High Cal Vegetarian Foods?

I'm actually using this site to gain a little weight, not lose it, but the calorie count and recipes have been so helpful!

 I was wondering if any helpful folks knew of some high calorie vegetarian foods to help me meet my daily goal.

Thank you so much!  Happy eating!

*Note:  I consume very little dairy and no eggs.

Avocado, nuts, peanut butter/ soy nut butter, big bananas, dried fruit.

Those naughty carbs- pasta, potatoes, lentils and (brown) rice, (vegetarian) lasagne...

Oh, good!  I actually ate avocado today!

I love me some naughty carbs, especially pasta and potatoes!

stick with whole foods for gaining in a healthy way. Like others have mentioned, nuts and avacados are great for high cals but watch out because they also have a very high fat content, so they should be eaten in moderation even if you are trying to gain. Lentils, whole grain pastas, and whole grains such as quinoa, amyranth, barley, brown and brown and wild rices are high in cals(between 170-250 per serving) but also high in protein, fiber and nutrients that are good for your body.  A high-er cal meal could include 2 servings of one of these, with some stir fried tofu and vegs in a yummy sauce using healthy oils like olive or sesame.



Granola is high in calories if you get the really yummy stuff packed with nuts and grains and honey- or better yet make it at home and fill it with sesame seeds, flax, wheat germ, chopped nuts and dried fruits and berries and you'll have an amazing, high-cal nutritious snack.

I'm assuming you want to gain muscle, not fat,so try and get your higher cals from protein as well. Extra firm, full fat tofu has lots of protein as well as a higher cal content than the silken or soft types.

And for indulgences there's always soy ice cream, yummy vegan chocolate, high-cal protein bars and a variety of veggie frozen goods(like Amy's brand) that are higher in cals.

You can try sprinkling nuts and dried fruit into your cereal, yogurt, oatmeal, salads, etc.. in order to add cals to normally lower-cal things. Also drizzling olive oil on foods can help you pack on some pounds.

hope that helps!

Thank you so much!  You were extremely helpful!

I do want to gain some muscle, but a little fat too (I'm pretty underweight, some fat would do me good) I just have such a difficult time gaining.  I also only ever want to eat salads  (yum, my favorite), so I don't get a ton of calories per day.

I'll have to start making some granola bars and finding ways to eat more tofu (the texture bothers my mouth.)  I do prefer the firm, though, the silken tofu squiggles all over the place!

 Thank you so much!  :)

hummus,most granola/granola bars

I would recommend Lara Bars.  They are totally natural, made of just dried fruits and nuts, and quite calorie dense.  Much more nutritious than most of the granola bars I've seen on the market, which often contain about 5 kinds of sugar!   

 

I've written this so many times, it seems! Try that new naturally nutty peanut butter. It's chock full of all the omegas b/c of the hemp seed and flax seed they add to it. Plus, the flavors are so yummy!!!! I didn't even have to stir mine...no seperation...even though it's all natural! Good luck!

If you are a big salad person, find a way to add some of those higher calorie protiens to your salad.  Try a smoked firm tofu chopped up with some garbazo beans (Chickpeas) or kidney beans.  Sprinkle on some unsalted sunflour seeds or some honey glazed walnuts to give it that extra punch!

Pasta pesto is so yummy, and is good for gaining weight because of all the olive oil (although, beware if you dont want dairy and if you are buying from a store some brands have parmesan cheese in them). If you put it on whole wheat pasta it makes it a little more healthy, but still calorie rich, and for extra cals top with toasted pine nuts.

 

dried fruit, pasta, nuts, avocadoes

PRUNES ARE AWESOME

Find the vegetables and fruits with the higher calorie count.  Make sure they all are rated B or A (don't settle for anything less). Then, SIMPLY EAT MORE!

You've probably calculated your weight, height with the tools.  You've been told what you need to MAINTAIN.  Whatever that number is, add 500 calories by EATING MORE of the 'good stuff'.  500 calories a day will add one pound a week.  Once you get to your desired weight, then go back and see what it takes to MAINTAIN that weight.  Go accordingly.........