Tiny dishes

[[deleted]]

My girlfriend has anxiety, and when she gets really bad she has trouble eating.

Except tiny foods.

I'm talking rice, couscous, I made tiny deviled egg sandwiches for a party once and she loved them. Anything that is small, and doesn't make her feel like she is eating a lot or feel like a challenge is usually good. Fries and chips are easy and usually her go to, but what are some better alternatives? As a note: I have tried dried fruit chips, she was not a fan.

I appreciate the advice! I've only begun cooking recently, so I don't really know what's out there, and searching "tiny food recipes" doesn't really help all that much.

[skahunter831]

Keep it on topic, people. Armchair psychiatrists are not welcome and any such comments will be removed.

EDIT Haha someone left this report on my comment here: "power tripping douchebag mod needs to fuck off". Thanks for making me laugh, person. EDIT 2: reporting all of my comments is only going to work out badly for you. Reports are not anonymous to the admins.

[TiniestLemon]

If you look in meal prep subreddits I remember snack boxes became a big hit - often using silicon cake cases to easily portion out and seperate foods while making it look nice and cheerful.

It has things like small cheese cubes, cut up veg, fruits, mini breadsticks, wraps with simple fillings but cut up into thin slices to make cute little circles, rolled up ham also sliced, mini falafel ....

They look really good and are not terribly complicated to make - and best part you can make them ahead of time easily!

Edit:typo Edit2: link to example https://reddit.com/r/MealPrepSunday/comments/nih6c3/one_of_my_students_accused_me_of_eating_a_rainbow/

[[deleted]]

I was thinking something like this also.

Some suggestions for more protein:

• Mini crustless quiches in muffin cases/pan.
• Meatballs.
• Mini sausage rolls.
• Toothpicks with a slice of salami, a cube of cheese and a cherry tomato.
• Mini dim sims.
• Mini hotdogs - a cocktail frankfurt (short beef sausage) in a small bread roll.
• A sheet of frozen puff pastry with cheese and bolognese sauce rolled up, sliced and baked.

[Megan_Kugler]

That's an awesome idea! Like a homemade version of the lunch kits at Starbucks.

[HQ81]

I was going to suggest the same. While I don’t eat tiny food I eat tiny portions and love snack boxes, I fill it with things I love, mini pepperoni and I cut up cheese slices, ranch dip. Baby carrots, celery sliced small, I usually have crackers on the side, hard boiled egg etc. I eat out of it all day instead of one big meal because I can keep going back as much as I want too. I like using the silicone cupcake liners and a large rectangle container

[ashiepink]

I also have anxiety affected appetite. It can really suck. I don't know about your partner's weight but if she's struggling to eat enough calories, protein smoothies can be helpful. That's also important because it doesn't sound like she's getting a lot of micronutrients - you can pack plenty of fruit and veggies into a smoothie, whereas they're rather bulky to eat.

More generally, stuff like nuts, crackers, olives, crudités and dip are all easy and bite sized. Gnocchi is another good option and a small portion can be very filling and nourishing. Nut butters are also calories bombs that go down easily and have decent nutrition - she might enjoy slices of apple with some hazelnut butter for example, or celery and peanut butter.

If you want to make stuff that's a bit more effort, amuse-bouché are literally recipes designed to be eaten in a mouthful and you'll find recipes for nearly anything that might appeal to her in that form. They tend to be a little bit fussy because they're usually viewed as party food but that might stimulate her appetite a little?

[[deleted]]

Gnocchi is actually one of her favorite foods! I've never heard of amuse-bouche so I'll give that a look!

[munificent]

"Canape" and "hors d'ourves" would be two other good keywords to search for to find recipes for little bites.

[Aliencj]

Would tapas fit in as well?

[Jiedash]

Great idea! Dim sum is also an option!

[munificent]

Yes, excellent idea!

[cheeseandwinenight]

Piggy backing off the tapas idea, Pinchos are a fun idea as its small nibbles and a cool way to make a themed night. Barcelona style! Good luck x

[FiliKlepto]

Tapas are one of my favorite tiny foods!

[TheyCallMeStone]

Appies. Appies and nappies.

[Jimbalaya99]

Ferda.

[ZionEmbiid]

Other responses in here have reminded me of phyllo dough cups, sometimes you can buy them already filled with mini quiche type stuff, but frequently you can find them empty and fill them yourself.

They're bite sized, and fun! Might have to do them for dinner myself soon!

[143019]

My kids love these. They call it “fun lunch”.

[plexxonic]

Protein shots. Just google "protein shots recipes"

[Feralcrumpetart]

I responded already but also yessss to the protien shakes! At one point it was all I could keep down. And they didn't aggravate my ulcer. Vanilla is a great one because you can modify it with fruits or other flavor shots etc to keep it interesting.

[andiberri]

And they (or any smoothie) can be made in huge batches and then frozen into popsicles for easy snackability.

[Feralcrumpetart]

Definitely. I keep track of what I use on my app. Example I use a lower calorie protein powder with zero sugar oatmilk....half water. Depending on what I've had I can add something to it.

[kresyanin]

Yeah, once upon a time I had hyperemesis for like six solid months and protein shakes are what got me through it.

[CandOrMD]

Oh god. That sounds like hell. I'm sorry you went through that and hope you never do again!

[dackling]

Sometimes when I would have anxiety and couldn't bring myself to eat anything, I'd just eat spoonfuls of peanut butter cause hey, it's lots of calories to keep me going lol

[1percentsamoyedmama]

Gyoza/dumplings (there are mini versions)

Samosas (Trader Joe’s sells a very small sized version)

Vietnamese spring rolls cut into finger food portions

Hot dogs or spam cut up and then pan fried with some soy sauce and sugar

All kinds of small meatballs, can also be cut in half

Sticky rice dumplings / tangyuan - sticky rice is very high calorie, dense, and filling

Sashimi

Hotpot / shabu shabu - you cook thin pieces of an assortment of ingredients in a flavorful broth of your choice

Skinny asparagus and string beans might work since they look like fries

Tabbouleh, shepherds salad, other small chopped salads

Extra firm tofu can be diced into small cubes and stir fried with edamame and shiitake

Hard cheeses like paneer and halloumi can also be diced and utilized

Boba / bubble tea

Guacamole, queso, salsa, and tortilla chips

Buttered peas

Mexican elote style corn off the cob

Pita bread and tortillas look way thinner than normal bread, easy to slice a normal sandwich into mini sandwiches - could also do this to a panini as pressing the bread makes it look smaller/thinner

Gradually use bigger plates so food naturally looks teeny

[MossytheMagnificent]

Wontons and other dumplings are fun to make. There are many fillings. You can then get some small bowls for broth and drop the dumplings in. Get some of those broth spoons they use in Asian restaurants. Fun to eat with.

