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.

In an outpatient setting, a person in recovery needs to implement a structured eating plan on their own.

Meal Planning in Eating Disorder Recovery

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If someone with an eating disorder is afraid of binge eating, they might not keep their kitchen stocked.

Mealtimes can be stressful for the families of someone recovering from an eating disorder.

Constant meal preparation and serving can be overwhelming.

Here are some tips to get you started.

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Depending on their needs, involving them in the process can be part of their recovery.

Takeaways

Meal planning is a critical part of eating disorder recovery.

If getting started is a challenge, talk to your dietitian about what strategies might work best for you.

Grilo CM, Mitchell JE, eds.The Treatment of Eating Disorders: A Clinical Handbook.

New York: The Guilford Press; 2011.

Hage TW, R , Moen A.

“Time’s up” - staff’s management of mealtimes on inpatient eating disorder units.J Eat Disord.

2015;3:13. doi:10.1186/s40337-015-0052-4

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Planning meals.

National Eating Disorders Association.Recovery & relapse.