There has ben many studies saying that people who eat less, typically lives a lot longer.

dcarch

I would only be able to eat half of what's pictured. I never have been able to eat much and I'm still quite healthy. You only need 3-4 oz of protein a day and about a cup each of the rest for each meal. The veggies and fruits are very important.

If you want to eat a bit more, then skip the bread. It is an unnecessary filler.

Very attractive plate. I thought so when I read your post when it first went up. It took me awhile to think it through, but maybe that's your problem? You have a lovely composed plate, but if you get stuffed on half of it, you're setting yourself up for failure. Even if you prep the whole portions, maybe plate half. If you have room for more, you can always have seconds. If not, you can have it later, but still feel good about downing a right sized meal. Perhaps, have only one starch. Save the bread and butter for "tea". Maybe do only one piece of broccolini and a baby carrot, to have more variety and make it interesting. If the meals are challenging, another approach would be "grazing". Eat smaller meals five or six times per day. It keeps your metabolism kicking, and might make it easier to eat more. Good luck!

Good ideas, Plllog.

Older folks need more protein to avoid losing muscle mass. I'm over 60 and I strive for around 50 grams or more per day. There are online calculators available.

Agree about eating small amounts more frequently, rather than limiting to larger meals.

And I also agree about putting the amounts you know you will realistically eat on your plate rather than what you think you should. You can always have seconds.

Bread can be very filling with any meal, also IMPE. That's why many restaurants serve it first.

I eat only one meal each day. Just don't get hungry. I usually have some fresh fruit at noon, too. It is the protein that I am concerned about. For the first time in my life, I am anemic and having to take iron, folate, and B-12 supplements.

Have you considered a dietary supplement like Ensure? There are lots of those type of protein drinks to choose from. I like Orgain, but I don't care for the taste of stevia used in so many of such drinks. I'd like to find one that's not overly sweetened.

@carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b, I have tried those drinks, and the "texture" and taste are just more than I can tolerate - thought I was going to throw up.

It's difficult because proteins are filling and take awhile to digest. Maybe start your day with an eggwhite whether you're hungry or not. It's easy to boil a bunch of eggs and keep them in the fridge for grab and go. I keep them in an open dish, rather than a carton that has to be fiddled with. I also don't fiddle with the cooking. I have a $15 egg steamer which does 7 at a time, has a measurer for the water, and works just as well as the more expensive ones. Leave the eggs loose on the counter or a plate for 12 hours before chilling and they're a lot easier to peel, or cut open and eat with a spoon.

Fresh fruit has a lot of water and sugar. The sugar boosts your feeling of energy, of course, but the water can be filling. How about, most days, a little dried fruit for the sugar and fiber, but with a cube or two of steak? (Thinking about the nutrients you listed here.) Or any red meat you can cook ahead and potion into small snacks. Take as ”medicine”, whether you're hungry or not., and reward yourself for getting it down with the dried fruit.

It's difficult when you're dealing with lack of appetite, but if you can spread what you do eat through the day, even if you have to force yourself, you might be able to retune your system to expect and want it. And it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: more exercise stirs the juices and increases the appetite, even if it's just waving your limbs in your chair, or walking up and down stairs a few extra times.

Don't forego egg yolks, please. They're full of important nutrients that are very good for health.

And FWIW, there are supplements and medications that can help increase appetite, when all else fails.

These pages also offer some tips on naturally increasing appetite as well as info on meds and supplements:

https://www.healthline.com/health/appetite-stimulant#drug-therapies

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/what-to-know-about-appetite-stimulants

Carol is right, of course, about yolks, I was just thinking about the yolks as perhaps too filling, and the whites as specifically protein, but yolks do have B-12 and folate along with the slow to digest fat.

Have you tried fortified nutritional yeast? It's no longer alive, comes as flakes which you can sprinkle on food (or just eat off a spoon if you prefer). Fortified has B-complex and folic acid added. It has a lot of B-12 and folic acid, a tiny amount of iron, and tastes vaguely cheesy. A couple tablespoons gives you most of a day's worth of the first two. Add to some dark green leafies, maybe, for more iron. Bragg's is the best known brand and very good. Until you find a way to use it that works with your limited appetite, it could be a dead bore to use, but it's unlikely to add to your stuffed feeling, and is still a food source rather than capsule.

Thank you both so very much for your suggestions. I will start hardboiling some eggs to keep in the refrigerator and will use my Instant Pot to do so. After breaking my back 3 times, going through a back surgery, and being in the hospital all those times, I was no longer able to stand at the induction cook top for the time required to stand and did not use the wall oven, because of the time it took to put dishes together for the oven.

The two new kitchen tools Instant Pot and air fryer changed that and I can now cook because I can put stuff in either of those and walk away. And usually, in less than 30 minutes, I have a full meal ready to eat. I have always loved to cook and was so thankful that these two tools were invented. Changed my life back to good again.

Will try to make myself start eating a breakfast of at least half a hardboiled egg and maybe some kind of juice. I like that idea.