How to Increase Weight Using Home Remedies

Most people consider losing weight to be a difficult task. But for those of us on the thinner end of the spectrum, gaining weight can prove even harder. While you could probably pack on a few pounds eating fast food three times a day, this is an unhealthy and unsustainable way to go about it. You can find everything you need to gain weight--the healthy way--right in your own kitchen.

Instructions

• 1

  Increase your caloric intake instead of limiting your activity. While this may seem obvious, actually accomplishing it can be a challenge. First, you must determine the number of calories your body needs to maintain its current weight. Self magazine's Nutrition Data website, NutritionData.Self.com, has a useful daily nutritional needs calculator, based on your BMI and lifestyle. If you consume just 500 extra calories a day, you'll gain about a pound a week.

• 2

  Add high-fat foods to your diet. Fats contain twice as many calories per gram as proteins and carbohydrates. Try to incorporate healthy fats into your diet instead of resorting to unhealthy, processed foods. Sauté your dinner in extra olive oil, snack on homemade guacamole, and choose nuts over crackers.

• 3

  Pack in the snacks. If you're not accustomed to eating large meals, try eating more often during the day. Munch on granola, cheese and crackers, or full-fat yogurt during the day. Opt for dried fruits over fresh ones, since they tend to have more calories. These are all high-calorie, nutrient-rich snacks that can help you gain weight healthily and naturally.

• 4

  Introduce extra calories into your favorite foods. For example, add sour cream to your mashed potatoes or grated cheese to your soup. Sneak olives into your sandwiches, and tortilla strips into your salads. Throw a serving of ground meat into your pasta, or top your toast with peanut butter. You don't have to completely change your eating habits to gain weight. Just make some additions to what you're already consuming.

• 5

  Look into dried milk or protein powders. These easily can be added to yogurt, cereal, smoothies, and mashed potatoes. It's an easy way to increase the calories in your food without changing what you eat.