Depends on how much you eat. If you have some idea of what your "ideal" calorie consumption per day is, your goal is to eat more than that. Bread is easier than potatoes because it's more calorie-dense, i.e. you don't have to eat as much of it.

You don't really have to "cook" as in dirtying a lot of pans to make potatoes and bread more appealing.

• Nuke a potato and add salt and butter, and maybe a sprinkle of garlic and onion powder. Only takes a few seconds more than a plain potato.
• Get a big jar of jam and have butter and jam on your bread. Minimal effort, way more enjoyable.
• Low-effort grilled cheese sandwich: Put a slice of cheese between 2 pieces of toast, nuke 10 seconds, boom.

Do you like hummus? That's not actually a suggestion in itself, I just know you've mentioned texture issues elsewhere in the thread.

If you do like hummus, that indicates that the bean aversion may be a problem with the way beans are prepared. Part of why they're always recommended is how easy they are to flavor. They're also pretty easy to make disappear into a dish. Although navigating that as a newer cook on a shoestring budget could be very challenging.

Can you get mustard or radish seeds? These grow in under a week and don't even need dirt, just damp paper towel or similar.

Mung bean shoots are probably out of your flavour range.

Try searching for 'sprouts' rather than micro greens. Many are just grown in old jars on a windowsill. Zero gardening talent required.

Peanuts are a good way to slam calories cheaply, though you should make sure you get unsalted or lightly salted. If you continue your current diet but add a half cup of peanuts each day, you'll be adding 3000 calories per week which should be enough to at least stop you from losing more weight if not gain some back slowly. You'll be getting some protein from them too which will help a lot. When I was really underweight, I snacked on peanuts all day in addition to what I was already eating.

An easy calorie dense meal I used to eat in college was milk powder, honey, oats protein mixed and put into a tray and cut into slices. Each slice is tasty and high in calories.

Hi I have basically the same problem.

a) take a fucking multivitamin before you get fucking scurvy (til dv vitC of potatoes), anemia, rickets, Wernicke's encephalopathy, or some other crazy shit in 20 fucking 26.

b) find a high calorie protein shake you can stomach enough to keep down. If you're only eating like one meal a day anyway you can splurge a little on something premixed and tastier. There's a weirdly ritzy gas station chain near me that does a lovely strawberry banana smoothie that sits real well on my stomach, and I always get the yogurt scoop and protein shot.

c) start mixing your white sauces (anything that would normally have mayo, sour cream, or runny white cheese) with plain greek yogurt to give you a better fat / protein balance to all those carbs.

d) oh and you need metamucil. Desperately. Food that is both tasty and inoffensively bland is almost by definition low in fiber. And tbh you might find giving your bowels a good scrubbing may affect your appetite for the better.

Seriously though, there have been some great papers on the the metal disorder of anorexia and metabolic psychiatry - if you fix your metabolism, your body will recompose, and you may address your borderline anorexia...

Symptom Impact and Safety of Ketogenic Therapy in Adults with Anorexia Nervosa

Basically it's the Dr Ede strategy - eat your eggs and cheese, whole foods only, avoid carbs when you can...

Crummy situation to be in, but I get it. If you've got socialized mental healthcare, it probably wouldn't hurt to give it a shot.

That's what the information says that I could find in a quick internet search, and it's consistent with how the sugar tax works in other European countries like UK or Germany.

Is that 12 cent budget per meal or per month? Are the potatoes and eggs included in that budget or are those provided on top?

a pinch of baking soda added to the water rehydrating dry beans, then rinsing the soaked beans in fresh water, should eliminate the gassy effect.

Put in bowel, add in mayonnaise

Uh. Not the way I would gain weight, but to each their own.

Do you use spices or hot sauce to add flavor?

A slow cooker could make soups and stews with potwtoes and whatever vegtables or scraps.

Im sure lentils will send a represenitive to talk about them.

please buy some fruits and vegetables from time to time. Actually a lot of time. Different vegetables and fruit. Some nuts too. Eating the same meal every day is very unhealthy and can have very bad l andasting consequences for your health, especially in combination with stress (i know this from my personal experience of being poor and autistic unfortunately). And "hunger pains"? This is already very not ok.

Maybe start a gofundme campaign to at least temporarily somewhat mitigate the money problem? I'll gladly send you a few bucks, if it helps you avoid what i got through.

First, if you can, try eating the potatoes with the skins. Less food waste, less time peeling, and it's where most of the nutrients and fiber are.

Next, consider something like canned beans. Not "baked beans" because those are mostly sauce and honestly kinda gross. Like a can of black beans or chickpeas or red beans or black-eyed peas. You can season them however you'd like, but they're good plain too. Versatile and can pair with almost anything. High in protein and fiber. And they're affordable.

