Feels like forever since my last post.
Really, though, it’s only been two days. I left the last post up for a bit because of its important message, and also because this gave me a chance to thoroughly read through all of the heartfelt and personal comments so many people took time to leave.
It was especially wonderful seeing readers responding to and encouraging each other in the comment section with ideas for high calorie recipes or just with support in general. Please, always feel free to respond to other commenters on my posts. If someone asks a question and you know the answer, share your knowledge! I don’t have all the answers, and so I’m happy when someone more knowledgeable speaks up.
Today’s post is a follow-up to Thursday’s. It was written for anyone who’d like some higher calorie recipes and is tired of resorting to so-called junk food all the time. I once tried the junk food route to gain weight. (For more about that, see the following post: My Junk Food Phase.)
It did not work for me, and I felt awful. No way could I continue to scarf down pints of vegan ice cream every day, or eat two slices of cake as a daily snack—I was beginning to hate dessert! I finally had to take a good look at my diet and try something new. That “something new” was adopting a healthy, but still high-calorie, diet.
Many of my favorite recipes on this blog are the high calorie recipes (or the ones that can be high in calories if you employ some of the optional ingredients or substitutions). For example: One of my favorite “weight gain” recipes is actually a recipe I specifically highlight as being low in calories:
Yes, the recipe has half the calories of peanut butter… So if you eat 1 or 2 tablespoons on a sandwich, you’ve saved calories. But I like to eat the entire recipe in a serving, which makes it closer to 500-600 calories. It’s one of my favorite high calorie recipes, and it’s not made with hard-to-find ingredients. Just peanut butter and banana… what could be easier??
And if you use a frozen banana (I highly recommend you do!), it’s like ice cream. So incredibly delicious! Other recipes on my blog that are—or can be—higher in calories:
Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Shake
Seriously, forget Boost. This shake is way better. Actually, I’ve never tried Boost since it’s not vegan… For awhile I did drink some weight-gain-type shakes (called Power Dreams) from the Imagine Foods company. I liked the chocolate ones best. (Surprise!) But then the company went and discontinued those drinks. Oh well; I like my own better anyway.
(People with peanut allergies can easily sub almond butter or an allergy-friendly alternative like sunbutter or soynut butter.)
I always always always add the optional oil when I make these pancakes for myself. And if you can spare the calories, I highly recommend you do the same. Using coconut oil makes them taste like buttery shortbread, bursting with giant blueberries.
Darn it, now I’m craving pancakes.
Another one of my favorite things to eat. These little candies are absolutely addictive. You cannot eat just one two seventeen. Thankfully, they’re also incredibly easy to make. I prepare a huge amount at once… but, even still, they disappear so fast!
Chocolate-Raspberry Fudge Cake
Yet another personal favorite. Ok, so I have a lot of favorites. Since first creating the recipe a few years ago, I don’t think a week has gone by where I haven’t had a slice of this fantabulous fudge cake. For extra calories, eat more than one serving. You can do that, right?
I certainly always do! And yet, it doesn’t leave me feeling gross and sluggish like when I used to eat those sugary layer cakes every day.
Those are “Oatmeal-Raisin Cookie” Bars in the photo. They’re one of my favorite high calorie recipes on the blog. (How many times have I said “my favorite” now in this post? Sorry, can’t help it.)
I don’t really like the crunchy texture of granola, but I sometimes use this recipe as one would use granola– sprinkled over other foods, or just eaten straight from the food processor. Really, why bother shaping into bars? That just burns calories ;).
This ice cream has just 50 calories per serving… If you use almond milk, that is. Opt for the super-creamy version made with creamer or canned coconut milk and you can easily (painlessly!) take in some extra calories.
A glass of nothing but frosting? Heck yes! This recipe is very high in healthy fats. And none of the sugar or processed ingredients found in that Pillsbury stuff. Which means… go ahead and eat the whole glass. You know you want to!
What are some of your favorite high calorie recipes?
If you can’t tell from this post, mine include coconut, peanut butter, and really dark chocolate. Also, most raw nuts, and olive oil (on things, not plain lol!). Every now and then, I give avocado another chance because I want to like it; it’s so healthy! But alas, I just can’t see what everyone else seems to love about it.
For more, see the following: How to Gain Weight on a Healthy Diet.
While I’m eating low-calorie, I still DEFINITELY include calorie-dense foods because eating all low-fat does not keep me full!
