1200 Calories seems impossible for me..Help!

ashlinmarie

No matter what I do, I can't seem to net anywhere NEAR 1200 calories in a day. I never thought I'd have the problem of exercising TOO much, but most days I run 500-800 calories shy of my goal due to exercise. I work two jobs and am usually gone from 5:30 AM-10:30 PM. I bike about 20 minutes each way as I don't have a car and then sometimes do additional workouts like light calisthenics. I try to eat foods that will give me good amounts of nutrients and energy like oatmeal and grilled skinless chicken breast, but I have problems eating in the morning and don't have time to eat more than 3 or 4 meals a day. Can anyone recommend me some cheap, quick and easy snacks or meals that I can sneak in during my work day or to just give me more calories so I don't feel like my body is running on E all the time?

mandysjourney

nuts. they are high in calories
dried fruit
crackers and cheese
carrot sticks and dips
fruit
peanut butter on crackers

FairyMiss

I am learning to. and can finally do it. with the help of a sort of "coach" i have on here, get some friend to kinda push ya and give you ideas. not naming names don't want to invade privacy. but she should know who i mean if she sees this <grin>

ashlinmarie

I was thinking of getting a jar of peanuts the other day, but they seem so high in sodium. I guess I could give almonds a try though? Dried fruit is one I wouldn't have thought of so will try that as well. Thanks!

mericksmom

Add avocado to burritos, sandwiches or salads. It is high cal and high nutrients, a small one is just about 200 or so cals.



I have also seen people say drink a protien shake, drink milk, and eat nuts

savbentley

Nuts, natural peanut/almond butter, smoothies (easy for mornings, healthy, and depending on what you put in them- high calorie), whole grain pasta with olive oil, whole grain bagels/breads, eggs, sweet potatoes, accompany meals with greek yogurt, avocados, and I HIGHLY suggest you try Larabars. 200 + calories typically only 5 ingredients. There are a lot of calorie-dense healthy foods, you just have to do a little prep to fit them in.

alexbowser

nuts. they are high in calories
dried fruit
crackers and cheese
carrot sticks and dips
fruit
peanut butter on crackers

Agreed, I always keep dried fruit in my purse for the times when I don't get a chance to eat. Kashi granola bars rock, but can get pricey.

Heatherbelle_87

Protein shakes are great alternative, especially when on the run, you canfind anywhere from 110-300 cals per shake, and some great tasting ones. Peanut butter is a good nutrient dense easy snack, on apples, crackers, toast, or a half sandwhich but it higher in fats. Smoothies are also great, I blend rozen berries, orange juice and protein powder for mine. The smoothies are great in addition to a smaller meal too, my smoothies makes around 16ozs and packs on average 350 cals. Add a few ounces of yogurt for extra tang and a few extra cals

ri102900

1200 calories isn't impossible. All you have to do is control your eating habbits and before eating something, search it up and look at the nutritional facts and see if you can eat it.

bluebird321

Walnuts, avocado or boiled eggs to eat on the go.
Get a blender, put some water in it and blend up some spinach, squash etc. I don't like it, but it gets my "green" requirement out of the way quickly.

FairyMiss

I was thinking of getting a jar of peanuts the other day, but they seem so high in sodium. I guess I could give almonds a try though? Dried fruit is one I wouldn't have thought of so will try that as well. Thanks!

look around there are a lot of low salt options now on nuts. Planters has about every health option under the sound (including south beach approved LOL)

ashlinmarie

Thanks! I feel dumb not thinking about a lot of this stuff I know about. When I get into diet mode, my only thought is low cal (due to how I was raised to think about dieting) and I forget about a lot of the foods I love that can also help me out if portioned correctly.

christine24t

Almonds are super good! I make a trail mix with almonds, wheat cereal, raisins/craisins, and some other kinds of nuts - basically whatever it's my cupboard. I would just add things to your meals too like make it a grilled chicken breast sandwich using a whole wheat bun, and put a slice of onion and a slice of cheese on it. It's the same meal but you're getting more calories! Oh and like people have said above, avocado is great! I eat half a one on occasion with pretzels, using it like a dip.