Another option is dried beans which are the cheaper option per bean but they're more work to prepare because they need to soak. Lentils don't need to soak though, and a pound of dried lentils isn't too pricey.

If you can afford whole grain bread, it really does have much more nutrients than white bread. If you have a high metabolism, your body is just going to burn off all the empty carbs from white bread. Butter can add some easy fats too.

Oatmeal is another affordable option. Not the packets. Get the giant cylinder of instant oats. It'll last you many meals, and all it takes is some hot water. You can adjust to your preferred consistency, whether you like it thick and clumpy or a bit more soupy is up to you.

If you can eat nuts, find one you like and get a big bag of them. Larger quantities are usually cheaper by weight. Walnuts are pretty affordable. Lots of omega-6 fatty acids. You can even crush them up and put them in your oatmeal if you like that.

If you're not opposed to poultry, you can get a carton of chicken broth and drink maybe half a pint of it at a time. Heat it up first of course. It's very gentle on the stomach and can stimulate an appetite. Also provides lots of good fats which are what your body needs if you want to put on weight and keep it on.

If you don't eat meat, then vegetable or mushroom broth could do for stimulating appetite, just be aware that the fat content will be lower.

That's mostly what I can think of. If you have troubles with digestion you might want to consider live foods/probiotics like yogurt, miso, stuff like that. A little bit pricier but it can make a big difference if your GI tract just doesn't feel right. And again the larger containers are usually cheaper by volume.

Just to be clear, the recipe I listed weights for would be approximately 8-12 portions, you line a baking tray with butter/baking paper, fill it about 1.5cm / half an inch deep with the oat mixture and bake for 20-30 mins, you then let it cool and cut it up into even sized pieces

You get threats? For what?

Wait why are we suggesting more fiber to someone trying to gain weight? Fiber makes you feel full easier without giving you any real calories. Like... some of those are really good suggestions for losing weight for someone with a big appetite. However, OP said they have a small appetite and want to gain weight.

You still need fiber though. It woud be remiss to give this person a recommendation without considering nutrients. You can't live entirely on bread and potatoes without supplementing other things.

I prefer Miracle Whip in my bowels as well.

If school made you sour on rice, I found the slightly pricier Jasmin rice to taste way different to the Basmati rice common in cafeterias. In a big sack, they're both pennies per meal, though you should probably check if it's to your taste with a smaller sample first.

That's probably because youre not used to the fiber. If you eat a small amount every day or every other day your body should adapt to it, then you can eat more and more of it without pain.

You can start by adding just a tablespoon or less of hydrated beans to your omelette.

Don't fall into the trap of eating less food because you think the oil will substitute it. Remember that the goal is to add the oil to your intake as well as all the food you would normally eat.

If dental care is free, go see a dentist asap and tell them about your issues.

If medical care is free or cheap I highly recommend you see a doctor as well, to tell them about your issues around food and eating, both emotional and physical.

They can prescribe high calorie, high nutrition drinks to supplement and support your diet. And a lactose neutraliser if you're intolerant and the drinks contain milk. And possibly an appetite stimulator to make eating seem more appetising.

Yep, this is basically what caused all kinds of funny malnutrition sicknesses in the past, like scurvy. Get some cheap greens, because they are cheaper than a hospital visit.

hell yeah bro

Heh mayo is just eggs and oil generally, you can make it yourself. But I recommend trying Kewpie mayo; preferably one from a store that imports it from Japan instead of the one they make in America now. But yeah most of that is optional. A potato with the skin is more nutritious, and being cooked a second time them easier to absorb, giving you more energy. Helps when you lift weight(s), which will make you gain muscle weight. Fats are important as well. Be it olive oil, butter, ghee, tallow is best, or bacon grease.

As replied to the other poster, try Kewpie mayo, it just the yolk. It's popular enough to be in most store or ordered online. Grilled cheese with the bread fried in Kewpie is worth trying.

I would also chip in a few bucks for OP to have a more varied diet for a while. Lmk if the gofundme or whatever goes up...

Someone recommended you setup a donation link for a more varied diet... I second that.

Have you had your Vitamin B1 levels checked? Asking for two reasons, one is your diet seems like it would be low in thiamine, the second is thiamine deficiency can cause or exacerbate a lot of conditions that cause low or no appetite.

Like half of America is thiamine deficient, so I am sure the supplement would be helpful to you. If you DM me I would buy it for you.

Inb4 someone uuh ackshually ketoacidosis

Never heard of the randle cycle before even though ive experienced and understood it while doing keto, thanks for taking the time to make a great comment like this, very informative!

ouch, that sucks, sorry about that. you need about 2 x the amount of protein in grams of your bodyweight in kg. so when you weigh 45 kg for example, you would need to consume about 90 g of protein while training to build muscle. of you reach that, odds are that you also increase your kcal intake aswell.

