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Use these tips to get the calories and nutrition you need
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Whether it's due to a mental or physical illness, an injury, or a high baseline metabolism, low appetite can make it so hard to eat as much as you'd like to. When you're underweight, trying to put on some pounds may feel like a total uphill battle—but there are actually so many great strategies out there to help you get more food into your body everyday. For all of the best, science-backed tips on how to eat more food and gain some weight, read on.

Tips to Eat More Food

  • Eat multiple small meals instead of three large ones. Fill your plate with high-calorie, nutritious foods like nuts and avocados.
  • Eat breakfast to keep up your appetite, and try to work in a bedtime snack.
  • Use smoothies and shakes to drink your calories. Plus, find substitute ingredients that add calories to your favorite recipes.
1

Break up your meals.

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  1. Instead of sitting down for three large meals, opt for five or six that are made up of smaller portions. If you’re currently underweight, you may feel fuller faster. By spreading your meals out throughout the day, you’ll eat less at a time, meaning less risk of feeling too full to eat.[1]
    • Instead of eating eggs paired with a couple pieces of peanut butter toast, give yourself an hour in between each dish.
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2

Choose high-calorie, nutritious foods.

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  1. When someone is trying to consume more calories in a day, they’ll oftentimes go for high-calorie, low-nutrient choices, like potato chips, sodas, or fast food. Foods like this, though, are called “empty calories,” meaning that they don’t provide any of the nutrients you need to stay healthy and happy. To consume more high-calorie, high-nutrient foods, try:[2]
    • Seeds, nuts, and nut butters
    • Healthy fats, like avocado, olives, and high-calorie cheese
    • Potatoes, brown rice, and whole grain bread
    • Dried fruits for high-calorie nutrition
3

Add bonus calories to your meals.

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  1. When you’re preparing your meals, stay mindful about when you could tinker with your recipe to add in some extra calories. For instance, you could top yogurt with dried fruit and nuts.[3]
    • Try adding olive oil, honey, bacon bits, nuts, avocado, or dressings to your salads.
    • Swap in breaded meats for un-breaded meats.
    • Eat peanut butter with apples and celery, instead of eating the fruit or veggie on its own.
    • Sprinkle cheese on your eggs and pastas to add some calories.
    • Go for a high-calorie fruit juice over tea.
    Gain a healthy weight with guidance. "As a skinny guy, I always had a hard time putting on pounds. Using this guide's tips, I started eating more nutritious, high-calorie foods. In just a couple of months, I went from 120 to 130 pounds. For my naturally thin build, gaining 10 pounds made a big difference in my energy and self-confidence. The easy-to-follow advice gave me the plan I needed to see results." - Robert T.
    Follow the actionable advice for real results. "What I liked about the article was that it gave specific, easy tips I could actually do. Making breakfast smoothies, putting avocado in my salads, and keeping nut butters on hand are simple ways I've been able to add more calories to my diet. With clear instructions, it was easy to use these nourishing food ideas every day." - Mary W.
    Make smoothies for an easy nutrition boost. "I liked the tip on smoothies and shakes. Blending yogurt, milk, bananas, and protein powder lets me drink extra calories while still getting nutrients. Making a daily smoothie has been a tasty way to boost my calorie intake." - Jennifer B.
    Make every bite count with calorie-dense foods. "As someone losing their appetite from illness, I need to eat efficiently. The tips on picking naturally calorie-dense foods, adding extras like cheese, and planning nutritious snacks gave me ways to get the most from every bite. Now, I can get the calories I need without overeating. Even with a diminished appetite, I can eat nutritiously." - Michelle Y.
    We want to hear from you! Advice from our readers makes our articles better. If you have a story you’d like to share, tell us here.
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4

Eat all of your favorites.

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  1. It may sound too easy to be real advice, but by eating more of the things you genuinely love, you’ll help increase your daily food intake. It’s still important to avoid too many empty calories, but you should feel totally empowered to fix yourself all of your other favorites at mealtime.[4]
    • Try to avoid favorites that are high in sugar and fat. It's okay to throw in a piece of cake every now and again, but most of your meals should remain nutrient rich.
    • Focus on enjoying nutritious favorites. Try a sweet yogurt parfait, some spicy guac, or a grilled cheese on whole-wheat bread.[5]
5

Make sure you’re eating breakfast.

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6

Avoid fiber.

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  1. High-fiber foods are usually “energy dense,” meaning that they have low calories for their volume. In addition to this, these foods tend to be more filling, so you may not be as hungry for the remainder of your day. You should still get your recommended daily fiber intake, 21–25 grams (0.74–0.88 oz) for women and 30–38 grams (1.1–1.3 oz) for men, just try to avoid too many high-fiber foods that could suppress your appetite.[8] Here are some examples of high-fiber foods:[9]
    • Beans and lentils
    • Bran muffins
    • Artichokes
7

Drink after your meals, not before.

