High Calorie Foods for Steady Weight Gain

Top High Calorie Foods for Weight Gain- Good Calories & Protein-rich Diet

Time to read 10 min

Weight gain is not easy but it can be done using the correct approach. To gain weight fast, you must have a balanced diet that will be filled with healthy fats, protein, carbohydrates, and nutrients. Rely on foods with complex carbohydrates and calories to promote weight gain.


This diet will maintain a lot of balance in your meals so that you can gain weight quickly in a healthy manner. Such a diet also helps skinny person gain weight. You should add high calorie foods for weight gain that contain high levels of calories in your daily meals so that you are provided with more calories and can gain weight. The best weight gain goals include gaining approximately 0.5 to 1 pound per week. Discuss with a physician or a dietician to create a weight gain strategy personally.

Understanding Calorie Rich Foods

A calorie rich meal is merely a meal, which contains high levels of calories including dairy products . However, all calories are not equal, especially when considering high quality protein. You are supposed to know the distinction between good calories and junk calories to maintain your daily calorie intake. 

The Calorie Surplus in Healthy Weight Gain

Individuals who desire to increase their weight through specific foods without the related dangers of a disease must consume more calories than they require. A calorie surplus that supports sustainable weight gain is the excess of calorie dense foods that you consume each day and exceed what you burn throughout the day.


  • Mechanism: the stored energy is stored when you consume high calorie foods with good nutrients. When you also do strength training then the body utilizes that energy as well as protein to grow not only fat but muscle.

  • The Significance of Quality: To ensure that most of the weight gain is not additional fat loss, but rather, a growth of muscle, prefer good calorie foods (such as nuts, healthy oils and good proteins) to junk food.

Daily Calorie Intake in Adults

The number of calories that you require daily is determined by your age, sex, weight, height, body mass index,  and the level of activities that you engage in. Average numbers are provided by health groups on adults, including recommendations for whole grain bread .


Organization

Demographic

Activity Level

Approximate Daily Calorie Requirement (kcal)

ICMR (2020) $^*$

Adult Man (19–39 years)

Sedentary

2,110 kcal


Adult Woman (19–39 years)

Sedentary

1,660 kcal

General WHO/Global Reference

Average Man

Light to Moderate

2,500 kcal


Average Woman

Light to Moderate

2,000 kcal

Top High Calorie Foods for Healthy Weight Gain

Achieving healthy weight gain requires increasing your calorie intake with nutrient dense foods that are also rich in essential nutrients to support weight gain. These healthiest muscle building foods, including oily fish, dark chocolate, coconut oil, whole grains that are nutrient dense and calorie rich are important for supporting healthy weight gain and ensure the weight gained is beneficial muscle mass and stored energy or rather than just fat. These foods ensure a sustainable weight gain process. 

Top 10 Most Calorie Dense Foods per 100g

This table highlights the food rich in calories that offer great nutritional value.


Food Item (per 100g)

Approx. Calories (kcal)

Protein (g)

Fat (g)

Micronutrient Highlights

Pecans

691

9.2

72

Manganese, Copper, Thiamine

Walnuts

654

15.2

65

Omega 3 Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA)

Peanut Butter (Natural)

588

25

50

Niacin, Magnesium, Vitamin E

Dried Apricots

241

3.4

0.5

Potassium, Vitamin A, Iron (high natural sugar content)

Dark Chocolate (70 85%)

600

7.8

43

Iron, Magnesium, Antioxidants

Parmesan Cheese

431

38

29

Calcium, Vitamin A, Riboflavin (B2)

Avocado

160

2

15

Potassium, Vitamin K, Healthy Monounsaturated Fats

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

884

0

100

Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Antioxidants

Whole Milk Powder

496

26

26

Calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12

Cooked Quinoa

120

4.4

1.9

Complete Protein, Fiber, Iron

High Protein Foods for Weight Gain

You need to consume high protein and high calorie foods, like chocolate whey protein and a protein shake,  in case you want to focus on muscle building. Protein provides you with the essential amino acids and building blocks which muscles require in order to repair and develop.


Examples: paneer, chicken breast or thighs, whole eggs, lentils, chickpeas, whey protein powder, Greek yogurt and fish.

Advantages of consuming plenty of protein and calories?

  • Building up of muscles: Protein and additional calories can be used to increase muscle growth and repair.

  • More rapid recovery: Protein aids in the accelerated recovery after the hard training in strength so that you can proceed with the regular workouts.

