Can't eat enough calories!

MAYBE IF YOU MAKE YOUR DIARY PUBLIC WE CAN HELP

I'm the same. I either eat foods I'm not supposed to (intollerances and the like) or I am WAY under! I'd second nuts, and maybe try to just add more quinoa or brown rice since it is a healthy carb. Also, potatos are high in calories but pretty starchy. it's hard isnt it?!

Finding high calorie foods to eat seems to come naturally to me - LOL -

My issue is finding low calorie foods so I can stay under my calorie goal...

Here are some of my favorite high calorie foods that are also vegan:

Rice
Potatoes
Nuts
Peanut Butter
Pasta
Corn
Beans
Licorice
Dried Fruits
Chocolate
Bananas

I could go on, but there are a lot of higher calorie foods if you need to get in more - again - I wish that were my problem - I just love food! =0)

You definitely need more protein - have beans at least once a day and add Quorn and tofu. Beans will also help with you iron.

Have bigger proportions of wholegrain carbs - pasta, rice, bread - all that good stuff.

Don't forget higher-carb veg - potatoes, sweetcorn etc. And snack on nuts and nut butters.

Cook in vegetable oil and add a good quality olive oil based dressing to your salads, and drizzle on veg.

Use some yummy sauces on your meals - many ones for general consumption are suitable for vegans.

I just posted a black bean cake with mango salsa recipe that is about 424 calories per serving which is 2 cakes. the only issue is it does have 1 egg white as a binding agent so trying to think what you could use as a substitute for the egg white , try 1 egg white = 1 Tbsp. plain agar powder dissolved in 1 Tbsp. water, whipped, chilled, and whipped again. or go to this web site for other substitute suggestions. this recipe is super flavorful and healthy.

http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/egg-replacements.aspx

black bean cakes with mango salsa-
makes 8 cakes - serves 4 ( 2cakes per person)

mango salsa - make this first and chill

2 cups mango, peeled & diced
1/2 cup red bell pepper, minced
1/4 cup red onion, finely minced
1 serrano pepper, seeded & chopped
2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, coarsely minced
2 tsp fresh ginger root, chopped
1 Tbsp. lime juice

black bean cake mixture

2 x 15 ounce. cans black beans, rinsed & liquid removed
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, minced
1/4 cup red onion, finely minced
1 egg white (or possibly substitute), slightly beaten
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1/3 c. whole wheat bread crumbs
nonstick cooking spray
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

Directions

1.Combine all mango salsa ingredients (first 7 ingredients) in a bowl and set aside.

2.For the black bean cakes, place beans in a large bowl and coarsely mash till they stick together. Add in cilantro, onion, egg white, cumin, garlic, allspice, and cayenne pepper. Mix till well blended.

3.Divide bean mix into 8 equal parts. Shape into 1/2" thick patties. Coat patties with bread crumbs. Spray both sides of patties with nonstick cooking spray.

4.Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add in bean cakes and fry till golden on both sides, turning once, about 8 min total.
Serve hot with Mango Salsa. Garnish with cilantro and lime wedges, if you like.

per serving = 2 cakes (or 212 per cake)
424 calories
19 g protein
5 g fat
75 g carbs
0 cholesterol
81 mg sodium
13 g fiber

Once you're comfortable with that I would encourage you to bump up the cals by even more. There is plenty of documentation showing that if you don't give your body enough calories it will enter a 'saving or starvation' mode, and you will actually not lose the weight you think you should be losing as your body will simply store EVERYTHING you give it. Given your current numbers I would very much encourage you to bump it up by at least a few hundred more (which is really just one or two more small snacks!).

Like other people said bumping up the serving sizes a bit will help. Also, snacking every few hours (a few handfuls of nuts, some peanut butter on toast etc) can help boost your calories and since the snacking is spread out you hopefully shouldn't notice the increase

Best of luck!

I'm just amazed you have any weight to lose on that diet :laugh:

Can you give us an idea of what you'd typically eat in a day before? There might be plenty of good stuff you're kicking out with the bad.

Celery with peanut butter (2tbls 200cal), peanut butter jelly sandwichs, handful of almonds is 170cal, beans r high n potassium protein all sorts of things, rice...there's veggie bacon/sausage/hamburers etc (idk if its high cal, just suggesting sumthin). Popcorn (I pop my own all the time and after I add butter or oil it goes from bein 150cal to over 200. High fiber cereal (kashi brand go lean crunch is bout 200cal a cup), with soy or almond milk.
Orange juice 110cal a cup.

Remember u want ur net calories to be ur calorie goal number (if u excercise u gotta eaat more)

Another item I just thought of that I rarely eat anymore is granola cereal - I love it but 1 cup can have 400-500+ calories!

Whenever I'm really stuck and not hungry I eat a tablespoon of peanut butter. The brand I get is like 110 calories per tablespoon. You can also get salt reduced, sugar reduced, no added salt or sugar types if you prefer.