Whether it's due to a mental or physical illness, an injury, or a high baseline metabolism, low appetite can make it so hard to eat as much as you'd like to. When you're underweight, trying to put on some pounds may feel like a total uphill battle—but there are actually so many great strategies out there to help you get more food into your body everyday. For all of the best, science-backed tips on how to eat more food and gain some weight, read on.
Steps
Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat should I eat if I have no appetite?Katie Hake is a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Nutritionist, Fitness Professional and the Owner of Katie Hake Health & Fitness, LLC. She specializes in constructing sustainable life changes in health and fitness. Katie received a dual degree BS in Dietetics and Nutrition & Fitness and Health from Purdue University.Snack on foods that are both tasty and easy to digest. Sipping on an energy-dense smoothie or soup might be a good starting point.
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QuestionHow do you not get overwhelmed by food?Katie Hake is a Registered Dietitian, Licensed Nutritionist, Fitness Professional and the Owner of Katie Hake Health & Fitness, LLC. She specializes in constructing sustainable life changes in health and fitness. Katie received a dual degree BS in Dietetics and Nutrition & Fitness and Health from Purdue University.Try eating smaller meals and snacks! These might be easier to tolerate than a large meal.
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QuestionWhy would anyone want to eat more?Community AnswerSome people are underweight or looking to gain muscle mass.
Tips
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- Traumatic injuries can cause nausea, leading to loss of appetite. [18] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
- If that's the case for you, try eating dry foods in the morning, avoiding hot foods and strong smelling foods, and eating meals slowly.
- Avoiding foods that that cause gas, like onions and broccoli, can also help with nausea-related loss of appetite.
References
- ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/eating-to-boost-energy
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/high-calorie-snack-ideas-for-weight-gain
- ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/high-calorie-snack-ideas-for-weight-gain
- ↑ https://www.med.unc.edu/anesthesiology/enhancedrecovery/wp-content/uploads/sites/492/2017/11/Poor_Appetite.pdf
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-weight/managing-your-weight/healthy-ways-to-gain-weight/
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26653842/
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24898233/
- ↑ https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/increasing-fiber-intake
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27317834/
- ↑ https://www.healthxchange.sg/food-nutrition/food-tips/drinking-water-right-time
- ↑ https://www.med.unc.edu/anesthesiology/enhancedrecovery/wp-content/uploads/sites/492/2017/11/Poor_Appetite.pdf
- ↑ https://www.sleepfoundation.org/nutrition/healthy-bedtime-snacks
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/sugar-sweetened-beverages-intake.html
- ↑ https://www.med.unc.edu/anesthesiology/enhancedrecovery/wp-content/uploads/sites/492/2017/11/Poor_Appetite.pdf
- ↑ https://www.med.unc.edu/anesthesiology/enhancedrecovery/wp-content/uploads/sites/492/2017/11/Poor_Appetite.pdf
- ↑ https://www.med.unc.edu/anesthesiology/enhancedrecovery/wp-content/uploads/sites/492/2017/11/Poor_Appetite.pdf
- ↑ https://drexel.edu/news/archive/2020/february/well-center-physical-activity-diet-lapse-protection
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24228-loss-of-appetite
About This Article
To eat more food to bulk up, drink protein shakes between meals to get extra calories. During mealtimes, make sure to eat plenty of protein so you're building muscle, and then supplement your meals with whole grains, fresh fruits, and healthy fats, such as peanut butter, nuts, and seeds. You can also drink 3 glasses of milk a day, either with or between meals, to add more muscle building fats to your diet. To learn how to eat breakfast to spark your metabolism and make you more hungry throughout the day, keep reading!
Reader Success Stories
- "As a skinny guy, I always had a hard time putting on pounds. Using this guide's tips, I started eating more nutritious, high-calorie foods. In just a couple of months, I went from 120 to 130 pounds. For my naturally thin build, gaining 10 pounds made a big difference in my energy and self-confidence. The easy-to-follow advice gave me the plan I needed to see results. " ..." more