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Weight Gainers: What did YOU eat today?

I am copying the many times copied thread, "What did you eat today?" in hopes of helping some of those who are just starting to gain and have no clue what to eat. I know that when I began weight recovery, I was eating tons of low-cal foods just because that's what I was used to. I learned the hard way that dense foods are essential to weight gain when you have high caloric requirements (at one point I needed 4500 cal to maintain my weight on BEDREST). Perhaps newbies can get some ideas if we post our weight gain meal plans! Even if you're not gaining anymore, grab an old one and post it!:]
Please note that every body is different and some will need more or less calories than others to gain. This thread is just so that you can get an idea of what you need.
Oh, and yes, I'm breaking the "no calories, no portions" rule, since it is pretty helpful in this case. If you want to post cals/portions you can. I just ask that you don't post if you're not eating enough, though as this is a weight gain thread, I would hope none of you are undereating.;]
I'll start....
Breakfast (875 cal)*

• 1/2 cup oatmeal (150) cooked with
• 1 cup evaporated whole milk (300)
• 1 mashed banana (100)
• 2 tbsp peanut butter (200)
• 1 tbsp ground flaxseed and cinnamon to taste (50) 
• 1 hard-boiled egg (75 cal)

Morning Snack (300 cal)*

• 1/4 cup mixed nuts (200)
• 1/4 cup dried apricots (100)

Lunch (660 cal)*

• 1/4 cup rice cooked in 1 cup chicken stock (300) and
• 1/2 cup canned or cooked chickpeas (145) and
• 1/3 cup shredded cheese (150) and
• 1/4 cup each onion, peppers, and tomato (30) cooked with
• 1 tbsp olive oil and curry powder to taste (120)

Afternoon snack (390 cal)*

• 1 serving baby carrots (35)
• 1/4 cup hummus (155)
• 1/4 cup mixed nuts (200)

Dinner (875 cal)*

• 1 cup of my insane Mac & Cheese recipe (515)
• 2 cups tossed salad (45)
• 2 tbsp rasins (60)
• 2 tbsp sunflower seeds (105)
• 2 tbsp dressing (150)

Evening snack (480)*

• 1 cup plain whole milk yogurt (180)
• 1/2 cup homemade granola (300)

About 3600 calories :]

Awww..thanks for all the support guys!!!

Agruskin: Some good recipie sites i have found are: Asda recipies, sainsburies recipies, bbc good food and all recipies. They are all cal counted and delicous. Every anorexic fears they will become obese but i will not happen, normal eating cannot make you obese. After all there are all those people out there whom eat normally and they are not obese. I also hear you on the whole 'twig arms and legs but bloated tummy' thing. According to some of the other posts i have read it will distribute over time.

Also, you can actually freeze any leftover tofu

Headingup: Thank you for suxh kind words. I hear you on the staying up and thinking about food thiing. It drives me insane. I now plan my days menu the night before, write it down and allow room for some flexibility. I think this has help reduce anxiety but i am still having many sleepless nights. :(

Wow White chocolate magnum!! well done. Pre-ed they were my fav. I havent really got to that point yet..i have only just started to eat a little chocolate. I have to have according the my T) 1/2 a small bar of chocolate a week.

hey guys-  im just lazy, im sure there are many excellent recipe sites out there, but sandwiches, cereal, and i suppose take out are so much easier.  i guess it wouldnt be good to live on that stuff.

i try and eat every 3 hrs or so AEROPINK.  i have a hard time deciding on waht i want to eat and used to plan my meals the night before but still would stay up at night w the diff food choices.  i suppose i should look at the websites but its almost 3pm here and i still dont know what im doing for dinner which isnt good bc ill end up not eating enough or something. 

tuffstuff - gotta agree with everyone else - I love reading what you have to say!  Really really helpful.

So I haven't been eating anywhere near as much as I need to be lately.  Until I visited my parents, I was getting in around 3000 a day.  And then while I was with my family, trying to eat normally with everyone else, I started only getting about 2400 (even when I should have been eating more to prove to them I was trying).  And today I'm not even sure I'll hit 2000.  I'm so frustrated because now I feel like I have to start the whole process over - I'm feeling gross and bloated on the under 2000 cals I've gotten in so far today, even though I was getting comfortable with the 3000 just two weeks ago.  Maintenance for me is probably around 2500 - and I definitely want to get to the point where I can eat that comfortably and not gain because my body is still trying to hang onto whatever nourishment it can get.  

