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Trying to gain weight with Nigerian foods? This blog post is all you need!
It’s a pretty weird world, huh? Some of us gain weight as easily as inflating a ball, while others seem resistant to it.
There are several reasons for this, which I will elaborate on as you scroll.
Each side of the spectrum comes with its own benefits and downsides, but at the end of the day, we all want the same goals: to look good and feel healthy.
So, my fellow Nigerian ladies and gents, stay tuned for the 21 foods you can find in Nigeria for healthy weight gain.
But first, there are some things you should know. Take your time with this post; this 10-minute read may solve your weight gain solution for life!
What are High-Calorie Foods?
High-calorie foods are foods that contain high amounts of energy that your body stores from food.
You should note that while high-calorie foods are essential for weight gain, the quality of those calories still matters.
You should eat high-calorie, healthy foods that contain refined carbs, protein, and healthy fats.
Let’s break down how each of these nutrients helps with weight gain.
Carbohydrates
You want to eat foods high in carbs when trying to lose weight because they digest quickly in the body, which makes you feel hungry sooner for your next meal.
Starchy carbs are also usually calorie-dense.
Protein
Protein is a double-sided nutrient because it can also help you lose weight.
But it helps you gain weight in a very good way.
It helps you add body mass, and mixed with strength training, most of the protein foods you eat convert to muscle, leaving you looking fuller and heavier.
Healthy fats
Foods high in healthy fats are also usually high in calories.
These foods also contain nutrients that can aid you throughout your weight gain journey.
Likely causes of being underweight
Before jumping straight into the diet aspect, you should know the possible reasons hindering your weight gain.
Consider factors such as:
Genetics
Genetics plays a huge role in determining your body type and metabolism.
Some individuals, such as ectomorphs, naturally have a slender build, and despite efforts, they struggle to gain weight.
High metabolism
People with a naturally high metabolism burn calories quickly.
Burning calories quickly means your body doesn’t store them, which can make it challenging to gain weight.
Inadequate food intake
Some of you are just not eating enough. Not consuming enough calories to meet your body’s energy needs is a primary reason for being underweight.
If you think you’re eating too much and still not gaining weight, double or even triple the amount.
Medical conditions
Unintentional weight loss or trouble gaining weight can result from specific medical issues.
These may include chronic infections, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and gastrointestinal conditions (such as celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome).
Mental health issues
Conditions like depression, anxiety, or eating disorders, can affect appetite and eating habits, resulting in being underweight.
Dysfunctional eating habits
Unhealthy eating habits, such as skipping meals or avoiding certain food groups, can contribute to difficulty gaining weight.
Do you need to add more weight?
Being skinny doesn’t always equate to being underweight.
Before diving into the delicious world of high-calorie Nigerian foods, assessing whether you need to gain weight is important.
Consider these factors:
Body mass index (BMI)
Start by calculating your BMI, which takes into account your weight and height.
This helps you know if you’re at a healthy weight.
Know your ‘Why’
Are you trying to put on weight for health reasons, athletic performance, or simply to feel better about your appearance?
Understanding your motivation can help you tailor your approach.
Consult a professional
Consult a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian if you believe you are underweight for medical or other extreme reasons.
They can provide personalized guidance based on your unique circumstances.
Some Tips for Extra Weight Gain in Nigeria
Aside from your weight-gain meal plan, here are some tips to boost your weight gain efforts.
Add and track your calories
After calculating your maintenance calorie intake, add between 500 and 1000 extra calories, depending on how you want to lose weight.
Now, track your calorie intake to ensure you’re on track.
Snack before bed
Have a calorie-rich snack before going to bed.
This provides your body with sustained energy during sleep.
Add more liquid calories
Aside from solid foods, add liquid calories such as milk, shakes, and smoothies.
The calories in these add up surprisingly pretty quickly.
Strength training
Start doing more strength training! This will help convert extra calories into muscle mass rather than fat.
Which is what you want, right?
Best Nigerian Foods for Weight Gain
Slow your horses. If you’re excited because you think you can eat all the junk food you want, I’m sorry to break it to you.
Sure, you need high-calorie foods, but most of the junk, unhealthy foods don’t contain essential nutrients.
They contain empty calories that add mostly fat to your body. If you go this route, you may not like how you look when you add that weight.
You still need to eat healthy; this is why I will cover foods that are calorie-dense, high in carbs, protein, and healthy fats.
These foods will help you add weight the right way.
Let’s dive in! Finally, right?
1. Rice
- 100g of cooked white rice contains 130 calories.
Rice, the food people trying to lose weight tend to avoid, doesn’t contain a great number of calories but is rich in carbohydrates.
Why is this important? Rice digests quickly in the body because of its high carbohydrate content.
This means you get hungry quicker, leading to more food consumption and, thus, weight gain.
2. Read meats
- 100g of cooked beef contains 250 calories.
- 100g of cooked goat meat contains 143 calories.
Beef, goat meat, and other red meats are excellent sources of protein and fats, along with essential nutrients like iron and B vitamins, that can help you gain weight and mass.
3. Avocados
- 1 medium avocado contains 240 calories.
Creamy and calorie-rich, avocados are packed with healthy fats and various vitamins and minerals that give you the nutrients your body needs when gaining weight.
4. Cereal
- 100g of most cereals contain around 380 calories.
Fortified cereals portrayed as nutritious are also a calorie-rich breakfast option, offering high amounts of carbs. This explains why you keep reaching for another bowl.