Beans also complete protein with potatoes. Humans should always easy beans with some carb. Rice, bread, potatoes, yams, corn.

Because fiber is still important regardless of one's weight goals. It also aids in digestion meaning OP will absorb nutrients more efficiently, instead of pooping most of it out. They said they're on a budget, so why would they want the food they eat to go right through them without nourishing?

Besides, more full = eat less = groceries stretch further. So fiber is important for someone on a budget, even without counting the nutritional benefits.

Isn't buying pre-baked bread usually more expensive than raw ingredients?

Anyway, what's more important is that you have enough energy for your everyday life.
As long as you don't start feeling weak at any time of the day, even lower weight should be pretty fine.

If your lack of weight is due to heavy physical labour, you can check if glucose powder has a higher calorie count per $ as compared to bread in your area.
Remember though, glucose powder will mean even lesser essential nutrients, so take the advice of bean people. Dehydrated beans should be cheaper than canned ones. It will take longer to prep for eating though. And simple stuff like ginger, garlic and onion can make the thing way more appetising.

Person said they're borderline anorexic and have no appetite. Person might literally not get enough calories if they up their fiber intake.

Look, for just about every other case, I'd recommend eating a bunch of fiber, however:

It also aids in digestion meaning OP will absorb nutrients more efficiently, instead of pooping most of it out

I assure you, people can easily get most of the nutrients from food without fibers. In fact, overweight people don't usually eat much fiber at all.

Besides, more full = eat less = groceries stretch further

Again, talking about a person who already has zero appetite and is at an unhealthy low weight, at least according to themselves. Eat less = die of malnutrition at this rate.

My dude, that does not sound like a great environment. What's going on?

Overweight doesn't necessarily equate to over-nourished. Someone can be overweight and still have malnutrition. Fiber is important for everyone, regardless of body type.

Also, eating a fiber-rich diet isn't going to kill anyone, even if they are recovering from anorexia and need to put on weight. Feeling satisfied sooner because of the fiber content in a meal isn't the same thing as eating nothing. And it's more nourishing than low-fiber options.

Plus, in terms of gastrointestinal health, fiber can significantly improve appetite over time. So using no appetite as a reason to avoid fiber is a bit counter-intuitive.

Regardless, ideally OP will consult with their doctor and follow their advice. Lemmy isn't the place to get critical medical guidance. But when it comes to tips on simple, easy-to-digest foods to eat on a budget, which is what was asked for, I've offered my input. Beyond that, I'm not here to defend a thesis.

From what I've gleamed just reading through your responses it seems you are mostly looking to keep to your current routine but supplement it with something calorie dense. Really the only way to do that without simply eating more mass is to find a way to add more oil to your foods. Something like canola or soybean oils are very cheap and are around 500 calories for 1/4 cup or 60ml.

You can either add that with cooking or learn to make simple oil based sauces to add to the meals you already like. Something like mayonnaise is simple to make at home and is mostly just oil and eggs. I would also recommend a multivitamin, as it's going to be cheaper than modifying your diet with an arrangement of veggies.

Sounds like a good time to take some action before things get to your typical threshold. Spare yourself some pain.

Idk your situation really, just projecting my own struggles.

it will be hard if its only sugar, you need fatty foods too.

Fermented grains and potatoes may help you gain weight at an accelerated rate without all the pesky eating. You can batch making calories in multiple gallon quantities. Set uqp and processing are about as expensive as adding an extra week or two into the monthly food budget and are rapidly diffused over time. You can serve yourself hot, cold or in between!

Mashed potatoes and whole wheat or multi grain bread

If you’re eating only plain boiled potatoes, I feel for you. No wonder you don’t want to eat.

If you can, get real butter and 33% cream and learn how to make silky smooth mashed potatoes. Lightly fried bacon chunks and onion scallions also go really well in that. I could easily down an entire pot of mashed taters done just right.

The problem you may also experience is that white bread by itself, while you are chronically malnourished, may bring on Type 5 diabetes. And white bread has almost no nutritional value. You really need to up your proteins and macronutrients. Expensive if you rely on meat, cheap AF if you work with beans and lentils.

If you can afford flour, you can create a lot of dishes that are much healthier and even more fattening than plain white bread. Any German will know of Spätzle, especially when it’s drowned in butter and three or four types of melted cheese.

And a cheap or free crock pot, along with ground beef (which can be cheap), can allow you to make many dishes with beans or lentils that will allow you to gain weight.

Good luck.