  • Control over appetite: Protein will make you less hungry than carbs or fat when bulking, therefore you will maintain your calorie consumption.

Weight  gaining high calorie vegetarian foods

In the case of high calorie vegetarian food, you should concentrate on dairy fats, beans and tasty nutrient rich fruits and sweets.


Examples include ghee (clarified butter), paneer, khoya (reduced milk solids), coconut milk/oil/grated coconut, peanuts, dates, brown rice, whole grain bread, nut butter, cereal bars, bananas, mangoes, rajma (kidney beans), chana (chickpeas), and various high calorie foods like parathas made in oil or ghee.


High Calorie Indian Foods List (Vegetarian) includes various high calorie vegetarian food options.


Indian Food Item

Approx. Serving Size

Approx. Calories (kcal)

Key Calorie/Protein Source

Ghee (1 tbsp)

14 g

126

Pure Fat

Paneer (100g)

100 g

265

Protein, Fat

Full Cream Milk (1 glass)

240 ml

150

Fat, Protein, Carbs

Rajma (Cooked, 1 cup)

177 g

225

Complex Carbs, Protein

Peanut Chikki (1 piece)

30 g

150

Nuts, Sugar

Coconut Milk (Thick, 1 cup)

240 ml

445

Fat

Aloo Paratha (1 medium)

$\sim 130$ g

300

Carbs, Fat, Starch

Banana (1 large)

136 g

121

Carbs (Natural Sugars)

High Calorie Vegetables

Most vegetables contain low calories; however, the starchy vegetables are good for people who desire more calories in their meals. They provide you with complex carbs, fiber and significant vitamins. 


High calorie Starchy Vegetables: 

  • Potatoes (baked or roasted with the skin on, in particular) 

  • Sweet Potatoes and Yams 

  • Peas 

  • Sweet Corn 

  • Beets (moderate) 


The best way of maximizing the calories of these vegetables is by cooking them in healthy fats. E.g. roast potatoes in olive oil or nut butter to sweet potatoes. 

High Calorie Snacks and Smoothies to Gain Weight

Eating foods with good calories and nutrients is one of the most effective and easiest ways to gain healthy weight. Pay attention to food with good calories and nutrients. 

Easy and Calorie Dense Snacks

The snacks are easy to prepare, carry around and provide a lot of energy and nutrients and thus would be very convenient during meal breaks. 


  • Nut Butter & Banana: Place 2 tbsp of peanut, almond or cashew butter on a big banana. Add chia or hemp seeds to get extra calories and Omega 3s. 

  • Trail Mix: Combine almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and dried fruits, including raisins and dates. Ensure that the ratio between nuts and candy pieces is higher. 

  • Hard Boiled Eggs & Cheese: Combine 2 hard boiled eggs with a slice of high fat cheese (such as cheddar or Swiss). This provides an ideal protein and fat combination. 

  • Avocado Toast: Prepare half an avocado on a piece of whole grain toast. Pour olive oil and sprinkle it with Bagel seasoning or sesame seeds. 

  • Protein Bars: Bars should include many nuts or seeds and contain at least 15g of protein. Prefer bars that have less sugar. 

The Nutrient Dense Smoothies with High Caloric Value

Smoothies are also great at weight gain since when you drink a lot of calories, you do not feel too filled. Different smoothies like chocolate banana nut shake, oats shake work great for supporting muscle growth. They may be consumed fast following an exercise or as a meal full of nutrients. 

Coconut Cream and Tropical Avocado

Healthy fats have been used in this recipe to provide a rich texture and lots of calories without the use of nut butter. One cup of full fat cans of coconut milk provides the majority of fat and calories and serves as a base. Add 1/2 medium avocado to add creaminess and monosaturated fats. Add half a cup of full fat Greek yogurt in terms of protein and fat. Substitute with 1cup of frozen mango chunks and 2 large pitted dates. Include chia seeds (1 tablespoon). Also, you can add maple syrup for enhanced taste. Blend all until smooth. 

Cinnamon Apple Pie Weight Gainer

It is a nutritious choice of a breakfast or a snack that resembles a dessert due to its warm and spiced flavor. Add one cup of whole milk (or almond milk). Add one small sliced apple. One third cup uncooked rolled oats as long term carbs. Two tbsp of almond butter is the key source of calories. Optional: Add two tbsp. of hemp hearts or flaxseeds to add nutrition. Add 1 tsp vanilla extract and a lot of cinnamon. To achieve a better texture, moist the oats using milk over a period of fifteen minutes or dry the oats and then combine with the rest. 