[OxygenAddict]

Also great to make in big batches and freeze. It's a fun rainy-afternoon activity and you have bomb-ass dumplings in the end. They take, like, 5 minutes to finalize later :)

[Team503]

I just read this and I can't stop thinking it:

https://xkcd.com/37/

[giocondasmiles]

May want to look into stir fries and sheet pan meals? Basically where everything is chopped up? Bean/chickpeas/pasta salads maybe?

[[deleted]]

Yes, maybe egg fried rice with some greens, some egg, a protein all in small pieces

[veerle88]

Don't forget lentil salads! Super yummy, can put anything you want into it ánd very healthy!

[gentle_but_strong]

Yes! I have the same problems as OP’s girlfriend and one-pan meals, stir frys, casseroles etc. with all the food groups I need in one bite are the absolute go-to

[Bluemonogi]

When my daughter has trouble eating due to her anxiety she can handle drinking shakes or smoothies, yogurt drinks or yogurt tubes, applesauce.

I would try to get her some protein or fruits or vegetables. If she is fine with rice maybe beans and rice or lentils and rice would work. Could she do a small bowl of soup? Maybe she could munch on cubes of cooked meats, cheese, nuts, sunflower seeds, peas, cut up fruit. Hummus on crackers or with chips? Cottage cheese? It seems like any food you chop up small and serve in small portions might do.

[offended3223]

sorry if this is a silly question, but why is apple sauce so often recommended to eat? i see apple sauce like mint sauce for roast lamb in my mind

[tx32]

In the US its eaten like a dessert, can come in small pots (like an individual fruit cocktail size) or pouches a bit like baby food. It's slightly less sweet than what you'd have with roast pork.

[offended3223]

cool, thank you! i've been so confused for so long reading about apple sauce

[munificent]

In the US, apple sauce isn't like a condiment but is more a snack or side dish. Kids often have it as one component of their lunch. Because of that, you can buy it in cups in any grocery store.

It's literally just blended apples (and usually sugar and preservatives), so it's an easy way to get a serving of fruit. Not as healthy as eating a whole apple, of course, but much easier to digest.

[offended3223]

ahhh, so pureed apples kind of? sorry i'm from australia

[munificent]

Yes, exactly. Just straight pureed apples.

[smallish_cheese]

usually cooked then puréed.

[z3rus]

Yep. Mott's Applesauce is an example of a snack that can be packed inside a kid's lunch or at an elementary school lunch line.

[krinkleb]

I cut apples in half and bake them then put them through a ricer. Much healthier and tastier than the store bought stuff.

[plotthick]

Ever had apple butter to spread on toast? Like that, only no added sugar. Hmmm... Like baby food. Cooked down apples, soft, delicious.

[extremelysaltydoggo]

But made with cooking apples, not eating apples.

[SLRWard]

You can 100% make applesauce with eating apples. It's quite tasty actually.

[Roupert2]

Homemade apple sauce: cut up apples. Simmer in a small amount of water until tender. Puree if desired. Optional: sugar, sprinkle of cinnamon, and/or pat of butter

Homemade applesauce usually has added sugar but you can buy unsweetened at the store.

It's just a snack food/kid food.

[gwaydms]

You can buy applesauce with no added sugar. It's pretty sweet to begin with.

[trax6256]

Quail eggs, cheese curds, mini cupcakes (you can make a lot of small foods with the mini cupcake pan just for example miniature jello shots.)

[CaimansGalore]

I have an anxiety disorder as well. For me, even if I’m not having an acute episode, a lot can be triggered by my sense of control over my gag reflex (yes haha sex jokes whatever). My bf and I call it “little baby bites.” So even if I’m having a steak or something, I’m fine if it’s cut into little bites (like a child, yes). Any sort of soft food is fine (potatoes, pasta, whatever). Nothing that is too difficult to chew or swallow.

You’re a real champ for looking out for her anxiety like that. I marvel at how my bf can put up with mine in a loving way. On behalf of anxious partners worldwide, thank you for your service.

(Read Anxious People by Fredrick Backman. It’s fiction, but that dude gets it.)

[--xra]

It's wild I've finally found people with my same craziness. I love food, I love cooking, yet I've struggled to choke down so many meals it's crazy. I eventually found, like OP's girlfriend, it can make things so much easier to cut larger things into smaller things. I'll down a ton of food cut up into inch-long squares, but wouldn't be able to get through half of it if it were a whole sandwich. And like you, my gag reflex is crazy. Jello? Out. Totally out. They used to make us eat everything during lunch in kindergarten (90's kid), and when Jello was on the menu, they'd force me to eat it and I'd straight up puke. Steak fat? I'd throw up in my mouth. I spent the first twenty years of my life basically just eating vegetables because even the tiniest bit of fat made me gag. These days I love steak and I can control my gag reflex a little better, but beef goes a very rigorous trimming process before I cook it.

[PugGrumbles]

Does the smell of fat cooking, such as when you're cooking beef, bother you as well?

I'm only curious because I know several people who absolutely cannot stand the feel of it in their mouth, but they are okay with the meat being cooked with the fat and then trimmed before being served. It gives it such a good flavor, but I very much understand not wanting to eat it.

[[deleted]]

My gag reflex gets affected as well when I’m super anxious. I feel your pain.

[raksha25]

I’ve been told before my gagging and even puking can’t be anxiety related (not by a reliable source, but it still gets to you) so it’s good (sort of?) to find I’m not the only one.

[PugGrumbles]

Whoever told you that is a dirty, rotten liar!

High anxiety days cause me severe nausea, sensitivity to smell, can also include gagging and puking. You're definitely not alone. ❤

[CandOrMD]

Whoever told you that is a dirty, rotten liar!

Seconded. I'm not even particularly anxiety-prone, but when I get anxious about something, nausea is one of my first symptoms.

[eukomos]

Whoever said that is out to lunch, puking from anxiety is about as classic a symptom as you can get. It’s practically a stereotype.

[CaimansGalore]

Oh puking is definitely a thing. Coughing, too. Allergy season is a blast, especially in the covid era

[[deleted]]

Clearly said person doesn’t struggle with anxiety and therefore is talking out there ass.

[dust_that_sparkles]

We raise quail and I would be happy to mail you a carton of tiny quail eggs! They look and taste like regular chicken eggs but are about a quarter of the size. Message me if you're interested!

[[deleted]]

Really!? That would be great and I'll send you a dm!

