Can't eat enough to maintain

So I recently started maintaing and eating more calories.  I've got up to like 1500 a day, which is apparently what I should have been eating to lose...because the weight keeps coming off, which is scary!  I've had trouble even eating this much a day, simply because I'm not hungry, and I've trained myself so well to not eat unless I'm getting hungry (maybe that wasn't the best approach).  Also the only reason I've gotten up to this cal level is because I've been eating ice cream and junk...guess I just need to find some healthier high calorie foods!  I bought some lightly salted soy nuts yesterday (I need more protein too) so hopefully adding those will help a little!  Any other suggestions?

That's my biggest concern. I've been struggling to make sure to eat about 2,000 calories of GOOD food. This site says I should be eating 2500 now and I can't even imagine how. :/ Not 2500 calories of GOOD-for-me food!

      Well I have the same problem you had with trying to add calories and keep them healthy at the same time.  I found a few foods that are really easy to make and help to add calories.

      Oatmeal+1 or 2 TBSP Natural Peanut Butter 360 Healthy Calories
      Whey Protein + Skim Milk 240 Calories

     Probably the best though that I have found for adding easy  healthy calories is eating yogart.  Can  usually find them all over now 
and have plenty of a protein plus lots  of vitamins.

     Also high calorie fruits do ad d up when you eat them as snacks.
Banana is the biggest because its packe d with vitamins and a large 
one has around 140 calories in it.    Â Â 

Almonds and other nuts are high in calories but very healthy. Just a handful as snack is better than chips or other junk.

When you eat salad, make your dressing with some extra virgin olive oil, very healthy too.  

When you eat fish, choose types with higher fat content like salmon. Very healthy omega 3 oils.

Oh yes, you can make a NICE protein shake for some good cals.  I usually do 2 scoops of whey protein (220 cals), 1 cup of skim milk (80 cals), 5 or 6 strawberries (30 cals?), a banana (120 cals), and just some ice.  Delicious, very healthy for you, and helps tack on some cals when you're not that hungry.  What's also good is doing half milk, half fat free yogurt.  Adds a tang and thickens it up a little bit :)

finewine, that sounds awesome!!

yayyay thanks fo rall your replies!

*makes mental note to try FDub's shake*

I know, it's really hard for me to fight the mentality of: "Okay, I've got extra calories.... HELLO ICE CREAM!" =) I also agree with the fruit thing--bananas, and mangos, are higher in calories, and make a higher-calorie but still good snack when taken throughout the day.

Balance Bars are really good and are 200 calories.  Each has about 15g of protein in it.

i'll second that!!  i buy them by the case at costco!

I got scolded by hubby last night and have to start logging my cals again- not been getting enough.  it is sooo hard!

I hear ya, I've been supposedly maintaining for the last month, but today is the first day that I have actually had just about maint cals, and I only did so cause I am on a workout binge this week, my trainer is gonna work me good, YEAH.

I am not sure I can eat that much, even when I eat "junk" I still can not get 2000 cals in.

I have trouble getting enough calories into me too-thank goodness for zone perfect bars-they're tasty and calorie dense without being out and out junk food. 15g protein too. :)

I am sorry, but you gals are a bunch of wimps! (said in a friendly way)Nuts are higher in calories, but are good for you and have protien. Like finewine said, protein smoothies, again those have protein. Fruit is another great choice, have a couple of bananas, high in potasium. Have some cheese, high in calories, but more protien! Peanut butter with some no sugar added jelly, makes a great p&j sandwich, and you guessed it, peanut butter has protein!

There are plenty of yummy foods out there that are higher in cals, but still have lots of good nution in them. Oh, oh....my 2 favorite high cals/protein meal for when I will finally lose enough fat to begin a clean bulk for weight lifting will be:
1. Pork chops with 94% fat free cream of muschroom soup mixed in with white rice. Just cut the fat off the pork chops and eat the meat. Yummy!
2. shrimp mixed in with white rice and broccoli. Very yummy, easy to make and oh so yummy.

bill (can you tell I like my rice?)