foods more frequently (e.g., daily) to build tolerance over time.
5. collaborate with a multidisciplinary team
Eating disorders are complex mental health conditions that require a team-based approach. Nutritional interventions are not appropriate in isolation. Food planning should be discussed within the team to ensure it aligns with the client’s therapeutical and medical care.
tips:
Work closely with counselling and psychological colleagues to address barriers to eating and support to manage change and anxiety.
Identify nutritional deficiencies and consult medical professionals to monitor the client’s physical health.
avoid common pitfalls:
Overemphasis on calories: focus on the nutritional quality of meals and snack rather than calories which can reinforce eating disorder thoughts and behaviours.
Neglect individual taste, preferences and lifestyle: overly rigid or vague plans that ignore taste, lifestyle, culture or food preferences are likely to be unmanageable for clients.
Lack of psychological support: remember, food planning is a tool – not the complete solution: As with all nutritional interventions, it needs to be implemented within a programme of recovery that includes psychological support.
conclusion
Food planning is a powerful tool to support clients in eating disorder recovery. Focusing on flexibility, personalisation, and collaboration can empower clients to make meaningful progress. Are you a nutrition practitioner looking to deepen your expertise to support clients with eating difficulties? At The Eating Clinic, we offer specialist training for practitioners to support clients on their recovery journeys. Want to confidently support clients with eating disorders? Learn more about how we support practitioners here.