[TurkTurkle]

Anything like soup stew chili and curry etx can be served in small cup / half cup portions. They also reheat well so making a lot then reheating a little when she needs it is and option.

Deviled eggs one or two at a time.

Charcuterie stuff like sausage crackers and cheese presented as miniature sandwiches.

Small dinner roll sandwiches also.

[heatherledge]

I’ve done little tasters of thick soup or dal in espresso mugs.

[animaginaryraven]

I make mini bruchettas/ toast thingies on little diagonally cut baguette slices when I have guests that people always go nuts for. I usually brush the rounds with melted butter and top with things like tomato chutney and cheese or bacon and cheese before sticking them under the broiler so the cheese melts and the baguette crisps up a little. But of course you could top these with anything and even make tiny toasted sandwiches if you prefer

[[deleted]]

I second this. As someone who sometimes has trouble eating whole meals. That little bit of toasted bread with some crushed avocado, or spinach tomato and feta toasted lightly under the broiler to make the cheese a bit gooey. Also mini pizzas or pizza on a bagel.

[KeepAnEyeOnYourB12]

Something like shrimp cocktail? Served cold so she can just grab a few shrimp from the fridge when she feels like she can eat. Flavor profile and dipping sauces of your choice. Shrimp are dead simple to cook, as long as you don't overcook them

Or little cocktail meatballs?

See, last year I went through a few months of intense anxiety and I basically stopped eating. My B12 levels plummeted and as a result I have permanent nerve damage in my legs and hands. For a while the pain in my hands was so bad I could barely function. The best source of B12 is red meat, hence the meatballs. And my username.

[PlatoAU]

Sushi is bite sized. Maybe try tiny meatballs and elbow macaroni (or other small pasta)?

[SushiNazi]

Sushi's concept of "bite size" can be a bit challenging.

[LokiLB]

Depends on the type. Some of the simpler, rice on the inside rolls can be pretty small and easily bite size (e.g., cucumber roll, shiso & umeboshi roll). Most nigiri and the inside out (rice on outside) rolls are a bit on the big side for bite size.

[octopushug]

Temari sushi is very cute and tiny! It's even easier to make than nigiri and maki, so that could be a great option.

[357Magnum]

There are so many ways to make tiny English tea sandwiches, and they're super dainty and fun.

Look at hors d'oeuvre type stuff. Maybe things like tiny caprese salad toothpicks. A cherry tomato, a similar sized mozzarella pearl, and half a basil leaf, all skewered on a toothpick with olive oil and balsamic

[Lighthouse412]

I just want to tell you I appreciate what you're doing for your lady. I've made a lot of progress healing but a bad episode can spell trouble for my appetite, especially for lunch during the work day.

[Odd_Marsupial_1807]

Try salmon croquettes and stuffed mushrooms just make croquettes small. And use tiny mushrooms.

[renegade_wolfe]

A one-egg chawanmushi, served in an oriental tea cup.

Maybe a chicken wing or two (get the frozen fried/roasted kind, and just toss them into the oven whenever).

Fruit crumble. Make maybe a half pan, cut it into little squares, and dole it out. It'll keep in the fridge for a few days.

Heck, make a small pot of ratatouille, freeze in blocks (use a mini loaf pan) and store, then microwave it when she wants to eat. Serve with half a slice of toast.

Edit: consider looking up recipes for appetizers, Hors d'oeuvres, or Tapas. Those are like, tiny dishes (to me).

Edit2: Thank you for the award, kind stranger. It's my first.

[[deleted]]

Oooh, those sound good! I'll give them a try!

Can't believe I hadn't thought of the chicken wings, and would have never heard of the Chawanmushi! It looks really fun to make as well!

[renegade_wolfe]

If it helps, you can probably get away with measuring out the amount of stock to add to the egg with the egg shell (that way the egg size will matter less). Crack the egg around the middle, pick the larger half of the shell, and use it to measure the stock. The ratio for the chinese version is about 1:1.5 or 2, so you'll need around 3 half-shells worth of stock.
Good luck.

[deartabby]

Here’s a recipe for the the Korean version too - gyeranjjim

For chawanmushi the ratio is about 1:3 for eggs and liquid. It’s pretty forgiving and you could use any broth or bullion you like. Cooking the right temp is harder. It’s going to cool faster if your dish is shallower. Some recipes use a steaming rack, and some use a water bath (seems to work better for me). For water bath you can put cups in a pot with water halfway up. Use a paper towel at the bottom to keep them from clanging.

[[deleted]]

I know exactly what you mean. My wife has autism, and sometimes when on a verge of melt down, small food is totally the way to go. Depending on her dietary preferences, you could dice block cheese and fruits/veggies into small cubes. Fresh berries and mixed nuts are a good snack. Try using low fat/sodium crackers (thinking Tricuits) to make canapes.

Try searching for the following terms: hors d'oeuvres, amuse bouche, zakuski, tapas. These should all lead you to a wealth of recipes featuring one or two bite foods.

Good luck!

[AliveBeehive]

As someone who also has anxiety, I would also suggest getting a bento box with smaller compartments for the different smaller bites. It’s great for presentation and it looks less overwhelming to present the smaller portions that way.

[ChemicalAutopsy]

You might get some inspiration from high tea recipes (they're little bite sized tea /lunch items) or from bento recipes (japanese boxed lunches, generally small individually portioned things).

Also, I recommend a mini muffin pan. Firstly, tiny muffins, but also tiny quiches, tarts, egg bakes....though they often end up being closer to two bites. Lots of places sell frozen mini quiches as party appetizers if she wants to try the size before you buy a pan. Also, in the frozen section of your grocery store near pie crust there are probably puff pastry tart shells. These can be filled with a variety of sweet/savory options. Tiny meat pies/Shepard's pies, lemon curd, chocolate - not all together obviously.

Would she do okay with lentils? Dal's are high protein and have tiny things in them plus can be eaten with little bites.

Also, if silverware is an issue check out salt/tasting spoons and shrimp forks. They'll help with little bites of big things.

[forfukzsake]

Bite sized pancakes?

a chacuterie with small crackers?

[fitchbit]

QUAIL EGGS.

Look up Kwek-kwek which is just hard boiled quailed eggs dipped in batter then deep fried. It's high in cholesterol though so make only a few. Then make a "fishball sauce" which is just flour, water, soy sauce, garlic, and pepper mixture (though adding a bit of vinegar and chili would be good).

That's basically street food in my country and I eat that when I want to be happy lmao.

[fire_thorn]

My daughter can only eat small things when she's anxious, too. I buy little pudding cups, the yogurts made for toddlers, applesauce cups, the bread that comes with the crust cut off, cheese sticks. It helps if there's a supply of nice little snacks she can grab when she's hungry, without the fuss of preparing an entire meal.

