Supplements

I feel like supplements can be a controversial thing in ED recovery. There seems to be this sort of stigma that you need to be gaining in order to drink things like boost and ensure. 

I remember when I first entered treatment I was struggling with my meal plan so my dietitian put me on boost plus for one of my snacks because it was an easier way to get calories in. I also had to supplement with normal boost if I didn’t finish 75% of my meals. I had friends in recovery and other family members questioning why I needed to drink them if I didn’t need to gain weight. 

Y’all they’re supplements. Yes they can be added as part of a weight gain plan however I wasn’t having them in addition to my meal plan, they were simply a part of my meal plan that was already in place. If drinking a 220 cal boost is easier on my head and stomach than a giant bowl of oatmeal my first week in recovery I’m probably going to chose the boost. Heck I’ve been in recovery for almost a year and a half and I still have supplements for meals and snacks at work and when I’m on the go because they’re easier. There is absolutely nothing wrong with them. Heck sometimes they’re nutritionally superior to the “real food” options I have available. 

Earlier this week I was talking to my mum and mentioned I felt guilty for still drinking these this far into recovery.  She pointed out that if I’m at work and I have a 10 minute break to eat something and my choices are a) have a boost, b) have a packet of crisps or something quick, or c) have nothing and miss something on my meal plan, she’d much rather I have something that’s balanced and will give me the energy to get through the rest of my work day.