Top Dietary Strategies to Gain Weight

Learning to gain weight safely is to make the right choices of calories to ensure that you pack on muscle and bone rather than just fat. Look at a more moderate, practical approach to consuming more calories and still eating healthy foods. 


These are the strategies that are most significant: 


  • Maintain calorie intake: Gradually increase calofries and regularly. In order to gain weight you must have a persistent excess eat more energy than the body expends in a day. 

  • Small surplus is important: Have an average surplus of 300 to 500 calories per day. An increased surplus could bring excess fat. 

  • Eat regularly: It is important to be regular. One skip meal will wipe out the excess you have been building and cause stagnation. 

  • Pay attention to high energy foods: It is easy to increase total energy with the help of healthy, high energy foods such as nuts, nut butters, avocados and oils to add to each meal and snack. 

Introduce frequent meals and snacks

Attempting to have all the calories in only 3 large meals may be awkward and lead to digestion issues. 


  • Eat every 2 3 hours: Schedule your day with three meals and two to three large, calorie rich snacks (such as the smoothies and the trail mix discussed). 

  • Consume your calorie intake: Shakes and smoothies are convenient and high calorie supplements. In an excess they are simpler to eat than solid food.

Prioritize Adequate Protein Intake

Protein builds muscle and is essential for those looking to gain muscle mass . Without protein, additional calories will become fat even when you are lifting weights.


  • Merge Protein and Carbs: Add at each meal a protein meal (chicken, paneer, eggs, beans) and a complex carbohydrate (rice, oats, whole grains) to help you pack on muscle and provide energy.

  • Timing: Have a protein and carb meal/ shake within an hour of weight training, to aid your muscles in healing.

Integrate Nutrition and Strength Training

Gaining weight in a healthy way implies building muscle growth which requires workouts. Training is the primary cause of fat addition by eating more.


  • Lift Heavy Weights: Resistance training 3 4 times in a week. This makes your body burn additional calories and protein to make muscle.

  • Rest and Recovery: Make sure to rest sufficient. It is during rest time that muscle is growing and not during exercise time.

Assure Generality of Nutrient Intake

As you eat more, eat good food to achieve good results.


  • Don't trust junk calories: Eat no sugary beverages, chips or excessive sweets. They are not very nutritional and damage your health.

  • Pay attention to healthy fats: Use healthy fats such as olive oil, ghee, nuts and seeds. They provide numerous calories with a low volume of food.

Conclusion

Healthy weight gain is not necessarily about taking more complex carbohydrates; it can also involve protein supplements such as a protein shake .  it is about taking good calories foods that help to stimulate muscle protein synthesis and protein supplementation . One test is known as the Double Marker Test, though it is not concerned with food; it demonstrates that quality is important when it comes to checking health. Weight gain distinguishes good calorie food, nutrient rich foods such as whole grains, avocados, nuts, lean calorie foods like lean protein, and beneficial plant compounds, from unhealthy fats and junk calories in processed foods low in vitamins and minerals.

FAQs

How do I get 3000 calories per day?

Calories and good nutrition California produces whole grains, dairy, nuts, seeds, avocados, lean meats and other high calorie foods required to meet daily nutritional requirements of 3000 calories per day. Eat frequently, use healthy oils such as coconut oil, incorporate both plant and animal protein, and choose the best high calorie foods for extra calories to experiment with smoothies or shakes that include essential nutrients and various beneficial plant compounds, and use an app to keep on track.

Which food has 1000 calories?

Examples include 1 cup of peanut butter (approximately 950 calories), 1 cup of nuts and granola (approximately 1000 calories) or a burger with fries at a fast food restaurant. Foods high in calories such as nuts, cheese and chocolate may also provide approximately 1000 calories.

What are 10 calorie foods?

Foods containing approximately 10 calories per serving: celery sticks, cucumber slices, lettuce leaves, zucchini, mushrooms, radishes, spinach, green peppers, cauliflower and iceberg lettuce. They are low calorie and diet friendly snacks or very low calorie diets. Also, you can consider cereal bars, brown rice, whole grain braid, etc as the best high calorie foods that include healthy calories. 

**Medical Disclaimer: The following information is for educational purposes only. No information provided on this website, including text, graphics, and images, is intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your doctor about specific medical advice about your condition(s).

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