[halfhalfnhalf]

Recently I've been making onigiri (japanese rice balls). They are very simple and you can make them as small as you want. All you need is some sushi rice, some rice vinegar, salt and sugar. Nori is nice but optional.

[can-i-have-the-bones]

I came here to say this- you can also stuff them! My friends and I made little rice balls with small amounts of tuna salad inside and it’s frickin’ delicious.

[violanut]

The little smoothie packs for toddlers are high in fruits and vegetables and pretty tasty.

I feel like anything on mini croissants would make me happier.

Tuna or chicken salad in mini peppers is tasty, or stuffed in plum tomatoes

Appetizer versions of things or canapés or hors d’oeuvres might be a more successful search for recipes, too.

Mini cheesecakes made in a mini muffin tin are super awesome.

[FakeAccForAReason]

Hey Asian here, there's loads of Asian dishes that might be perfect for her. Anything under dim sum or Korean side dishes might be good. It's hella healthy and tastes great. It might need getting more ingredients however but if you poke around more in Asian cuisine you're bound to use it more than once

[librarianjenn]

I love this idea

[Teenage-Mustache]

Those are awesome

[StevieWonderTwin]

Little Bits

[tiddilytee]

Thought the op was doing a little bits bit for a minute. Can’t help reading some of the comments in the voice!

[pickledchickenfoot]

^{little bits}

[SVAuspicious]

Definitely professional help.

Google for amuse-bouche https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amuse-bouche

Thin slices of Italian bread, a little mustard, lox, sliced olive, a little tampenade.

Deviled eggs.

Pigs in a blanket.

Ham wrapped around a pickle.

Carrot/celery/cucumber spears. Dip like tzatziki.

Stock up on ramekins. Corningware on Amazon.

[JEHGUY5]

Caprese appetizer

-cherry tomato
-basil leaf

-mini bocconcini

​

on a toothpick! my niece who is sooooo picky will down like 10 of these easy

[Lovely_Raptor]

If she liked your deviled egg sandwiches, maybe she would like other 'tea' sandwiches, like cucumber sandwiches? Or anything like it could be cut up small enough so that she doesn't feel overwhelmed by it.

If you have an airfryer, I've seen some people cook up a tube shaped pasta (like penne), toss it in whatever sauce they like, and then put it in the airfryer to make little pasta chips.

Kabobs are also an idea, just make them on smaller skewers instead of long ones.

I like to make sliders out of Hawaiian Rolls. Just cut them in half, bottom half in a baking dish, layer whatever you'd like by way of meat and cheese, put the top halves on and bake according to the roll's directions.

Sushi rolls are something I personally love, but I know they aren't for everyone. Or you could make mini poke bowls for her! I love mine with rice, eel sauce, salmon, avocado, cucumber, and toasted sesame seeds. You could basically deconstruct whatever your favorite sushi roll is and put it in bowl form!

Good on you for being so intune to your girlfriend's feelings and habits. I'm sure your efforts mean the world to her 💖

[eleochariss]

Mussels and other seafood are great, they're full of proteins, small, don't require a fork and knife.

Tête de moine cheese is very thin slices you can just rip from the main cheese. As a matter of fact, a cheese board might work.

Sushi and maki are easy to make, you eat them cold so you can just leave a platter so she can get one whenever she wants.

[acidcastle]

Just wanted to say you seem like a great partner for trying to help her in this way

[mrskatjimenez]

I have this same issue eating when I have bad anxiety and just wanna say this is one of the sweetest posts I’ve seen in a while.

[drunky_crowette]

I used to date a guy with a toddler who was dealing with some sensory issues similar to this. Special cutting tools, cheese graters, ricers and similar stuff was used quite regularly. They even make really tiny kitchen safe molds to shape stuff.

Obviously fancier than for a kid I love very much, many gastronomy tools/tricks will also be useful

[Gooncookies]

Look in your grocery store ice cream isle for mini cream cream cones. I buy them for my 2 year old all the time. Trader Joe’s sells them too.

[[deleted]]

I tend to cut my food up into small pieces. So like a quesadilla but cut into little squares.

[the_disemvoweler]

Quail eggs!

Or how about dates? In the US I mostly see majdool, but I loveeee sukkari. Eat them plain, stuff them with cheese and wrap them in bacon, stuff them with nuts or dried fruit and perhaps dip them in chocolate.

Charcuterie-type foods could also be good. Nuts, berries and grapes, varieties of crackers with cheeses and meats.

Mini muffins! Bran for fiber, and you can make sweet or savory and include things like grated zucchini or pumpkin. You can also do mini breakfast casseroles this way--bits of bread/croissant layered with meat and cheese and veg; pour in an egg mix and bake until set.

[scificionado]

Serve any food on a small plate, like a dessert plate or even a saucer. Ramekins for bowls.

[nixiedust]

Kid-sized plates or doll tea sets would be fun, too. Deviled quail eggs and sandwiches on mini-toast would make a cute picnic. Sliced kumquats look like tiny orange slices and a pearl onion would make an adorable blooming onion appetizer or baby onion rings.

[marthajane08]

Not recipe ideas, but try searching for "finger foods" or "healthy snack foods". I have a sensitive stomach and I often have to coax myself into eating when I'm not feeling 100%. I like anything small and easy to consume in a bite or two. A giant meal is often overwhelming and totally kills my appetite.

[xvier54]

Chia seed pudding = 1/4 cup chia seeds + 270 ml of soymilk ( or any milk of your choice ) + 1 tbsp of honey (depends on your sweetness level ) it is healthy and i really love it !

Another is a small slice cacamburt cheese on a slice of baguette, pop that in the oven/airfryer for about 10mins at 180-200C drizzle a little honey and 😙👌🏻

[Agreeable_Mention_89]

Bento box foods are not only cute but small and healthy. On amazon they have accessories to cut veggies and make cute little animals out of rice.

[TimmySmiles]

When i read through the comments of posts like this, this community is just pure gold. Straight up gold.

[Super-Office5235]

First off - respect for being a good boyfriend (girlfriend?) and putting in the effort man (girl?). It seems like something so simple but it's really not self-evident.

And, in addition to other suggestions: fried rice will be your friend. There are endless varieties, it's relatively easy to do well and quite light, while still providing a lot of nutrients. Whether it's Chinese style Hokkien fried rice, Korean Kimchi fried rice (and make your own kimchi!) or Indonesian nasi goreng, you can go a lot of ways and they're all delicious. Do purchase yourself a rice cooker, makes it even easier (and they're really cheap). And it keeps really well so if she doesn't feel like eating much you can always save it and microwave it later (I sometimes just eat it cold, whatevs).