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  1. By drinking before you eat, your filling up your stomach, reducing the chances that you'll have full, high-calorie meal. To increase your appetite and food intake, wait to drink that glass of water until after you’ve finished eating.[10]
    • Avoid consuming liquids for at least thirty minutes before you plan to eat.
    • You should still aim to get your daily recommended fluid intake, which is 15.5 cups (3.7 l) per day for men and 11.5 cups (2.7 l) per day for women.
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10

Incorporate smoothies and shakes.

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  1. By using healthy, proteinous, and high-calorie ingredients, you can ratchet up your calorie consumption, keep getting the nutrients you need, and take a break from actually eating, if that’s a stressor for you. Vegetables, fruits, protein powder, whole milk, and flax seed can replace low-calorie, low-nutrient options, like diet soda and coffee.[13]
    • Try mixing 1 cup (240 mL) vanilla yogurt, 1 cup (240 mL) 2% milk, 1 medium banana in chunks, 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of wheat germ, and 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of protein powder in a blender.


11

Find enjoyable distractions during mealtime.

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  1. By creating pleasant distractions during mealtime, you may find it easier to eat. This takes some of the pressure off of forcing yourself to have a big meal. Hopefully, by watching TV, chatting to a pal, or even reading a book, you may be able to finish your plate without having to overthink the process.[14]
    • Try to sit down for dinner with people who you love to talk to.
    • Turn on a new show you’ve been looking forward to. Pro tip: use the commercials as your reminder to take a couple bites of your meal.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What should I eat if I have no appetite?
    Katie Hake RDN, LD
    Katie Hake RDN, LD
    Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist & Certified Personal Trainer
    Katie Hake is a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Nutritionist, Fitness Professional and the Owner of Katie Hake Health & Fitness, LLC. She specializes in constructing sustainable life changes in health and fitness. Katie received a dual degree BS in Dietetics and Nutrition & Fitness and Health from Purdue University.
    Katie Hake RDN, LD
    Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist & Certified Personal Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Snack on foods that are both tasty and easy to digest. Sipping on an energy-dense smoothie or soup might be a good starting point.
  • Question
    How do you not get overwhelmed by food?
    Katie Hake RDN, LD
    Katie Hake RDN, LD
    Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist & Certified Personal Trainer
    Katie Hake is a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Nutritionist, Fitness Professional and the Owner of Katie Hake Health & Fitness, LLC. She specializes in constructing sustainable life changes in health and fitness. Katie received a dual degree BS in Dietetics and Nutrition & Fitness and Health from Purdue University.
    Katie Hake RDN, LD
    Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist & Certified Personal Trainer
    Expert Answer
    Try eating smaller meals and snacks! These might be easier to tolerate than a large meal.
  • Question
    Why would anyone want to eat more?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Some people are underweight or looking to gain muscle mass.
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Tips

    • Traumatic injuries can cause nausea, leading to loss of appetite.[18]
    • If that's the case for you, try eating dry foods in the morning, avoiding hot foods and strong smelling foods, and eating meals slowly.
    • Avoiding foods that that cause gas, like onions and broccoli, can also help with nausea-related loss of appetite.


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About This Article

Tara Coleman
Co-authored by:
Clinical Nutritionist
This article was co-authored by Tara Coleman and by wikiHow staff writer, Caroline Heiderscheit. Tara Coleman is a Clinical Nutritionist who has a private practice in San Diego, California. With over 15 years of experience, Tara specializes in sports nutrition, body confidence, and immune system health and offers personalized nutrition, corporate wellness, and online learning courses. She received a BS in Biology from James Madison University and spent six years in the pharmaceutical industry as an analytical chemist before founding her practice. Tara has been featured on NBC, CBS, Fox, ESPN, and Dr. Oz The Good Life as well as in Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Self, and Runner’s World. This article has been viewed 396,001 times.
27 votes - 79%
Co-authors: 34
Updated: November 5, 2024
Views: 396,001
Categories: Eating Techniques

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Article SummaryX

To eat more food to bulk up, drink protein shakes between meals to get extra calories. During mealtimes, make sure to eat plenty of protein so you're building muscle, and then supplement your meals with whole grains, fresh fruits, and healthy fats, such as peanut butter, nuts, and seeds. You can also drink 3 glasses of milk a day, either with or between meals, to add more muscle building fats to your diet. To learn how to eat breakfast to spark your metabolism and make you more hungry throughout the day, keep reading!

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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 396,001 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Robert T.

    Robert T.

    Mar 8, 2016

    "As a skinny guy, I always had a hard time putting on pounds. Using this guide's tips, I started eating more..." more
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