F o o d s . Weight Gain

[kuddie]

I have been skinny my whole life. How do I gain weight? What kind of food to eat? What to look at when grocery shopping. I want to gain weight but be healthy as well. Im not a meat kind of person either.

[Paxiled]

Protein shakes keep being recommended to everyone on here who wants to gain weight, but too much protein is a problem and we have no idea how much protein people are eating who write on here.  The only people in most developed countries who get too little protein are vegans sometimes if they don't eat well and advanced bodybuilders.  Most Americans get too much protein.  The simple way to gain weight is to add a meal.  Pretty easy.  Eat the same healthy foods you usually eat, just eat more.  If you add weight training, the weight added will be in the form of muscle rather than fat, but if you do add weight training then you might need additional protein, but you don't need a shake to do that and you certainly don't need to eat whey, which is a weight loss aid, not a weight gain aid if you're not doing intensive muscle training, plus most people have problems with dairy.  So again, just eat whatever you normally eat, just add an extra meal.

[gymdandee]

Add calories to your daily diet by eating more frequently, choosing more calorie-rich foods, having snacks in addition to meals, eating desserts with some positive nutritional properties and drinking smoothies, milk or juice with meals during the day instead of water. Make nutritionally sound choices from the core food groups, including low-fat dairy, lean protein, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, but don’t shy away from calorie-dense options that are also full of nutrients. Examples of high-calorie foods that can find a place in your diet include avocados, nuts, nut butter, seeds, low-fat cheese, beans, whole grains, dried fruit and fiber-rich cereal.
One or two protein shakes into your daily diet to increase your calorie and protein intake. Whole foods are the best sources of calories and protein, but if you have a naturally high metabolism, you may find it difficult to get what you need through whole foods alone.
I also suggest buying Whey protein Concentrate NOT Isolate!!
Avoid those with added sugars and preservatives. Add high calorie ingredients to your protein shakes to boost the calorie content. Ingredients such as whole milk, nut butters, yogurt, berries, bananas and avocado will all add extra calories, protein and other nutrients to your daily diet to help you put on weight. If you workout drink a high calorie protein shake after your workout to aid in recovery and muscle building. Include sources of carbohydrates, such as fresh fruit, in order to replace your glycogen stores, which have been depleted during your workout. This will help provide the energy you need to work out the next time so you can keep gaining muscle and weight. The best time to have a shake is 15 to 60 minutes after your workout. Excess protein turns to fat if the body doesn't use it, which can lead to fat gain. Excessive protein intake can also lead to dehydration and calcium losses. Also get your protein from lean whole foods like chicken breast, fish. Avoid protein sources that are high in saturated fat, such as fatty red meats and fried meats, as saturated fat raises your cholesterol and increases your risk for heart disease.
If you go to my journal you will see a list of smoothies and protein bars.