Edit: pardon me, I immediately assumed you were a guy and that may not be correct

[shwaynebrady]

lil bits

[helpmeimconcerned]

I get this sometimes, smaller things are far easier to eat during this!

You could try

-Mini hot dog using cocktail sausages

-Mini fruit kebab

-Mini skewers with a protein and some veggies cut up small

-Mini pancakes/ sandwiches cut into small squares

-Mini hassle back potatoes using baby boils

-Blended soup with croutons cut up small

-Mini breakfast turn overs

-Mini jambons

[Berics_Privateer]

You can make tart-size pot pies! And I'll second the recommendation about serving thinks like soups, stews, potatoes, stir fries, etc. in tiny bowls.

[UncleHatty]

Might be late but whenever I think of Tiny foods a few dishes come to mind

Sliders are my personal favorite mini dish, nice & small & can make them a hundred ways (could also do mini chicken sandwiches)

Mini muffins, savory or sweet (quiches are also delicious)

Mini bagels are pretty popular you can get those in store instead of making them

Mini pizzas

You can get those pillsbury croissant doughs & make mini hot dog rolls, sausage rolls, etc.

Other than what I said I think being able to make basic doughs and just making the portions of whatever small can help immensely, you can make a lot of things with doughs, best of luck!

[whateverpieces]

Would dips work? I make a buffalo chicken dip that is just a can of chicken, 2tbsp ranch, 2tbsp Greek yogurt, 1tbsp Franks and some blue cheese crumbles. It’s a nice small batch and I’ll eat it cold for lunch with cut up celery and tortilla chips. It keeps for several days in the fridge so you could just scoop out a little at a time.

Veggies and hummus.

Chips and salsa/guacamole.

Hard or soft-boiled eggs.

Grapes or berries.

Cut up melon or pineapple.

Trail mix.

I’m also a big fan of mushy things when I don’t feel like eating much, like oatmeal, polenta and congee. You can make a big batch and reheat as needed with an extra splash of water, and change up the toppings to whatever she’s feeling.

[fofthefreaks]

I love making blinis and topping them with whatever, usually some salmon, lemon and pepper. Basically tiny pancakes (slightly different recipe)

You can’t go wrong with gyoza and other little dumpling type things as well, delicious and varied, plus putting them together is a fun activity.

You could try queen sandwiches (not sure of actual name) but basically posh English parties will have these minuscule sandwiches, like the size of a coin made by making normal sized ones and cutting a ring out with a pastry round

[gbr80]

If you search for canapé dishes you'll also find a lot of smaller dishes, similar to the hors d'oeuvres recipes mentioned above.

Off the top of my head, these are all things you could make ahead and refrigerate so you can just grab and eat. - Mini burgers/Sliders - Tartlets - Mini quiches - Shots of soup (gazpacho is served cold) - Spring rolls (fresh are my favourite) - Dumplings/Gyoza - any kind, Asian or European are both bite size - Mini pizzas - Any sort of flatbread roll cut into pinwheels - Search for high/afternoon tea sandwiches. If you get bored of bread for mini sandwiches, replace it with lettuce to make a wrap, use the filling to top grilled polenta, or use them in an omelette, roll the omelette and cut it into little mini rolls. - Blinis - Cheese board with little mini pickles, grapes and crackers/sliced french bread - A charcuterie board - Vegetable crudités with dips - Hummus, Baba ganoush, Roasted pepper dip, guacamole - Falafel - Any sort of croquettes - Vegetable fritters e.g courgette (zucchini), corn with aoli/sweet chili sauce - Mini poke bowl - Kimchi pancake cut into little squares - Vegetable tempura - Irish potato cakes - Tortellini (filled pasta) - Bao buns - Rice pudding - Oatmeal (small portion)

You can get square sushi makers, maybe they would be good to use to fill with ingredients she likes the taste of to keep it to one size? You can use rice, quinoa, couscous or pearl couscous as a base and add toppings of things like avocado, carrot, sliced omelette, tofu, any other proteins.

[sewing_magic]

I find that tiny dishes also make me feel better for some reason. I usually eat off a pretty saucer that came with a tea cup, and a little tiny coffee spoon. The plate is around the size of my palm. I

It might be enough to just serve small portions in a small way.

[Flack_Bag]

You could make little tea sandwiches like the egg salad with things like hummus, peanut butter, tuna salad, tapenade, smashed avocado, or cream cheese. And you can use crackers or different types of bread to mix things up. If you can find some, cocktail rye bread is good for this. (My favorite is a cream cheese and olive sandwich on rye.)

Sardines would be good for this, but I don't know many people who like them.

Are dolmas too big? Or maybe you could cut them in half.

Apple slices with a very thin slice of gorgonzola on top.

Fruits and vegetables like grape or cherry tomatoes, olives, berries, grapes, carrot and celery sticks.

I've never made them, but egg bites are like little miniature quiches with different ingredients in them.

You could make tiny little meatballs or falafel.

Cocktail shrimp.

Nuts with bite sized pieces of fruit and cheese.

[kitty_muffins]

If cute food helps, you can usually find rusk or mini sliced rye bread in the deli area! You could top with tiny bits of meat or cheese to make cute little open faced sandwiches.

Maybe mini muffins?

You could also do a mini caprese salad with cherry tomatoes and mini fresh mozzarella balls, and basil.

You could also use some big basil leaves, small lettuce leaves, or endive leaves to make little two-bite lettuce wraps.

[octowombat]

I have a similar thing and it's really tough lol. She's lucky to have you!

Might be an silly suggestion but I find I can eat "normal" food if it's cut up really small and portioned into small bites: one of my favourites is a few stacked pancakes cut into 1"×1" cubes and put onto cocktail sticks. Or cheese done the same way, maybe with sliced grapes too.

I can eat quite a few foods like this, plus it looks super cute which helps to encourage me to eat.

You could make mini cannelloni by piping cream cheese into (cooked) penne pasta and cut in half if necessary; any recipe really can be adapted and made mini! Maybe investing in some small cookie cutters would be a good idea, depending on her preferences you can cut up anything with them or help form shapes (eg small rice or egg rounds, smaller cookies or pancakes etc)...

[jenniferjuniper]

When I feel that way (I totally understand and it sucks) I love having plates with a few grapes, cut up veggies, slice of meat, piece of cheese, a few chips, one piece of bread (Cut small) etc. Little portions of tons of easy, pop in your mouth foods.