Mustangsally1000

Zone bars, or Luna bars. They taste really good, high in protien. Luna bars are lower in calories..completely different kind of bar. But easy to carry around. Good luck!

FairyMiss

Thanks! I feel dumb not thinking about a lot of this stuff I know about. When I get into diet mode, my only thought is low cal (due to how I was raised to think about dieting) and I forget about a lot of the foods I love that can also help me out if portioned correctly.

Hey thats the great thing about this site , even if its something you havent thought of someone will .

ErrataCorrige

I always fill in the gaps with almonds. So good for you, loads of calories but good fats, plus they are tastly without roasting or salting. And they keep for a long time. I have little baggies of almonds in my car, my desk, my purse, lol. And you can get them cheaper in stores that sell bulk foods.

cmallen1010

I recently discovered that Emerald makes a 100 calorie pack of Natural Almonds and Walnuts... Since it sounds like you could probably stand to eat more than the 100 calorie packs, I would check to see if they have them in a jar. If not I would check some of your local health food stores. Normally, they would have unsalted naturally roasted nuts, as well as dried fruit w/out added sugar.

bghall67

if you get the salt free nuts there no sodium
Brenda

ashlinmarie

I've heard about luna bars, but couldn't find them at kroger. Are they something I'd have to find at a nutrition or health food store?

I literally have no time to do prep work (sadly) but if I ever get down to 1 job, I'd definitely like to try stuff with avocado, which I've never had before.

I do a lot of smoothies now, but usually as a low cal dinner if I don't have time to cook something up. No protein powder but do 1 cup yogurt and 1 cup soy milk with whatever fruit I have around (usually bananas or strawberries or both). Its about 364 calories total.

whateverdamnit

I wouldn't go for dried fruit because of the really high sugar content.

Try natural, unsalted almonds, or a protein bar. I eat a protein bar every day, it's low in calories/carbs/sugar and tastes really good.

mrb2217

I work 10 - 15 hours a day so sometimes eating can be a problem for me as well. I always have a jar of almonds in my desk drawer along with a couple of Pure Protein bars. I also throw a couple of Chobani or Fage yougurt cups in my lunch cooler to eat with the almonds if I have a little more time. I always drink a Casein Protein shake before bed to keep me burning fat through the night.

tatiana_13

You can get any kind of nut unsalted. If they don't have them at your grocery store, you can order them online. If you really don't want to eat much more and want calories...macademia nuts pack a caloric wallop. A wallop! I know, because I just ate too many (doh!) They are little fat bombs. But not to worry...they have achieved almost superfood status because its all good fat, like avocados. But unlike avocados are grabbable and portable.

But basically, any high density food would work. Cheese, yogurt, nuts. All high calorie, low density, and nutrient dense. Which, perhaps, you could trade out some of your low calorie foods for. And I'd try these before going for processed protein bars. We all choose shortcuts in a pinch, but I wouldn't want to make these a regular part of your diet. If you really had to go for a bar, try Lara bars...they are minimally processed. Fruit and nuts are their ONLY ingredients.

Cheers.

ashlinmarie

Thanks for the suggestions! I went out and bought almonds, and a few flavors of a few different protein bars. Will keep in mind about the macadamia nuts as I saw them, wanted them, and remembered they were really high in calories. But I suppose the less I have to eat the better.

If only I could eat everyday like I did today. Came within 250 calories of my goal without the snacks.

TS65

If you drink coffee, throw a scoop of protein powder in it. I used Muscle milk vanilla creme (yummy!) Also, blue diamond has some really yummy almonds (my favorite are the butter toffee and the cocoa dusted).

2stepz

I get my Luna bars at walmart. They are by the slim-fast products over with the pharmacy, not by the groceries. I also fill in my gaps with almonds... of various types. Cinnamon Brown sugar provide the sweet edge I need and are still high in protein and fiber. When I need spice, I have chili & lime almonds. I add roasted almonds to salads, too.