Thread: Is this a healthy, balanced diet? Will it make me fat?

I used to be very overweight and not too long ago developed anorexia. At the beginning of this year I was sectioned for 4 months and forced to gain weight by following a 2500 calorie diet. I was almost recovered by mid june but relapsed into a juice fast which lasted until early august. Since then I have been eating very little but 2 weeks ago my phychiatrist has told me I have lost too much weight and will need to keep a food diary so my eating can be monitored. Since then i've been eating quite a bit, as I do honestly want to be healthy. This is what i've eaten for the past few days, I am not allowed to count the calories or obsessively control my food portions but I would estimate i've had around 1800 calories each day.

6-9-11
- blueberries with low fat plain yoghurt and 1 banana
- small filled bread bun (tuna with low fat mayo) 2 single crisps (NOT packets!)
- homemade sweet and sour chicken (low fat sauce) with lots of broccoli and carrots. Tiny portions of rice
- A small to medium slice of chocolate cake. I hated every mouthful..

7-9-11
- small bread bun with generous amount of cheese, and a bowl full of beef and veg soup.. omg such a pig
- small portion of fish in breadcrumbs, small portion of baked beans and a handful of homemade actifry chips
- one kitkat

8-9-11
- fresh pineapple (a bowl full)
- tuna mayo sandwich with handful of crisps
- homemade beef curry (low fat sauce) with a generous helping of boiled new potatoes and a few carrotts
- 2 kitkats

9-9-11
- a peach
- filled bun (small) wih tuna mayo and a few slices of onion & cucumber with a large handful of crisps
- actifry homemade chips, 1 fish cake, 2 strips of mackaeral and peas and ketchup
- 1 kitkat

I drink water and diet coke everyday. So..
- Will this diet make me fat?
- How many calories would you estimate I am consuming per day?
- Is it a healthy/balanced diet..?

No you won't ever get 'fat' eating like that. You can work out your calories for free on My Fitness Pal which is excellent, and providing it wouldn't be counter-productive to your recovery (for example if obsessive calorie-counting is a problem for you) you can make sure you are eating the right amount of calories using the extensive food database and food diary function and also there is basic analysis of your food groups on there. If I were eating so few calories I would swap the crisps and kitkats for healthier options of similar calorific value, such as large portions of fruit, because then you will be getting more nutrients for the same calories as well as it being more satisfying as you can have more of it. I understand the need for control, you fear being overweight again, believe me I get that, you can find a way to balance things so that you still feel in control but are keeping your calories and nutriton at a healthy level as opposed to a dangerous one. All the best with your recovery xxx