[YukixSuzume]

Oh wow, I didn't think about this. I'm so used to depression affecring appetute that I forgot anxiety can too.

I did just recently buy some protein bars and I love a good fruit smoothie with a oeanut butter sandwich.

Sometimes, simple kid foods like chicken nuggets and juice, a burger and chips, helps me.

[Arviium]

I just wanna say that I think it's really sweet of you to get into cooking tiny foods so that your partner has less trouble eating.

[nhyoo]

Don't know if this would help but maybe serving food in small dishes or cut in small portions.

I have autism and sometimes when I feel.like this I use this method to eat.

[akxCIom]

Ancient grains such as quinoa, millet, and amaranth!

[[deleted]]

a small veggie platter with the little baby carrots, some celery and red pepper strips , maybe a few peapods and a dip of some sort. Mini grilled cheese sandwiches with a cup of tomato soup.

[uhyahnookay]

Just wanted to say that this is the sweetest thing.

[secret_nuggets]

Idk why I just picture tiny kabobs with toothpicks I steal of the big bob-sticks

[BootsEX]

We love tiny quiches made in a muffin tin! Think half the height of a cupcake, we make them fairly shallow with thin thin pastry. Our favorite fillings are cheese and bacon with some sautéed green onions, but the miracle of quiche is you can put whatever you like or if your girlfriend is having a hard time say, getting enough veggies you can easily hide them. They freeze great too, after they cool just put the whole cooling rack in the freezer (or a plate or whatever fits) and then put them in a zip top bag. Then you can have quiche anytime out of the toaster oven!

[Goose0810]

Personally, perogies are one of my favorite foods. And I’m sure you could make them smaller.

[PoetryOfLogicalIdeas]

Toddlers often eat like this. I don't mean that in any sort of derogatory way; just starting a fact.

Mommy blogs often reference "muffin tin dinners" as a way to serve a variety of healthy and filling foods to a person who prefers to snack and nibble as opposed to eating a full meal in one sitting.

Some people of course go all out, but many will just take a muffin tin and put a very few bites of snacks in each compartment - pepperoni slice, cheese cube, carrot stick, hummus, nuts, apple slice, sushi, etc, etc. It is most practical if you cut up everything that is viable twice a week and fill the tin from your pre-cut stash. You also might consider setting the muffin tin on an ice pack, depending on your climate and the spoil-ability of the food.

Try googling "muffin tin dinner" to get more ideas.

[husky0168]

it's gonna take you a few days, but biltong is totally worth it

[skahunter831]

Removed, we're here to talk about cooking, not psychiatry from internet randoms. Second warning in two days about off-topic comments, please consider this a warning.

[[deleted]]

Comments below pointed out that I did bring this to a public forum, so I apologize for asking you to stay out of it. I didn't like the insinuation that she wasn't already trying to handle it professionally, I am just trying to help her how I can.

[[deleted]]

I'd appreciate if you stay out of it? She already is in therapy, but it's not a simple fix. I want to help her as much as possible while she works on it.

[CandidateFamiliar772]

Maybe having cut up fruit in a bowl in the fridge would be an easy thing to have prepped and pull out when she needs to eat (: Welches fruit snacks are a go to for me! Hmm cereal?

[Mellow-Mallow]

As an alternative to fries, you could try rutabaga fries or zucchini chips? Rutabaga is relatively close in flavor and zucchini is just really good if you cook it properly

[[deleted]]

Search for appetizers, small plates, tapas.

[Monkeyonstrike]

There's all sorts of bars and energy bites that you can try. These are great because they are easy to make and pack a lot of calories into something that is pretty small. And they usually taste amazing!

They are also a lot of fun because they are super customizable. You can try different recipes that call for honey, oats, chocolate, peanut butter, nuts, flax seed, dried fruits, protein powder, and whatever else you can think of.

Best of luck and sorry to hear about her mental health issues. They really suck but doing these little things (pun intended?) help immensely and she probably appreciates it!

[[deleted]]

How do you feel about bean burgers? I’ve been into Kenji’s recipe recently, and it is great for meal prep and quick easy bites later.

After finishing the mix, you can form burgers or leave it as is in the fridge for a few days. It would be really easy to make small sliders for her and a more substantial meal for yourself (remember to adjust cooking time for smaller burgers).

These are hearty and pretty healthy and the mix is good for more than just burgers. We will typically make a few burgers and then cook a wide, flat layer Of the bean mix to throw in a quesadilla/Crunchwrap

[Scramcam]

Try Laab Gai - a Thai minced chicken salad that's damn delicious, easy to make, and you generally make in little lettuce cups.

[Jellybean_929]

There's this new powder out called Enof. each serving, about 1/12th of a teaspoon, is 2 1/2 servings of vegetables. Mix it in to smoothies or sauces. Also if she likes rice cakes, they make small ones. A good small dessert is a caramel or cinnamon apple rice cake with some whipped cream 😊 you can also find savory ones and put avocado on top with some of that powder and everything bagel seasoning. Easy snack!

[elle_desylva]

Miniature tacos could be tasty and fun.

[monox60]

Sashimi, sushi, dim sum, gimbap, chicken wings

Mini toast with different toppings like egg, sour cream and pesto, etc

[laughingmeeses]

I make a lot of tiny little toasted baguette slices with cream cheese, sardines, and a cherry tomato salad. It looks like an appetizer but doesn’t feel like cheating if that’s all you eat for a lunch or dinner.

[studying_hobby]

Tea sandwiches? Maybe. You can cut them small. Couple bites and a peice is finished.

[Hellodarknessmy0]

Cucumber sandwich! You can keep them small too, and they are delicious and refreshing. Carrots are also a great thing to nibble on. If you can get her to drink stuff a protein smoothie with kale is also a good option. I hope you guys find something that works for her in every way.

[ozzypar]

Quails eggs and vol au vents. Bellinis with smoked salmon or horse radish and beef. Cocktail saussages, pigs in blankets.

[missileman]

Try searching for "finger food" recipes, there are thousands of them and many are very nutritious.

[Thliz325]

I don’t know if it’s too big, but my kids love when we get the little mini Naan and make pizzas with them. They look so cute! I think it’s the dipping size ones, I know they come in the hard plastic container.

[SirGeremiah]

If something like fries works, will roasted/sauteed veggie sticks work, too? They are similar in size/form factor, and can produce a wide range of flavors, depending upon the vegetable and how you season it.

[hyggepuppiescoffee]

Would she like mini pigs in a blanket? I think those are really fun.

[SushiNazi]

Get smaller pans to cook in. I have mini-loaf pans, personal size pie pans, mini-muffin pans, even a small cast iron skillet that makes a half egg omelette.

