If you are underweight and need to gain a few pounds to avoid health concerns, it is important to choose healthy foods to help you do this. MayoClinic.com recommends talking to your doctor to determine what a healthy weight for you is and how quickly you should gain the weight you need to. By incorporating nutrient dense foods, you can gain weight while still covering your vitamin and mineral needs.
Cheese
Many people shy away from cheese due to its fat content, but it is a healthy food to choose if you are trying to gain some weight. Cheese made from whole milk is your best bet because it contains fat and calories that will help you pack on some weight. Adding cheese to sandwiches, casseroles and egg dishes will increase calorie count in foods you already eat. Cheese also makes a good snack that you can nibble on between meals to keep you from getting hungry while also increasing your chances of gaining weight. Some types of cheese are high in saturated fat, so if you have or are at risk of getting heart disease, talk with your doctor about whether cheese is a good choice for you.
Avocados
Avocados are a fruit containing heart healthy fats and helps reduce your risk of heart disease when you eat them regularly. According to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, healthy weight gain relies on adding healthy foods to your diet and not overeating unhealthy and fatty foods, so avocados are a good choice that fits well with this advice. Adding sliced avocados to sandwiches, tacos or salads is an easy way to add it to your meals. Avocados are an easy and portable food that you can take to work or school and slice up when you are ready to eat them. They are available year round at most supermarkets and are an inexpensive addition to a healthy weight gain plan.
Nuts
Nuts are high calorie and high fat, but primarily the heart healthy kind. They are a versatile food and make a good addition to many meals and snacks to promote healthy weight gain. Sprinkle chopped nuts over your cereal, oatmeal or yogurt. Add them to salads, trail mix or cottage cheese, recommends the Center for Young Women's Health. Pecans, almonds, walnuts and peanuts are good choices and are readily available at most grocery stores nationwide. A handful of nuts makes a healthy snack to help you gain weight as well. Peanut butter is also a nut product that promotes healthy weight gain. Eat it on a sandwich before bed or between meals or smear it on toast in the morning. Apples pair well with peanut butter and make a good snack.
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