Foods to Choose When You Need More Calories

Breads

Choose hearty, dense breads such as whole wheat, oat bran, pumpernickel, or rye (as opposed to fluffy white breads). The bigger and more thickly sliced the better. Spread generously with peanut butter, jam, honey, hummus, or low fat cream cheese.

Cereals

Choose dense cold cereals such as granola, muesli, Grape-Nuts, Cracklin Oat Bran, Shredded Wheat Bran or Wheat Chex (instead of flaked or puffed cereals). When making oatmeal and other hot cereals, use low fat milk instead of water. Add extra nuts and dried fruits for flavor.

Vegetables

Starchy vegetables such as potatoes, peas, corn, carrots, winter squash, and beets have more calories than watery veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, green beans, and cucumbers.

Fruits

Bananas, pears, apples, pineapple, and all dried fruits (raisins, dates, dried apricots, etc.) have more calories than watery fruits such as oranges, peaches, plums, berries, and watermelon. Buy canned fruit packed in heavy syrup, instead of its own juice, for extra calories.

Soups

Select hearty black bean, lentil, and split pea, chili with beans, barley, or minestrone soups. These soups have more calories and carbohydrates than brothy chicken, beef, and vegetable types. Creamed soups and chowders are also high-calorie choices, but they are very high in saturated fat and should be eaten in moderation.

Salads

Rather than filling up on watery lettuce, pile on the garbanzo and kidney beans, green peas and corn, chopped vegetables, sunflower seeds and chopped walnuts, raisins, cottage cheese, lean meats, tuna fish, and croutons. Top with a liberal amount of vinegar and oil type dressing. Creamy dressings are high in calories, but are also high in saturated fat.

Beverages

Quench your thirst with fruit juices and nectars, low fat milk, shakes, fruit smoothies, and regular soft drinks. Avoid filling your stomach up with non caloric beverages like water, coffee, tea, and diet soft drinks.

Exercises

Although most people think that thin people should not exercise, as they could get even thinner, this isn't true. It is recommended that they exercise so that they feel hungrier and eat more. Taking nutritious food helps the body gain weight. Do not lift heavy weight dumbbells in a gym; instead opt for low weight and do more repetitions.

Simple weight gain menu

Breakfast                                     Approximate Calories

1 ½ cups orange juice                             165
1 cup granola                                            500
1/4 cup raisins                                          120
1 large banana                                         130
2 cups 1% low fat milk                            200

Total                                                          1115
 
Lunch

1 7-inch pita pocket                                  240
1 6.5 oz can tuna                                       200
4 Tbs. lite mayo                                         150
1 tomato + lettuce/sprouts                         50
1 can lentil soup                                        360
1 1/2 cups apple juice                              200

Total                                                          1200
 
Dinner

3 cups spaghetti                                       600
1 cup Prego pasta sauce                        300
1 10 oz pkg. frozen spinach                       75
or 1 1/2 cups frozen mixed veggies
1/4 cup parmesan cheese                      120
1 slice hearty wheat bread                      100
1 1/2 cup 1% low fat milk                         150
                  
Total                                                           1345
 
Snack

2 slices hearty wheat bread                  200
2 Tbs. peanut butter                                200
3 Tbs. jelly                                                 150
2 cups 1% low-fat milk                           200
2 medium carrots                                      60

Total                                                           810
 
Day’s Total:                                     4470 calories

Weight gain supplements

There are lots of weight gain supplements available on the market. Underweight issues are a real and underestimated concern for a large percentage of the population. Companies that offer these products are saying that adding the correct amount of body mass is a difficult, almost impossible task for some. One of the most famous weight gain products is Vita Salveo. Company experts are saying that Vita Salveo is a 100% all natural nutritional supplement that has proven to be an effective appetite enhancer. In trials, the revolutionary Vita Salveo formula has been shown to increase appetite and calorie intake up to 300% giving you the ability to consume more food and reap the benefits of a higher caloric intake.

These products have also been shown effective in slowing down the metabolic process so body can optimize the nutrition from food better.