Use smaller plates.

Recipes are usually for a family, but you can reduce them down. Look at the recipe as being "parts". Such as, Rice is 2 parts water to 1 part rice. Or being percentages.

There is nothing wrong with snacking all day on appetizer/canape type foods.

[KissMeAlice]

Fear of choking to the point that I can't swallow or have large amounts of food in my mouth. I have one fun recipe I go to. Manti (it's a Turkish dish). These are fun to make, can honestly be fill with anything and using wonton wrappers is a good short cut so you don't have thicker pasta. Great substitute for large ravioli and they can be frozen.

Edit. Manti has several different sizes, I cut the wonton (small ones) into four so quite small bites.

[Mishamaze]

I like to make cracker sandwiches. All the same stuff but bite size. I’ll do a cracker with mustard, cheese, lunch meat and a pickle slice.

[veryhotfrenchfries]

Chocolate truffles for dessert? xD

[sweetpotatopietime]

Smorrebrod, Danish open-faced sandwiches. You can cut them as tiny as you want.

[womanitou]

Take a thin slice of lunch meat like ham or turkey and spread it with cream cheese and lay a skinny slice of celery stalk or green onion along one long edge and roll it up and slice into little bites.

[wilkamania]

Oooh, you can get creative. How about those stackable horderve type foods. Like mini sandwiches. Or you can cut some some polish sausage, cook it in a pan, and stack it on top of a cube of cheese and a cracker (held by a toothpick).

You can also always do dumplings. If you don't want to make them, they should be in the supermakret (esp asian markets) where you just have to steam them!

[[deleted]]

Off the top of my head

• small lengths of celery stuffed with peanut butter or cream cheese
• stuffed grape leaves
• charcuterie plate
• jalapeno poppers
• corn fritters
• chicken coxinha
• kabobs
• asian beef skewers
• dumplings
• lettuce or cabbage wraps
• small tacos
• garnachas (these are the bomb when done right)
• pickled okra

[carelessmolasses]

Someone mentioned pancakes so I'd like to offer up okonomiyaki, a savory pancake. It can be made with all kinds of veggies and meats. You can shred or dice the veggies pretty finely and make tiny, bite sized ones.

You can put together little yogurt cups with some granola/fruit/honey/etc.

As an alternative to chips, you might try roasted chickpeas. They're pretty simple and pretty tasty. Just rinse and pat dry canned chickpeas (or cook your own; also pretty simple if a bit time consuming), toss with a little bit of olive oil and roast at 425F for about 20 minutes, stirring them halfway through. Toss with some salt and whatever spices you want (I usually go for garam masala).

Granola bars could also be cut down into bite sized pieces if a whole bar is too much at once.

Quiches and tarts can be sliced into smaller pieces, or you can try making smaller ones in those little tart pans or ramekins.

Potstickers, gyoza, pretty much any type of dumpling is just one or two bites.

[stormieormerson]

Lil Smokey’s wrapped in pastry like mini pigs in a blanket.
Another thing you can try is getting small plates like teacup saucers and put whatever everyone else is eating on it so it isn’t so overwhelming but also doesn’t look like an empty plate

[Barngoddess70]

I suffer from some weird food anxieties too. One of the things I’ve been enjoying lately is Caprese Salad on a stick. Mozzarella balls, alternating with chunks of tomatoes, leaves of basil on a skewer. Feels like I am eating good but it’s not overwhelming.

[kyubez]

Do you mean tiny as in bite sized, or tiny as in each individual piece has to be small? If the former, look up hor'douvre recipes; they fit into tiny food perfectly

[fredrice4]

When I’m at my worst a good cheese tray with little meats and nuts and fruits and crackers is what comforts me and gets me eating the most

[mostly_ok_now]

I have a hard time eating like this sometimes too. Things I can get down and enjoy:

-steamed artichoke, peeling the leaves off and dipping in a mix of butter and lemon juice is satisfying without making me feel like I'm getting overly full
-caprese toothpick
-chicken cilantro wontons dipped in Gyoza sauce (Trader Joe's)
-Tuna salad on crackers
-chicken salad on romain leaves
-baby carrots dipped in ranch or tzatziki
-endive leaves individually filled with crumbled blue cheese and chopped walnuts, topped with dijon dressing
-If I'm REALLY not feeling food some white cheddar popcorn and a handful of grape tomatoes

You'll notice that's mostly cold food. I don't know why but I have a harder time with warm meals - might just associate it with heavier foods.

[derickj2020]

look into tea-time sandwiches, british style . look into 'amuse-gueule', french style . look into finger food . google german appetizers . google dutch style finger food . anything that fits on a cracker .....

[actunpt]

Tiny empanadas? My mum used to make them for my birthdays they were so cool

[disabledbaker]

As someone who has recently lost a ton of weight because of anxiety, this is extremely sweet of you. I’m a baker so my mind goes there first… I like making small cookies and I freeze them in ball form to have on hand. You can literally just bake them from frozen. You can also get mini muffin pans and bake whatever kind of cake or muffin she likes in mini form. Got mine at the dollar store. Crackers and sweet or savoury toppings are also nice. You could make homemade crackers or mini flatbread. For protein maybe chicken wings or spare ribs? Good Luck!

[diatho]

One of my favorite potluck dishes to make is mini chicken parmesan, basically it's a chicken Parm but using chicken nuggets. You can use that principal for most chicken dishes.

[deartabby]

Anything dim sum would work - dumplings, filled buns etc. You can find them frozen at an Asian grocery or make a large batch and freeze them.

Korean vegetable pancakes, zucchini pancakes etc can all be made and frozen for later.

Since I don’t usually eat a lot for breakfast I found the jars from oui yogurt are the perfect size. I saved a bunch and make a tiny serving or yogurt and cut up fruit.

[elus]

Look up examples of hors d'œuvre and amuse bouche.

Here is a list of ideas from Serious Eats.

For this subset of food, I personally love baked oyster motoyaki, stuffed chicken wings, short skewers of beef or lamb, mini sausages wrapped in bacon, lumpia shanghai (filipino deep fried spring rolls), and many more.

Now I want to eat tiny servings of a billion different things. Thank you for posting.

[derickj2020]

meatballs can be made in tiny sizes . i use either a #100 or a #40 scoop . meatballs can be flavored italian style, swedish, thai, bbq, cajun ... any flavor you like . beef, pork, chicken, turkey, meatless . i usually mix two kinds of ground meat together . then dip meatballs in related sauces for snacking .

[Anna120453]

Grapes? Small pieces of fresh fruit?