Breakfast:  1 cup nonfat plain yogurt with 1/2 cup berry granola; 1/2 cup scrambled egg whites with 1/2 a medium avocado; 1 apple

Lunch 1:  1 cup soy milk blended with 2 tbsp chocolate Nesquik powder, 1 medium banana, and ice; 2/3 cup vegetarian refried beans; baby carrots

Lunch 2:  1/4 cup pistachios; 2 slices whole grain bread; 1/3 cup dried pineapple chunks

Dinner:  1 serving whole wheat pasta with 1/2 cup tomato sauce and 4 oz tempeh

I feel so full right now, but hopefully I can squeeze in a dessert and make it over 2000!

 

Agruskin-I worried/worry about that too. I think you have to remember that that is an irrational thought. We are both eat so healthy that it is GREAT to let yourself let loose and have something that you do not have very often. BUT we are NOT going to become drive thru queens :)

Aero-I try and eat NO MORE than 3 hours apart. I have heard that it can mess up your metabolism if you eat too far apart and more than 3 hours apart, but your metabolism will be faster if you eat more frequently. It also helps to gain if you eat more often!

So far today:

Breakfast[9:45](lots of) New kashi cereal w/ skim milk

Lunch: HUGE(and I mean HUGE) salad that I made at Harris Teeter[I love that place, it is almost as good as a whole foods or an earth fare. We usually shop at Lowes, but we were close to H.T. so we went there. I am in heaven there!!!] I cannot even name all the veggies, proteins, and such I put in it! It was so good and super super healthy!

Likeear-Sorry you have not been doing as well lately. You can get right back on track though! We all have days when we just do not feel like eating as much as normal. It will be okay. Do you like olive oil? Maybe use it in your cooking. As for a dessert/snack. How about some peanut butter with an apple to dip with. That could easily be 400 calories right there. I also love all natural/organic ice cream(soy ice cream could be an option) with all natural/organic peanut butter. HEAVEN and gets my cals up! Even now that I am not openly trying to gain on purpose, I still eat that stuff. I just listen to my body and give it all the healthy stuff it wants! :) Hope I helped some.

XXX

This is a "question" that anyone can comment on. I am thinking about trying to eat more. I am not going to try to gain weight or anything. I just do not think that I am eating enough cals. I no longer count, but I can just sort of tell. I listen to my body and all, but I have days where I do not eat enough and I can tell. I think I can probably maintain my weight without much exercise on like 2500. I might try and eat a few (just a few) dense foods. I am still going to totally listen to myself though! I am not going to ruin my metabolism though!!!

agru- Yep I'm shooting for about 2000, I'm an estimator though so I'm never entirely sure how much I'm getting in with the meals I cook- Don't know if writing what I eat will help as you don't like cooking and I love it and so always cook something, especially when It's just me at home so I can cook what I want for myself rather than worry about other people's likes/dislikes, also I'm using Ensure plus to get the extra calories in, I figure this way I can kind of try and eat like a normal person just with the Ensure plus as kind of like my medicine. Anyway here is what I had today:

Breakfast: 180ml Kid's carton Innocent smoothie (raspberries, blackberries, strawberries) (75), 35g weetabix minis fruit and nut cereal (130) with a splash of semi-skimmed milk (15) (220)

Snack- Ensure plus (330)

Lunch- wholemeal wrap (135) with tbsp edamame bean dip (50), lettuce, tomatoes and radish salad (30), Activia fat free yoghurt (70) (285)

Snack- White magnum ice-cream ! (270) (Although would usually be an Ensure plus)

Supper- stir-fried tofu (1/2 349g block) and soya beans in spicy soy sauce (250) with udon noodles (110)- I actually cooked the whole block of tofu and the full pack of noodles and thought I could have the rest tomorrow lunch! Yum yum!, 1/2 Mango (60) (420)

Snack- Options hot chocolate made with 250ml semi-skimmed milk (170)

TOTAL= 1700

Sooo fell a little short today but should be enough to get me some gain anyway, I'm not too worried about the pace.

Normally though would aim for:

Breakfast- cereal with milk, glass of juice or smoothie ( 250ish)

Ensure plus (330)

Lunch- wrap/brown roll/ wholemeal pitta with salad and falafel bites, dip, hummus, PB, or a couscous or pasta salad.... or quiche....or leftovers... followed by a fatfree yoghurt (350-400)

Ensure plus (330)

Some kind of extra small snack- dried fruit, some nuts, 2x homemade biscuit (150)

Supper- any homecooked meal always followed by some kind of fruit (400-500)

Snack- Options hot chocolate made with milk (170)

TOTAL- 20000ish

It's hard to think what I want too, i got inspiration from others around me, it was hot people were having icecream, I was out so I couldn't have my Ensure, saw the Magnum and made myself get it!

