What To Eat To Gain Weight?

[TheClockworkDodo]

A friend of mine has prediabetes, but she needs to gain weight - she was asking what would be good things to eat to help her put on weight. I suggested full-fat cheese and cream. Does anyone have any other ideas? She is a vegetarian, so she would like veggie-friendly ideas please! And also, she wants to know how much full-fat cheese and cream she can eat per day?

 

[helli]

I would recommend nuts - high in protein and fat but low in carbs.

 

[Inka]

Avocados, nuts, cheese, full cream milk, and peanut butter are good 🙂

 

[Thebearcametoo]

Cream based desserts - profiteroles and eclairs are low carb but high fat

Full fat dairy generally, full fat milk, Greek yogurt, cheese etc

Eggs - a Spanish style frittata with loads of veg in (not potatoes) can be eaten hot or cold and is nice to snack on or have for a quick breakfast. Scrambled eggs have more fat than fried eggs (although there’s not much in it )

Add nuts to stir fries. Make nut burgers - bought nut burger and nut roasts are usually bulked out with rice, grains or potato starch but you can probably substitute almond flour to reduce the carbs (although it depends how low carb they want to go)

Almond flour pancakes are low carb. I use cows milk instead of almond milk for ease.

Tofu is low carb.

Almond flour based cakes and cookies (obviously not carb free but lower carb than wheat flour based ones).

The main thing is just to eat. Reducing carbs means you need to eat something to replace it to make up for the loss of calories. High fat & protein can give you a feeling of fullness and mean you eat fewer calories so just being mindful to eat enough. A lot of veggie protein like beans and lentils has carbs in but it may be enough to reduce the accompanying pasta, rice, bread etc and still eat things like beans chilli or lentil soups or daal

 

[rebrascora]

The other posts have covered most of my tactics.
The only thing I would add is that aubergines are wonderful for soaking up olive oil, so a large pan of ratatouille can hold a good half cup of olive oil and provide wonderful flavour and calories without the carbs. I usually top it with halloumi and/or mozzarella cheese for added fat and protein and finish it under the grill. I don't quantify how much fat/oil I need to hold or gain weight, I just know that if I start gaining too much weight I am using too much and need to cut back and if I don't have enough, I lose weight. It is just about assessing and adjusting. The amount of calories you burn off will have a lot to do with how much physical activity you do as well, so it is a bit of a 3 way balancing act.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

Thanks all, I have summarised your replies for my friend and also given her a link to this thread 🙂

 

[chaoticcar]

Lots of butter on veg
Carol