Calorie Tracking While Grieving

How Grief Affects Eating

Grief affects people differently:

• Can't eat: Food has no appeal, stomach feels closed
• Can't stop eating: Food provides comfort, distraction
• Forget to eat: Too overwhelmed to remember
• Crave specific foods: Often comfort foods or foods associated with the person
• Nothing tastes right: Even favorites seem bland

All of these are normal. None require judgment.

Should You Track While Grieving?

Maybe not in the acute phase. In the first days/weeks:

• Your only job is to eat SOMETHING
• Tracking can feel like one more burden
• This is not the time for diet goals

Later, tracking might help:

• Ensure you're eating enough (if you're forgetting to eat)
• Notice emotional eating patterns (without judgment)
• Restore some routine and normalcy

If You Can't Eat

Focus on small, gentle options:

• Smoothies (nutrition without needing to chew)
• Soup or broth
• Toast or crackers
• Fruit (easy to eat)
• Protein shakes
• Whatever sounds tolerable — even if it's not "healthy"

Any food is better than no food right now.

If You Can't Stop Eating

This is also normal and deserves compassion:

• Food provides dopamine and serotonin — you're seeking comfort
• Don't add guilt to grief
• Try to include some nourishing foods alongside comfort foods
• It's okay to eat cake. It's okay to want comfort.
• This pattern often naturally shifts as grief evolves

Accepting Help with Food

When people offer to help, let them bring food:

• It gives them a way to support you
• It removes the burden of cooking
• It ensures food is available when you need it
• Be specific if you can: "Soup would be good" or "Nothing too heavy"

Basic Self-Care During Grief

• Hydration: Keep water nearby and sip throughout the day
• Small meals: Easier than large ones
• Set gentle reminders: To eat if you're forgetting
• Accept imperfection: Cereal for dinner is fine
• Sleep matters: Affects hunger and coping

When to Seek Help

Grief affects everyone differently, but reach out if:

• You haven't eaten in several days
• You're losing weight rapidly and unintentionally
• Eating feels completely impossible
• You're using food in ways that scare you
• You need support — grief counseling helps many people

Moving Forward (When You're Ready)

There's no timeline for grief. When you're ready to think about nutrition again:

• Start with one regular meal a day
• Gentle tracking if it feels helpful
• Focus on nourishment, not restriction
• Weight changes during grief can be addressed later
• Your job is to get through this — everything else can wait