Expert: Meg - 2/21/2007

Question
hey. i've been underweight for most of my years. i am 16. I barely eat anymore
because of school and work, and only a small snack and some water is what i eat
almost everyday. i used to look healthy weight bout 100 pounds when i was 13ish
-  and i just felted good about my weight. but my life now has been making me
loose it since i'm so active now a days running around at work and all.
and don't be one of those people who tell me, "ohh i bet you look fine, stop
worrying" and all -- please give me a straight answer on what foods have some
carbs and what other thing can i do to gain weight for a busy person as myself -
not just by eating alot.  

Answer
Hi Jay,

Thanks for your question and I hope that I can be of some help.  It sounds to me like you are extremely active and busy and are having a hard time finding time for meals?  I would recommend picking up some stuff that you can take in your  backpack and then having regular snacks, even if you don't have time to sit down for a meal.  This will help a lot in your starting to gain some weight.

You are right that it is important to eat more caloric foods since you are pressed for time.  I would recommend getting some protein bars (for instance, the Power Bar Protein bar or Promax bars or really any variety that has at least 18 grams of protein per bar).  You might also want to pack some nuts or trail mix (you can make your own using M&M's, mixed nuts, chex cereal (if you like it), raisins and whatever else you like.  This is a good thing to pack for when you eating on the go.  Dried fruit is good in that its higher in calories (meaning you won't have to eat as much of it and it won't make you feel stuffed) as is peanut butter and cheese.  So, you might want to pack a peanut butter sandwich or cheese and crackers for a good snack.  Breakfast is a really important meal, even if one *is* dieting and especially when one is trying to gain weight.  I remember high school and how I'd usually be running out the door, so something you can grab and take with you is probably your best option.  Bagels and cream cheese are  good as are cereal bars or even toast with peanut butter or microwavable breakfast sandwiches.  Hopefully, you can also take time to sit down for a healthy dinner so that your meal plan has some balance.

I hope this helps at least a little bit and again, I recommend eating more frequently and eating calorie dense foods (like peanut butter, cheese, dried fruit, energy bars, nuts, etc).  

Feel free to write again if any of this was not clear or if I can be of help with anything else.

Take care,
Meg