If you are underweight, your doctor may recommend that you consume more calories in order to gain weight. Although eating cheeseburgers and other foods that are high in saturated fat may help you gain weight, you may also put yourself at risk for heart disease, diabetes and other serious medical conditions. Talk to your doctor before starting a new diet program, especially if you have health conditions or allergies.
Breakfast
Start your day with a meal that's high in protein, such as an egg white omelet with beans, cheese and veggies, or a cup of yogurt mixed with almonds, cashews, flax seeds and berries. Add as many healthy toppings to your breakfast as possible; get creative with fruit, nuts and granola so you're packing in as many healthy calories as possible. Steer clear of foods that are high in unhealthy saturated fat, like bacon and sausage. Opt instead for veggie sausage links or bacon slices.
Lunch
Eating a salad for lunch is a nutritious way to add more healthy calories to your diet. Experiment with high-protein toppings such as chickpeas, beans, almonds and sunflowers seeds. Throw in a few pieces of dried cranberries or apricots and drizzle with an olive oil dressing. Add sliced avocado to the top of the salad for healthy monounsaturated fats that will help you gain weight without unhealthy saturated fats. Eat a whole-grain roll along with your salad to increase your fiber intake.
Dinner
Focus on filling, healthy foods for dinner that are high in protein and calories, but low in saturated fat. Choose a lean protein as a main dish, such as fish, chicken or turkey. Eating red meat once in a while is fine, but opt for a turkey burger instead of a burger made with beef to reduce your saturated fat intake. Top vegetable side dishes like broccoli with cheese and baked potatoes with Greek yogurt.
Snacks
Aim to eat three meals per day and three small snacks between meals to gain healthy weight. Pack small plastic bags with healthy snacks that you can eat on the go, such as sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, raisins, almonds, whole-wheat crackers, string cheese, yogurt and carrot sticks. Munch on healthy snacks to keep your blood sugar up throughout the day and whet your appetite for your next meal. Steer clear of candy bars and other sugary snacks.
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