Also don't worry about what you're eating, it really does seem pretty balanced anyway even if you like sticking to the same things- protein, carbs, veg etc.

Excuse the long post! Got carried away!

hi everyone-

LIKEARE-ugh, i know, when im eating w family its like i want to be "normal" but tits so hard and messes w my head bc i dont know what exactly im eating, then i might restrict and all.  the bloating, maybe parlty in your head?  but be "normal"  screw them and the bloat and everything, if your hungry, then eat.  are you a vegetarian?  why not real eggs?  or more of the egg sub?  lowfat not nonfat yogurt.  no snacks?  i know its tough but prove everyone wrong!!

PSYCHOJ-hmm, i dont know if i really eat that healthy.  and what im scared of is getting lazy, not wanting to cook, so just always getting takeput.  already tongiht im thinking of buying a new cereal and having it w my loaded salad for dinner, eventho i already had a diff cereal for my AM snack!  the kashi cereal, its like 200cal for 1/2 cup or a diff one?  love slad bars, the heavy stuff adds up so fast!  eating more, sorry, forgot, how old are you again?  id say defffff try to eat more-if youre hungry, eat, doesnt have to always be ice cream, rt?  i remember when i was younger i ate soooooooooo much and never thought for 1 sec about my weight.

HEADING UP-again we posted at the same time i think!!!  lol  your post was really really helpful.  im running out now to buy cereal but ill comment more when i get back, yes, cereal for the 2nd time today bc i am lazy!  so far

thurs-

BFAST-  thomas' plain bagel mini bagel bread, 1 tbspn PB, apple~350

SNACK- 1 cup all bran extra fiber cereal, 3/4 cup skim milk, 1 tbspn TRAIL MIX~200

LUNCH-2 slices bread, cheddar cheese, plum, fage, pudding~400 

wiill be-

~3/4 cup ice cream ~200

1 1/4 cup cereal, 3/4 c milk, salad+trail mix, peach ~380

yogurt, apple ~250 -- a little short, nothing written in stone--suggestions???

Omg. Omgomgomgomgomgomg.

It's 23 past midnight so I'll post when I make a bit more sense and am not stupidly tired, but I am so fangirled out right now it is untrue. Glee~ But, right now, I have to sleep thanks to my doc's appointment tomorrow. Will edit this then! Goodnight!

First off, thanks so much for all of your advice everyone!  You all seem to be making so much progress, I feel like im slacking here lol.  one last question, I know I used to not let myself eat anything after 8:00 should I stick with this rule and make sure I get in all of my cals before then or does it even matter cause I need to gain anyway?

thats a myth-eat whenever you want, even if you were not trying to gain!  ask as much as you want!

hi everyone.  so im a bit concerned regarding how i eat, i mean, i dont think its that healthy.  dinner is the only time i have veggies and thats a side salad.  i eat tons of carbs, thats basically all i eat.  tomm night im going w/family to a deli type restaurant.  hopefully i do decently.  i really dont feel like cooking during the week, maybe i can cook on wknds, i dobt ill actually do taht though.

thurs-

BFAST-  thomas' plain bagel mini bagel bread, 1 tbspn PB, apple~350

SNACK- 1 cup all bran extra fiber cereal, 3/4 cup skim milk, 1 tbspn TRAIL MIX~200

LUNCH-2 slices bread, cheddar cheese, plum, fage, pudding, a few sliced veggies~400 

~3/4+ cup ice cream ~200

~1 1/4 cup kashi vive cereal, 3/4 c milk, salad+trail mix, plum~380

yogurt, apple, tspn PB, plum~280 

so about 8 carbs, and thats it, i dont think i have balance, plus i think im a little short altho i do guestimate, take random bites-had some grapes, and dont measure, so that could be a bit extra i suppose.

Agruskin-I think that you eat healthy. In the context that you do not eat junk, if you understand. A healthy diet includes whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and lean protein. Try and make sure you get all of those things and more. Every meal should ideally include a fat, protein, and carb. Here is an example of a dinner that would fit in with those suggestions: a piece of grilled salmon (protein), a baked potato(carb), and a salad with whatever you want in it topped with an olive oil dressing(fat). I hope I helped. I think that you eat healthy still though!