5. Protein smoothies
Protein shakes are convenient liquid calories that boost your calorie and protein intake, especially after workouts and in between meals.
Here are some good options:
Banana shake (589 calories)
2 medium bananas, 3 dates, 100 ml milk, and 2 tbsp peanut butter.
Chocolate peanut butter shake (719 calories)
3 tbsp cocoa powder, 100 ml Greek yogurt, 2 medium bananas, 2 tbsp honey, 150 ml milk, and 2 tbsp peanut butter.
6. Butter
- 1 tbsp of butter contains 100 calories.
- 1 tbsp of peanut butter contains 96 calories.
Calorie-dense and versatile for cooking, regular and peanut butter adds richness to meals, and weight to your body.
They contain enough protein and fats, ideal for people who want to gain weight fast.
Continue enjoying these spreads on your favorite bread to spike your calorie intake.
7. Milk
- 100 ml of whole milk contains 95 calories.
- 100 ml of fura da nunu contains 51 calories.
Whole milk is high in calories, protein, and calcium, promoting healthy weight gain.
You should consider it your healthy liquid calorie friend during a weight gain diet.
Take tiger nut or almond milk if you’re lactose intolerant.
8. Whole grain bread
- 1 slice of bread contains 80 calories and a 100g loaf contains 240 calories.
A healthier alternative to white bread, it provides carbohydrates that are digested in the body quickly, leaving you ready and hungry for the next meal.
9. Garri
- 100g of Garri contains 357 calories.
Garri, one of our Nigerian food saviors made from cassava is calorie-dense and high in carbohydrates, making it a great option to add to your weight gain healthy diet.
10. Olive oil
- 1 tbsp of olive oil contains 119 calories.
Olive oil contains healthy fats and calories and can be used for cooking or drizzling over dishes and salads to raise calorie value.
11. Dried fruits
- 100g of raisins contains 299 calories.
- 100g of dates contains 282 calories.
Dense in calories and carbs, dried fruits like dates and raisins are nutritious snacks.
Dry fruits are a better option for weight gain because of the volume you can eat without getting full.
12. Nigerian swallows
- A serving of Semo contains 600 calories.
- 100g of Pounded yam contains 370 calories.
- 100g of Eba contains 375 calories.
These Nigerian swallow foods are high in calories and carbs on their own, but when consumed along with Nigerian soups, they become a calorie powerhouse to gain more weight.
13. High-calorie Nigerian soups
- 100g of egusi contains around 470 calories.
- 100g of ogbono soup can range between 400 – 700 calories.
- 100g of groundnut soup contains around 400 calories.
Our Nigerian soups are calorie-dense and packed with nutrients.
They create a satisfying and energy-rich meal when served with your favorite swallows.
14. Yam
- 100g of fried yam contains 262 calories.
Nothing is better than a plate of hot yam and egg in the morning. If you’re trying to add weight, then you’re in luck; you can have as much as you want!
This starchy root vegetable is a good source of carbohydrates and packs a punch of calories. The average serving of yam is between 400-600g, that’s over 1000 calories in one meal.
15. Full-fat yogurt
- A bowl of full-fat yogurt contains 265 calories.
Full-fat yogurt is a nutritious dairy option that is medium in calories and high in protein.
Add nuts and dried fruits to it to boost its calorie value.
16. Nuts
- 100g of Groundnut or peanut contains 567 calories.
- 100g of almonds contains 579 calories.
- 100g of cashew nuts contains 553 calories.
Almonds, cashews, and peanuts are calorie-dense snacks with healthy fats and protein.
They can be consumed at high volume while still giving room for more food.
17. Cheddar cheese
- 100g of cheddar cheese contains 402 calories.
Cheddar cheese is a calorie-rich dairy product, offering high amounts of protein and calcium.
Cheese contains saturated fats and cholesterol, so should be eaten in moderation.
18. Sauces and dressings
Sauces like mayo and salad dressings can enhance your meals’ taste and calorie content.
A tablespoon of these can contain 50-100 calories making them high calorie.
19. Ripe plantain
- 1 Medium whole ripe plantain contains 220 calories, when fried, it shoots up to over 300 calories.
Ripe plantains or dodo are a calorie-rich component of our Nigerian cuisine.
These golden fruits are an excellent choice for those looking to gain healthy weight with a taste of natural sweetness.
Besides their calorie content, ripe plantains are rich in essential nutrients, including dietary fiber, vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin C, and minerals such as potassium.
20. Mass gainers
- A single scoop of mass gainer typically provides around 200 calories.
Mass gainers are specifically designed to promote weight gain and muscle growth.
Depending on the brand and preparation, they can provide several hundred calories per serving.
Add milk instead of water to boost the calories even more!
21. High-calorie snacks
High-calorie snacks like bananas, Akara (bean ball), plantain chips, rolls, chin-chin, and shawarma offer convenient calorie sources for snacking between meals.
Final Words
There you have it! the high-calorie, healthy Nigerian foods for weight gain.
Foods that help you gain more weight are usually high in carbs and fats.
It’s essential to understand the factors behind being underweight, from genetics to your metabolism rate.
To determine if you truly need to gain weight, calculate your BMI and consider your motivation.
Boosting weight gain can be achieved by adding and tracking calories, snacking before bedtime, including liquid calories like milk and shakes, and engaging in strength training.
We covered high-calorie foods for weight gain in Nigeria such as rice, red meats, avocados, and dairy products, providing a balanced approach to adding weight the right way.
I hope you got value from this post!
