Do you need to gain weight? If so, you need to eat more calories every day, but don't rely on high-calorie junk foods that aren't nutritious. Choose foods that are nutrient-dense and high in calories whenever possible.
Bagels
Steve Woods
Breads and cereals are a good source of complex carbohydrates your body needs for energy (no - not all carbs are bad). Bagels just happen to be extra calorie-dense. While one slice of bread has about 70 calories, one small 3-inch bagel has over 150 calories. Top your bagel with cream cheese and some 100-percent fruit spread for a high calorie (but healthy) snack.
Pasta
G & A Scholiers
Pasta is another calorie dense source of carbohydrates so it can serve as the base of a healthy and high calorie meal (one cup of cooked spaghetti noodles has 220 calories). Top your pasta with lycopene-rich marinara sauce and add a quarter cup of shredded cheese for more calories and calcium. If you're pressed for time and money, you can try my ramen noodle makeover.
Dried Fruits
Gary Scott
Give yourself a quick calorie boost by eating dried fruits instead of fresh fruits. They have less volume than their fresh counterparts, so one half-cup of raisins has more calories (over 200) than a full cup of fresh grapes (about 60) and still offers good nutrition. Raisins are probably the most popular dried fruit in your local grocery store, but you can also find dried berries, apricots, cranberries, and even tropical fruits.
Healthy Fats and Oils
Marcello Gambetti
Adding extra fat to your food is an easy way to add calories, but you want to be sure to choose fats and oils that are good for you. Olive oil is rich in healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, while canola oil contains both monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fats, including omega-3 fatty acids. Extra virgin olive oil can add calories and flavor to pasta, bread, or vegetables, and canola oil makes a terrific all-purpose cooking oil. Walnut and grape seed oils are lighter in flavor.
Avocados
Pat Herman
Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids plus vitamin K, potassium and fiber. One avocado has more than 200 calories. Add avocado slices to your sandwiches or make guacamole and serve with baked tortilla chips. You can also add guacamole to soft shell tacos or burritos. Slimcados from Florida are avocados that have less fat than other varieties.
Nuts and Seeds
Mike Coombes
Nuts and seeds contain polyunsaturated fats that add healthy calories to your diet. Brazil nuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, sunflower seeds, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds are all good for you, and offer a variety of flavors. You can eat roasted nuts and seeds by the handful or slather some nut butter on an apple for a nutrient-dense and calorie-dense snack.
Granola
Amanda Rohde
Make your own granola with any combination of dry cereals, nuts, seeds and dried fruits. Store your granola in an airtight container and serve it for breakfast. You can also pack some granola into small plastic containers that you can take with you on a busy day. For more flavor and calories, you can add chocolate chunks or peanut butter chips.
Fruit Juice
Steve Woods
Choose 100-percent fruit juice instead of sugary sodas and energy drinks. Look out for fruit-flavored drinks that are mostly sugar or high-fructose corn syrup -- they just don't have the nutritional value of 100-percent fruit juices. Vegetable juice (low-sodium is best) tends to be lower in calories, but still contains vitamins and minerals.
Protein Bars
JJ Poole/iStockPhoto.com
You can increase your protein intake (and calories) with protein bars. You can buy them in most any grocery or convenience store, or make your own homemade protein bars. Eat one or two protein bars in addition to your regular diet -- they probably won't help you gain weight if you use them to replace other foods. Not sure how much protein you need? My Calorie Calculators can help you with that.
More Help for Gaining Weight
- Feel like you're too thin? Here are my tips for gaining weight without resorting to a junk food diet: How Do I Gain Weight?
- You should gain weight when you're going to have a baby - the amount depends on what you weigh before you get pregnant: How Much Weight Should I Gain While I'm Pregnant?
- Understanding how energy-density works will help you gain weight by choosing foods that are higher in calories: What is Energy-Density?
- I've got an example of a weight-gaining menu: Sample Menu for Gaining Weight