XXX

ahh, psychoj, so much easier said than done.  i know to include all those things in each meal, but i never get fish or chicken bc i dont want to cook it.  i suppose thats not a good reason though.  i guess i dont eat candy bars and chips, but i have ice cream and pudding almost daily, and the PB, barely any veggies bc theyre just so random.  i think i like kiddie foods, like sandwiches, cereal, maybe its just lazy ppl's food.  im probably just making excuses but it makes me feel like im on my way too obesity.  cooking seems like a lot of time though.  i think i also need to start eating hihger cal things so i dont need to eat lots and lots but in aneffort to become more of a noraml eater.  im just scared of running out of cals and still being hungry!

agruskin- Don't worry, you are not on the way to obesity! I eat that kind of stuff all the time, except at dinner. A lot of people have pudding and ice cream, as well as chips and candy, in moderation, so they don't become obese. And it's not like you're gorging yourself on these things, you're just giving yourself a daily treat. Could you maybe prepare some meals on weekends that you can freeze and then just heat them up on weekday nights? I'm scared of being hungry too! If I have a high cal meal, it has to be made of several different things, it can't just be like one muffin. But remember, when you're gaining weight, there is no such thing as "running out of cals". If you're hungry, eat more! I know it's way easier said than done, it's difficult to convince yourself to go over the cal limit you've already set.

Breakfast- SNB on WW English muffin, oatmeal with pumpkin, egg, nectarine

Snack- Popcorn and blueberries

Lunch- Veggie cream cheese on WW mini bagel, Fage Total with fruit sauce compartment, TLC bar, carrots

Snack- The usual

Dinner- Broccoli and cheese quiche, slice of semolina bread with butter

Snack- Almonds, orange, Clif Mojo bar, strawberry banana shake, Ben & Jerry'

Ach, staying over at my friends, and it i the house of sugar-nightmares here! Sure, I've only had 700kcals to day and it's half past 2, but still, it came from frosted shreddies, and ice lolly, a big apple, 2 slices pineapple, 2 slices mango, leftover rice, rainbow drops, an army-navy, packet of ryvita minis and some bombay mix. Jees, I'm eatin healthy as of now.... it's just hard when you are somewhere and the only food options are bacon or sweets....

Q: I'm going camping for 4 days, with major carnivores, so I can't even take my own veggie sausages for fear of contamination on the BBQ - what fodder do I take, for brekkers, lunch snack and dinner (Note: je suis un vegetalian (vegan))

hia everyone!! sorry i havent been around for a bit just got back from holiday was fab :D AND i didnt let food be an issue :) AND it was all so yummy! AND i havent blown up like a baloon (lol that irrational fear has gone)

as for people chatting about treats i eat something sweet/ 'junk food' like every day....i couldnt not!!

heres what i had yesterday

breakfast: greek yogurt with melon and honey

snack: cafe frappe and 3 mini feta + spinach pasties

lunch: pitta bread with salad and falafel

snack: cornetto ice cream :)

dinner: roasted veg. and hoummous sandwich (i refuse to eat plane food so carried on!) small box of pringles and tropical fruit salad

snack: banana and hot milk with honey

hi guys, quick post but will be back later im sure, lol.

EDIT- charlie! welcome back, so encouranging to hear!  good for you!  was the falafel a sandwich that you bought out or you made it?  i love when they make it for you@!

AQUA-thanks!  i guess ill try and cook at least 1 thing on the wknd, but i cant see myself actually wanting it more than once during the wk, maybe twice, ill get tired of it.  sandwiches and cereal, boca burgers, i like convenience i think.  but i dont want to fall into the trap of constant take out.  TUFFSTUFF said the other day to have goals of eating something above my normal intake, so lets say a dunkin donuts muffin, looks so good, but that like a day's worth of carbs right there in 1 meal!  not even a balanced meal!

PEANUTBUTTER-PB+J sandwiches, granola bars, trail mix, cereal.  will there be a grill?  you can do frozen veggie stuff on it.

going to a deli type restaurant tonight w/family.  i want to be semi normal there but like, well see.  were going sort of early so im also thinking that i might end up being hungry for like 2 snacks afterwards even bc its so early.  thinking maybe chiken and a baked potato if they have it, its a sit down nice deli, but even that comes to like 800cals in a restaurant.