Neet to UP my net calories!!!

scapez
scapez Posts: 2,018 Member
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
Now that I’ve stepped up my exercise (currently doing 30DS daily, hour of Zumba 3-4x/week and occasional 2 mile walks at lunchtime) I’m often finding it hard to get close to 1200 cals/NET daily.

I typically don’t eat many processed foods (was like this even before joining MFP) and plan/cook my meals on Sunday for the week. Typically I’ll make a fish or chicken and a vegetable. I’ll also make salads, and have snacks such as Greek yogurt with honey, hard boiled egg, apples…things like that. I rarely make pasta…afraid of the carbs for some reason, but I'm thinking this is a silly and unfounded 'fear'.

Most people are looking to cut calories in their favorite dishes -- I am looking to ADD to mine! :-S

I don’t have the time or desire to plan involved meals -- I like to keep it simple and healthy. Every now and again I’ll try something new, but for the most part I’m pretty vanilla when it comes to cooking. It gets a little challenging to keep things interesting sometimes. I realize I need to spend a little time looking into new recipes.

The point is, eating like this with the increased exercise, I often find myself VERY low on my NET calories at the end of the day. This isn’t my goal, and I’m having a hard time upping that number. No matter how much I exercise, I only have so much time to eat and can only eat so much! For example, on a typical day I’ll go to my Zumba studio after work…so I don’t want to eat a big dinner prior to then. After Zumba I won’t be hungry enough for a large dinner, OR, if I do Zumba a little later, I don’t want to eat a huge dinner at 9pm. Sometimes I do 30DS in the mornings and that will give me a healthier breakfast appetite, but even then, I get filled up rather quickly.

I know that healthy snacks like cheese or almonds -- things of that nature -- can help add more calories to my day, but I would appreciate advice from any of you that might have found themselves in a similar situation.

Thanks and have a Healthy Day!

Replies

  • LillysGranny
    LillysGranny Posts: 431
    Peanut butter, avacado, olive oil!
  • biged335
    biged335 Posts: 734
    Adding Olive oil where you can... Walnuts are good too... and there are always protein shakes..
  • tbrown1025
    tbrown1025 Posts: 165
    I struggle here too. Sometimes, I think "if I could just eat the dern processed foods, I'd have NO problem hitting my calorie goals," haha!! I don't eat a lot of meat either, adding to my conundrum (fun word, right?!).

    I will have a nice big fat smoothie that gives me around 300-350 cals. I like to eat it out of a bowl with a spoon, like icecream. ;) I also like doing the pb, banana in a clean tortilla wrap. Oh, you could also try "roasting" chickpeas to keep as snacks, sides, crunchiness for your salads, ets. Spray chickpeas wil oil spray and season (cumin & paprika, cinnamon & clean sugar, any spice combo you like) and throw them in the oven at 400 degrees for 30mins, tossing throughout cooking. I've also read that you can "grill" these on a stove stop griller or perhaps even in a skillet. Oh, I also even like to have a small bowl of oatmeal cereal as a snack. (I put a blob of pb into dry oatmeal, mix til crumbly, and cover with milk -- eat like cereal, cold. I got this recipe from www.fitnessista.com)
  • jenfitz34
    jenfitz34 Posts: 31
    If you wanna try pasta, try 1/2 spaghetti squash and 1/2 angel hair pasta such as "smart options" brand; mixed together with some parmesan cheese and pasta sauce and baked. Its really good and a way to get some veggies and "good" carbs at the same time while upping your calories.
  • MrsSki
    MrsSki Posts: 196
    Nuts, nuts, nuts! They're great to add to a salad or to eat plain as a snack. They're filling, have lots of protein and are high in calories! I eat everything: walnuts, almonds, pistachios, peanuts. Just stay away from pre-salted varieties.
  • scapez
    scapez Posts: 2,018 Member
    If you wanna try pasta, try 1/2 spaghetti squash and 1/2 angel hair pasta such as "smart options" brand; mixed together with some parmesan cheese and pasta sauce and baked. Its really good and a way to get some veggies and "good" carbs at the same time while upping your calories.

    I've never tried spaghetti squash but have always wanted to. Thanks!
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    The problem i often had was keeping the fat low, but getting enough calories, so i used Malt Loaf. 2 Slices has 250 cal, but only 1g of fat. :)
  • ladyhawk00
    ladyhawk00 Posts: 2,457 Member
    As mentioned, healthy fats from natural oils and nuts/nut butters, and avocados are a great way to increase without much volume. A fruit smoothie, protein shake or chocolate milk are good cal boosters, because drinking cals can be easier than eating when you aren't feeling hungry.
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