How to Eat to Gain Weight During High School

High school is a time when the teenage body goes through a vast array of changes. Hormone levels and genetics play a major role in your body's rate of development during this stage in your life. You may feel the need to put on a few pounds for personal or health-related reasons. The key to reaching your weight gain goal is to do so in a healthy manner, following proper nutritional guidelines that will ensure adequate growth and development of your body.

Instructions

• 1

  Increase your meal portions. As a teenager, you already have a pretty large appetite and fast metabolism to help support the development of your body, but consuming extra calories every day will be the difference between staying at your current size and bulking up. The key to gaining weight is to have a calorie surplus, so eating more calories than you burn will ensure you reach your weight gain goals. Go ahead and indulge in that extra serving of lasagna.

• 2

  Increase "good fat" intake by consuming foods like avocados, almonds and full-fat dairy products like butter and whole milk. Consuming fish like salmon, a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, oils and protein, will also help your body pack on the pounds. As long as you do not overconsume foods high in good fats and calories, you will be able to gain weight at a healthy rate.

• 3

  Increase muscle mass by undertaking exercise programs that include strength training.

• 4

  Eat on a consistent basis so that your body will constantly receive the nutrients it needs to increase muscle growth and body development. For example, eat four meals a day and eat two high-calorie but good-for-you snacks in between, like trail mix or yogurt and granola. Avoid junk foods as these consist of empty calories and will not help support sustainable weight gain.