Flour should be in your budget. Learn how to make a pan fried wheat tortilla - super quick and easy. Then you can look up Turkish flatbread or Italian focaccia. That will spice up your routine.

Fried potatoes, refried potatoes (from boiled leftovers).

Make sauces with nothing but a bit of butter, flour, instant buillon cube/powder. Optional: cream, milk, onions, garlic, anything that was left in the pan from something you just fried.

You can also steam some potatoes with canned meat in a pot.

But onion - I think - would be a great game changer.
And if you can plant some rosemary or thyme in a garden or pot on the windowsill. Those are hardy plants and won't likely die on you and they taste amazing with potatoes, especially freshly picked.

YOU CAN PUT SPICES ON EVERYTHING. YOU HAVE FREE WILL :D

Cook with real Butter, and learn how to make all the potato foods you can; hash browns, big steak chips to small fries, mash with a bit of milk and butter, jacket potaotes stuffed with things like beans and cheese, try see if the act of cooking something new helps build an appetite by association.

Another food to go for is purple sweet potato, not only is it delicious its genuinely full of nutrients.

Another method is finding a cheap soylent recipe and having a bottle of that every day to supplement your calories without being unbalanced.

https://www.completefoods.co/diy/recipes?sort=favoritesCount

This site has a whole list of varying types, including from expensive to cheap

https://www.completefoods.co/diy/recipes/sean-superfood-v3

For example this one is for making gains in the gym but the calorie excess would still help if you're only eating once a day.

The recipe says it can be modified to replace the maltodextrin with rice flour (and imo the stevia for actual sugar or honey if you're like me and can't stand the taste of sweeteners)

As someone who's been cooking every meal with what is largely the same four to five ingredients for the past six months due to the economic situation here, I can say with confidence that varying preparation methods and spice profiles is key to thriving in spite of repetition.

Potatoes like the ones in your picture? Use them to make something akin to boxty: https://donalskehan.com/recipes/boxty-irish-potato-pancakes/

Unless you're planning to make mash, though, you might benefit more from a method other than boiling your potatoes. Baking is far less effort and if you don't feel like sticking them in the oven for an hour, you can microwave them for 6 minutes or so in a 1,000 watt microwave (if theyre still not soft, use more time).

What kind of bread are you working with?

Eggs, potatoes, cheese, and "bread" (traditionally tortillas, but wheat flour is wheat flour) are primary ingredients for a breakfast burrito. Splash of cumin, pinch of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt (maybe a tiny pinch of chili powder, cilantro, oregano, annato, and coriander if you have them, or lime juice, or tomato) if you can squish the bread flat and warm it in a pan a little you can slightly crisp up one side for texture and make an improv breakfast burrito sandwich.

Polish https://eatingeuropean.com/authentic-polish-pierogi-potatoes-cheese/

Or even

Japanese https://www.kaveyeats.com/hokkaido-potato-cheese-dumplings-chizu-imomochi

Kitchens have been known to make potato cheese dumplings. Make the innards and serve as a spread on pan-fried (low heat) bread if you can't make the dumpling exterior. (Edit -- just saw that you said you're from an eastern european country and I just recommended dumplings. LOL. That's like asking an american if they've ever eaten a hot dog. I feel a tad silly. )

Italian potato frittata: https://cookingitalians.com/the-classic-italian-potato-frittata/

I'm sure someone has reccomended a Potato cheese omelette, but you can do those lots of ways, from a souffle omelete (separate eggs, whip the whites into stiff peaks, then fold in the yolks so it's super fluffy) to gyeran-mari type rolled omelette https://www.koreanbapsang.com/gyeran-mari-korean-rolled-omelette/

Got sugar? Tired of eating bread in bread form?

French Toast Casserole: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/240502/easy-french-toast-casserole/

I'll edit the post to add more if I think of them, but I'm not awake yet.

Edit -- just read your comment about the sugar tax. Boo :(

And about boiling being cheaper. (which is weird to me because boiling water is one of the most energy expensive methods of cooking when i go camping, but that might be due to wind, and as you said, circumstances are different in your area of the world, so boiling it is )

I saw rapeseed oil mentioned, got any other ingredients handy that you're willing/able to use without causing family strife?

Even seemingly minor ingredients can make a big difference.

I'll see what I can come up with for ideas.

Knowing you need more calories and being able to choke down more of the only things you have that can give them to you are two completely different problems, and I'm not talking picky toddler syndrome here.

I don't know if it's physically manifesting psychology or a gut biome thing, but your body can message you in a way that makes swallowing the same food a lot more difficult to borderline impossible no matter your willpower. I imagine if you forced it hard enough, the same mechanism that generates non-genetic allergies could come into play.

Differing preparation is one easy way to forestall the physical reality that generates that reflex.