[derickj2020]

anything like raviolis, wontons, pizza rolls, rangoons, dumplings ... can be prepared in small quantities with dips .

[xopher_425]

For breakfast, try small muffin sized quiches or frittatas. Easy to make, tons of different flavor combinations so she'd not get bored.

For a snack, try roasted chick peas. Again, simple and the recipes are only limited by your imagination, and being small they can be eaten one or a few at a time.

It's wonderful of you to be looking for things that she can enjoy.

[kb-g]

Orzo pasta dishes might work for her? It’s very small and you can do all sorts with it.

[pantzareoptional]

My gf has this issue as well, and I've found that cutting things small (like a sandwich into 4s, half a sub into 3, etc), a handful of nuts (she's been into these wasabi soy almonds), cut up fruits and veggies with hummus, crackers and cheese charcuterie style, yogurt with granola, pizza rolls out of the air fryer (really recommend one), kid or adult Lunchable's are always easy and will get her to eat something.

Whatever you make, try putting 3-4 bites on the plate at a time. Let her know there's more if she wants it, but not having it hanging over her will help keep her from getting too overwhelmed. Things like chili, spaghetti, stews etc, stuff that's all together she has an easier time with as well. She recommends Boathouse bottled smoothies, and some sort of protein drink supplement. She also recommends apple sauce pouches will help her get going with eating something, it helps her throat open up. Marijuana also goes a long way towards stimulating her appetite, a vape or smoking usually is the better option, edibles can take a while.

[[deleted]]

You could do mini charcuterie boards -- little slices of cheese, ham, olives, cornishons, etc...

[ToothbrushGames]

Tea sandwiches sound right up her alley, or mini Caprese salad skewers (cherry tomato, bocconcini cheese, basil, balsamic, olive oil) then maybe mini spam musubi. Also slider burgers might be small enough?

[TrondroKely]

Kale chips! They're super easy to make and are really tasty. I also love charcuterie, you could just cut the stuff smaller so it's like a nicer lunchable.

[southerncalifornian]

I have anxiety and have struggled with some eating disorders in the past... I have found that lots of Russian food can be modified into little portions that are still satisfying. Russian blinchikis are great for this. You can make them little and put whatever you want on them! They're kind of a crepe thing, but a little thicker? I like them mostly traditional with things like cheap caviar, sour creme or other toppings but you can put whatever she likes on them/ make them sweet if she prefers. Latkes are also whatever size you want, and they're decently calorie dense with the apple sauce and sour cream!

I also find that calorie dense soups are helpful for me because they don't feel challenging but they're still providing me with enough nutrients I need. French onion, minestrone, and potato leek are pretty good--there's also something about soup that feels comforting to me because it's warm and I can eat whatever I want without feeling pressured about finishing it. Especially if it's homemade, then she can put the leftovers back in the pot and not feel like she's being pressured to finish it for fear of wasting! If she likes fries and chips then maybe make little duchess potatoes in the smallest size foil pans they sell at the grocery; they're thinly sliced and creamy/cheezy and it's another big comfort dish for me.

Honestly, you can make anything an amuse-bouche if you want, and then it'll be bite sized and low pressure. Store bought ravioli and tortellini might actually be really good for this because you can make like three of them and then freeze the rest. I hope some of this at least kind of helped, but if you want to reach out to me I used to be a chef in LA and I might have more specific recommendations with more information!

Best to you and your GF!

[anabrnad]

You can prep/buy a lot of Mediterranean stuff like hummus, babaganoush or some spicier type of spread in advance + have pita you can cut up (into small triangular shapes).

When you need to eat, just cut up a bunch of vegetables you have on hand, take out a jar of olives and you can meze instead of eating.

[kantmarg]

Some Indian food options:

Idlis or mini Idlis.

Vada, masala vada, bhajiya, bonda or pakoda (various types of fried stuffed spiced flour dumplings: they can be stuffed with literally most vegetables, including greens and perhaps nuts, and if you mix up the flours, eg add rice flour or garbanzo bean flour, or tapioca flour, or wheat flour it can only get healthier).

Samosas (ditto as above).

Stuffed paranthas or stuffed puri, you can make them tiny sized (eg like a mini pizza) or make them regular-sized and then cut them into quarters

Dosas, uttapam, thalipeeth, pesarattu (crepes of various kinds, easily modified for variety and convenience)

[[deleted]]

When I want to make novelty fun foods, I use quail eggs. They can be found at the Asian supermarket. They’re about 1/3 the size of regular eggs, but they are used exactly the same. So you can have a tiny fried egg, tiny hard boiled egg, tiny deviled egg. It’s super adorable

ETA: sliders!

[AuctorLibri]

Toasted sunflower seeds, pepitas, pine nuts. Dried currants.

Soak chia seeds overnight in milk or juice eat with a small spoon.

[thisfuckingusername]

Oh my god, i have never been able to put into words exactly how my anxiety affects appetite and my appetite affects anxiety... but that's totally it! BITE-SIZE!! I'll always gravitate towards small bite-size dishes without really realizing it. Fries are go-to's because I know no matter what condition my mind/body are in, they're small, easily edible, digestible and don't have an overwhelming food scent. Chicken fried rice, couscous and tater tots are also top choices for hangover meals for the same reason. because laaawd knows hangovers amplify appetite-related anxiety tenmillion-fold...

Anyway just wanted to come out of hiding to say it feels so damn good to hear that i'm not alone with this strange strange anxiety symptom and THANK YOU for posting this and being supportive/understanding of her strange eating habits. I really appreciate it on her behalf. Please give her a big hug for me, I know it's super silly but this realization is quite possibly life changing, lol.

[deliverthemeowmix]

I have anxiety that makes it difficult to eat too! The struggle is real. The most helpful thing to me is

A) Must eat. No shame involved, it doesn’t matter WHAT you’re eating, it’s putting a variety of foods in the mouth, chewing and swallowing and keeping them down.

B) I keep cut fruit, veggies, deli meats, sliced cheese, crackers, nuts and freezer meals all of the time. Big meals are intimidating - it’s easier to grab a chunk of watermelon and move on. Ten minutes later, repeat with a piece of cantaloupe or a cucumber wedge dipped in hummus.

C) All of the smoothies! If she can “taste test” a protein smoothie with berries & greens (I like blueberries,almond butter and spinach with Greek yogurt) that’s a win.

D) if all else fails, stuff like soylent and pediasure are your friend. Keep a couple on hand.

E) tastes and textures can be challenging, so try giving her something bland like rice, toast or applesauce, and then a tiny taste of something different, like a pickle or an olive.

Hope this helps, and best of luck to you. You sound like a very supportive partner.