Eating to Put On Weight

Most people only wish that they had issue with lack of weight gain. People who struggle to retain weight, however, are not most people.

Those who struggle to maintain a healthy body mass know that gaining weight is not as easy as eating a dreamy diet of endless delicacies.

Generally, our body is very good at converting the energy we feed it, so long as it is the right kind of energy. However, for many reasons the energy conversion process can become impaired, and a person can struggle to retain a healthy weight.

The weight retention issue in my kitchen is not my own, but belongs to my husband. While now cured from cancer, the removal of the oesophagus and its role in digestion means that  his body does not process foods efficiently, and struggles to absorb sufficient nutrients.

In order to supply his body with enough energy to retain weight, he eats at least six small meals per day, and add healthy snacks in between when possible. Through a long and continuous process of trial and error, we have found certain foods that do and don't help in weight and energy retention. 

Whole milk dairy products, foods fried in vegetable oil or containing high fat content, as well as goods high in refined sugar are all out. Most dehydrated powders cause digestive issues, which makes cooking all foods from scratch a must. Protein supplements are problematic; skim milk powder added to store bought milk has proved a less troublesome alternative.

Portion size is also an issue. Too much food also leads to extreme digestive pain, and defeats the purpose of eating to gain weight.

Oils ain't oils, and in this case it is so. Rice bran oil has become my everyday, I use small amounts of good quality olive oil in dressings, dips, and low smoke point cooking. My oil shelf has expanded to include grapeseed oil for it's mild flavour, and coconut oil in place of butter in baking.

Almond butter has replaced peanut butter, and I now use far more of it in baking and sweet making than ever before. Nuts and seeds, fruits, eggs, wholemeal and grain breads, lean meats, and cheeses, have all proved to be more beneficial for weight retention than sugary, fatty, high kilojule foods.

I have learned new ways to make food that is not only wholesome, but contains ingredients that work to boost health and vitality. When every mouthful counts, nutritional value is the key!