Ways to Gain Healthy Weight

If you are underweight and want to gain, you may not get a lot of sympathy from friends who are constantly battling to lose their baby weight or their freshman 15. The need to gain can be important to your overall health and self-confidence. In the quest to gain weight, it is important that you do it using healthy foods and methods so you gain without increasing your risk of heart disease, cancer and other health issues.

Increase Frequency of Eating

Pump up the number of times per day that you consume calories. If you are used to eating one or two meals a day, move it to three or four. If you are already eating three meals a day, you should incorporate several snacks in between meals.

Drink Extra Calories

When you reach for a drink, make sure it is high in calories, healthy and nutritious. According to the Mayo Clinic, many fruit smoothies are made with natural ingredients and add healthy calories to your daily food intake. Be sure to drink them 30 to 60 minutes before you eat so you do not ruin your appetite.

Eat Cheese and Nuts

When choosing snacks, you should eat high-calorie foods, including cheeses, nuts and dried fruits, suggests the Health News website. All these choices will put the weight on while, at the same time, provide important nutrients to your body. Another positive weight gain food is the avocado, which includes important monounsaturated oils.

Add Exercise

Adding daily exercise to your life can help you build muscle mass, which, in turn, weighs more than fat. Be sure when you are exercising that you add enough additional calories to your daily intake that you will continue to gain weight.

Sneak Calories In

Add cheeses and sauces to any dish you can when you are cooking. The Mayo Clinic reports that this will add calories to your menu and help you gain desired weight. For example, instead of a broth-based soup, choose the cream-based soup. Introduce cheese to casseroles, on potatoes and over vegetables to increase your daily calorie intake.