While many people struggle with keeping weight off, some people, especially the elderly and children, can struggle with getting enough calories during the day.
For many people in assisted living facilities, age has made it so that they don’t feel as hungry or thirsty as they once did. Because of this, it can be hard to remember to eat sometimes. And if the food you have available isn’t that great, finding a desire to eat can also be a challenge. For many kids, all of their energy would rather be spent running around and playing rather than eating healthy and nutritious foods. And when this happens, it can be hard to keep weight on.
Luckily, there are some things that can be done to remedy both of these issues. So if this is something you or a loved one is struggling with, here are three ways to ensure that you’re getting enough calories during the day.
Eat More Frequently Throughout The Day
While it might be traditional to eat just three meals throughout the day, if you’re needing to get more calories in, you should try to eat more frequently than this if you’re able to.
In addition to getting these basic three meals a day in, you should also try to eat snacks throughout the day. The more calorically dense the meals and snacks you’re eating are, the easier it will be for you to eat more calories without feeling like you’re always too stuffed.
Consume Whole Fat Products
One great way to get more calories in from the foods that you already love to eat is to make sure you’re eating the whole fat version of these products. For example, if you love milk and other dairy products, get the highest fat version of these products that you can find. This way, you’ll get more calories simply by drinking whole milk instead of skin milk or by eating whole-fat cottage cheese rather than a lower fat version.
Drink Calorie-Rich Drinks
For those who already feel like they’re eating as much as they can by can’t seem to gain weight or even maintain the weight that they’re at, adding more calories through drinks could be a good option.
For many people, drinking can more easily be accommodated than eating at certain parts during the day. So if you find that you’d rather have a drink for a snack or even for a meal, make sure you’re drinking something that is rich in calories, like a shake or smoothie that’s been made to be specific high in calories for you. You can easily add protein powders, high-fat dairy products, and more to these kinds of drinks.
If you’re needing to get more calories in during the day, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you accomplish this.
