How to fatten up OH on a budget?!

maggied_2

By the way Kate - My OH used to be superskinny but now in his early 30s has bulked out a lot!!

Nuts are a great idea - you can add flaxseed to food (also v good for you), peanut butter on wholemeal toast is very energy rich, plain almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts also good - anything roasted and salted not so good but soooo nice!! Avocados are full of 'good' fat too.

The temptation is to fill up on rubbish but that won't do him any good in the long term. You can add 500-1000 calories a day quite easily though by increasing portion size and adding extra fat / protein.

Also - just on the moneysaving thing. It sounds a bit Good Life but we grew a load of fresh herbs last year and it made such a difference, especially when you're cooking with cheap, basic (I don't mean poor quality) ingredients. We grew thyme, coriander, oregano, sage and rosemary in a pretty small space - would highly recommend it.

heretolearn_2

On a more serious suggestion then: how about a fruit smoothie every night for pud (you could have a small one, he can have a big one). Depending on the fruit can be quite high calorie (you could put a dollop of icecream in his, and a dollop of low-fat yoghurt in yours) but overall healthy.

littlesnuggy

To those suggesting nuts - where do you buy them "on a budget"? Even when they're on offer in Julian Graves / Holland & Barrett they're not exactly cheap and once a bag is open I tend to scoff them fairly quickly!

HappyMJ

Supermarket?.. http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/tesco-price-comparison/Nuts_And_Seeds/Tesco_Whole_Foods_Natural_Monkey_Nuts_500g.html

eamon

Its not that unusual to find people that are "thin/skinny". One of my work colleagues eats & drinks enough for two yet is a skinny as a rake. Some people are just built that way.

realised

eamon wrote: »

Its not that unusual to find people that are "thin/skinny". One of my work colleagues eats & drinks enough for two yet is a skinny as a rake. Some people are just built that way.

I am exactly the same. My mum has tried EVERYTHING ( from protein shakes to sneaking food on my plate when i wasnt looking) but nothing ever worked. She even pushed me go to the doctor every year or so hoping he will decide to do something. He just says although i am underweight, my blood test results are perfectly normal and i'm a healthy individual.

The same could be sasid for your partner OP. If he is healthy but just underweight, it may not be such a big problem and eating more than he should may not be such a good idea in the long run.

jenhug

christmas pudding. I remember a newspaper article once where a girl had something wrong with her metabolism and had to eat it every day to ensure she got enough calories.

xxvickixx

My DH was superskinny when we met (he was 21) and very underweight simply due to a very fast metabolism. He ate and still does a huge amount, working in McDonalds an eats at least 2 meals there each day.
Now he's approaching 30 he's started to fill out and got a little tummy now which I love patting in an affectionate but teasing manner lol!
I'd not recommend unhealthy fatty foods as a way to bulk out as it won't do his body any good at all. If they need more calories then unferfined carbs like brown rice, bread and pasta, potatos are all cheap, filling and high calories without being full of saturated fats and sugars.

Bronnie

If he has the appetite, slotting in snacks between meals will up his calories intake. So a substantial snack for elevenses , afternoon break and supper.

Maybe things like HM fruit cake, HM rice pudding, cheese scones, bananas, sandwiches, peanut butter or cheese on toast, milky drinks, porridge or cereal and milk etc

katebl

Thanks again all, went to asda last night and stocked up on new potatoes, white pasta (says he doesn't like wholemeal, grr!), corn, fat mayo, salad, tuna, chicken, mixed nuts, fruit juices (not from concentrate), and will get stuff for hot food when I do my proper shop later in the week! Also need to invest in a casserole dish it seems.

Unfortunately he barely eats breakfast, have bought cereal for him but he says he doesn't like eating early as he never had breakfast when he was younger... guess I have a lot to thank his mother for... As for snacks he works outside and only really has his forklift to keep stuff in so it needs to be fairly easy to eat. I may attempt some homemade flapjacks with loads of peanut butter if I'm feeling brave!