Putting on weight sounds simple until you actually try. When one man went online to ask for advice on gaining weight while being on a vegan diet, he didn’t expect such an outpouring of tips from across the internet. His goal wasn’t fast food or junk calories; he wanted real, homemade options that could help him build muscle and maintain his energy. From high-protein snacks to calorie-dense meal prep ideas, people shared what worked for them, and the suggestions were surprisingly creative and practical.
The story
The poster explained on Reddit that he is underweight and wants to gain five kilograms, equivalent to 11 pounds. He ruled out dates, dried fruit, and tahini. He even disliked the taste of smoothies when everything is blended together. Asked the community to suggest foods that are high in calories, can be easily made at home, and also vegan-friendly.
The reactions
One of the most upvoted foods was peanut butter, which is not entirely surprising.
“Peanut butter straight from the jar! It's what I have for dinner when I have zero energy or motivation to prepare anything.”
Another agreed and replied, “Apples and peanut butter are my go-to easy dinner.”
Peanut butter is an ideal food to eat when trying to put on weight because it’s calorie-dense. It can go on bread, stirred into oatmeal, mixed with soy milk for a sauce, or even combined with cocoa for a quick dessert. For someone who doesn’t want to make any complicated recipe, they can eat peanut butter straight from the jar.
Some also suggested eating bagels. Readers pointed out they’re filling on their own but can hold layers of toppings if more calories are needed.
One said, “Bagels are really high calorie, add peanut butter and or Nutella, honey, or choc syrup, jelly, whatever you need/want that would be good. Toast them and spread extra coconut or avocado oil on them before adding the other ingredients."
The same person asked a fair question, "How healthy are you trying to keep this?”
The original poster replied to this saying, “At this point, I don't care about healthy foods. I just care about getting enough protein (55g a day) and gaining weight. I will try eating bagels, thank you.”
A light drizzle of coconut or avocado oil doesn’t significantly alter the flavor, but it does add some calories.
One person added a way to make smoothies taste better. “Use cocoa powder or even spices to mask the taste of smoothies, or just enjoy the components separately instead of forcing down a smoothie that you hate. The same ingredients will have the same macros whether they're in smoothie form or not.”
Eating ingredients individually may take longer, but it avoids the problem of drinking something unpleasant. A banana with almond butter in the morning, oats with cinnamon at lunch, and soy milk later in the day may reach the exact numbers without the aftertaste of a forced shake.
Someone mentioned that making pasta is a great choice. “Cook pasta, add veggies, peanuts, rice vinegar, ginger, lots of oil (sesame, coconut, or peanut). Pancakes with mashed banana, peanut powder, pecans, or walnuts. Banana muffins."
Pasta is an easy base for anyone trying to gain weight. You can add various ingredients, such as lentils, chickpeas, tofu, or beans, for an extra protein boost.
Another person offered a straightforward breakdown of foods to keep on hand.
“Nuts and nut butters, seed butters, avocados, legumes, quinoa, pasta, and potatoes are easy ways to add foods to your diet that can also add healthy calories.”
Nuts are a good source of calories, and if you don´t want to consume them raw, you can turn them into a smooth, creamy butter, such as walnut butter or pistachio butter, with a blender. Different homemade nut butters offer variety when you get tired of eating peanut butter every day. You can use them on toast, add them to your oats, or even use them in desserts.
Other vegan meals that add calories quickly
High-calorie eating doesn’t always need special products. Many everyday vegan meals can be adjusted with oils, nuts, or grains to make them more filling.
Chickpea curry with coconut milk and rice
Curries made with coconut milk are naturally rich, and chickpeas bring both protein and calories. A pot can last several meals and tastes even better the next day with rice.
Granola baked with nuts and oil
Homemade granola can be tailored to pack in calories. Using nuts, seeds, and a little oil helps it bake into clusters that are easy to snack on throughout the day.
Avocado toast topped with seeds and extra oil
Avocados alone carry a lot of calories, but adding sunflower or hemp seeds and finishing with olive oil makes a single slice of toast surprisingly filling.
Roasted sweet potatoes stuffed with beans or chickpeas
Sweet potatoes are not only delicious, but they are also a great source of calories. You can fill them with chickpeas or beans and herb sauce or a tahini-free dressing, to make a calorie-dense meal.
The takeaway
Gaining weight on a plant-based diet can be achieved with ordinary foods and consistent meal planning. Adding beans, grains, oils, and nut butters provides enough calories without needing complicated recipes.
Stack calories where you can, don’t fear carbs or oils, and lean on foods you won’t get tired of eating.
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