High-Calorie Foods for Weight Gain: A Comprehensive List

Question
i have severe copd.......
i keep loosing weight due to breathing issues and loss of appetite.

i am looking for a comprehensive list of caloric densities of foods.

i take high density supplements but am looking for more opportunities

thank
ken

Answer
Dear Ken,

One of a few diets that basing on energy density of foods is the Okinawa Program -- read mor about it here:
http://dietandbody.com/did-you-know/?p=10

Of course, its goal is just opposite to yours but if you choose the more dense foods, you can use the principle. The Okinawa Program suggests these categories of food, according to their calorie density:

Featherweights -- asparagus, bamboo shoots, leafy green veggies, Chinese cabbage, etc.

Lightweights -- poultry, fish, whole grains, brown rice, etc.

Middleweights -- legumes, meats, starchy vegetables, etc.

Heavyweights -- sugar, white flour, cheese, butter, oils, eggs, nuts, seeds, etc.

In fact, you can easily calculate calorie density of any food or meal by dividing the number of calorie in it by the  volume of serving in ounces. Here is a sample list:

Calories per 1 oz of some high calorie-density foods

Peanut Butter   169
Cashews      160
Peanut M&M   146
Milkman Milk   125
Crackers    125
Pemmican Bars   115
Cheese, average   115   
Hard Salami   110
Cookies, average 110   
Chocolate Milk   110
Fig Newtons105
Grape Nuts   105   
Instant Pudding made with 2 cups of full-fat milk 100
White Bread   100
Biscuits, average 100   
Power Bars   105   
Fish canned in oil, average   93   
Gummy Candy, average   92
Dried Cranberries 92      
Turkey Jerky   80
Raisins   82   
Dried Figs   78
Dried Apricots   74
Jelly      77      
Mincemeat   61   
Prunes      64   

It is also important how you cook your food. Mashed and well blended foods yield more absorbable calories, ounce for ounce. Boiled is better than fried due to its finer texture and better digestability.

Hope it helps,

= TZ