Peanut butter is, hands-down, one of my favorite calorie-dense foods. I add a tablespoon to my smoothies in the morning! I put some on my Ezekiel bread. Mmmm.
Avocados are another one of my favorite good-fat, calorie-dense foods. I could pretty much add avocado to anything and everything.
Coconut butter, which your blog introduced me to, is another one of my new favorites! I love it on toast along with something a little sweet…makes it taste like frosting!
Nuts in general are something I don’t eat too often since I am trying to lose weight, but I love cashews especially.
And, sense I’m not vegan (sorry!)…CHEESE. Mmmm…cheese.
really Katie – you are not fooling anyone with this post.
Your eating habits and the need to even label this post “high calorie recipes” show that you have an undiagnosed ED.
You should eat exactly what you want, when you are hungry and stop when you are full. Period.
Also, it’s a good idea not to contradict yourself in posts. You claim to not have a sweet tooth, but YOU HAVE A DESSERT BLOG?! Claiming to “not like” a particular type of food and then when you do eat that food you call your behavior “cheating” or “being bad” is a tell tale sign of ED.
Good luck Katie – i hope you seek help from a professional.
lol sounds like someone’s pretty jealous!
poor jen, it really sounds like you are the one who needs to get some help :(.
I do not see this post as being triggering or misleading at all. I think it’s great that Katie is sharing these options, as it can be hard to fit in extra calories without resorting to junk food. I really appreciate all of the suggestions on here.
I know Katie, doesn’t need anyone to defend her, but if you read her blog, clearly these things are not the ONLY things she eats in a day. I don’t see how being willing to add these high calorie options in addition to regular healthy meals and snacks is eating disordered at all.
And furthermore, I am another one of those people who loves desert but doesn’t really have a sweet tooth. You wont find me eating tons of candy or really sugary cookies and cakes, but anything dark chocolate or with fruit, count me in. I wouldn’t call dark chocolate especially sweet, and you’ll notice that when Katie talks about many of her own preferences for her dessert recipes she doesn’t add a lot of sugar to them, while they still most definitely count as dessert.
Everyone is different, and while you may be concerned, I don’t think that it is helpful at all to point this out in such a negative tone. Unless you’re a doctor and have extensive knowledge of someone’s eating habits, I don’t think it’s up to any of us to make that call. And even if you are worried, I don’t think insulting comments in response to a post is the way to tell someone that. In my opinion a private email would be a much better way to address this concern than here- if you truly are worried and not just looking to post a negative comment.
I agree with everything Jasmine wrote. And Jen, if you took the time to actually read Katie’s blog before you made assumptions, you’d see that she’s said “no sweet tooth” just means she prefers things like dark chocolate to candy. I don’t see how that’s disordered or contradictory.
I think attempting to diagnose a person you have never met as having an eating disorder based on the content of a blog post is perhaps going a little far. If this post was written, I assume there was some amount of demand for it from a portion of the population that is consistently told they are “underweight” by current beauty or medical standards. That doesn’t mean the author of this or any other food blog may not have a problem with ED’s of some sort (one could feasibly argue that having a food blog implies an unhealthy obsession of food, but we only see one portion of any given blogger’s passions or interests). A blog post can hardly be considered a diagnostic tool for psychological disorders, and it seems quite hurtful to announce such “concern” in such a public venue. And, I don’t personally see a real contradiction in saying one doesn’t have that much of a sweet tooth but still loves desserts. Yes, desserts are sweet, but perhaps when compared the majority of the population, Katie’s taste in “sweets” runs to the not-so-sweet side. After all, she has mentioned in the past that desserts are not the only things she eats but are often the most photogenic. There is, indeed, a non-dessert section to this blog, if one takes the time to look.
Really….what is your problem?
You cant diagnose someone with an ED if you don’t even know the person. You said it yourself, she has a dessert blog. Why would someone with and eating disorder have a blog that she cares about that has to do with food.
I just want to say something here, bc I absolutely admire Katie and I find it VERY clear that she does not have any ED whatsoever.
While it is great that we watch out for each other, as ED must be taken seriously, I think you, Jen, should have done your research before making this comment.
It is so incredibly kind of Katie to give options for the variety of her readers, and she has often enough stated how important a healthy diet is, that I think she is a true rolemodel.
And the part about the dessert blog is absolutely ridiculous. I don´t have a sweet tooth, either, but does that mean I never eat sweets? No, not at all, it simply means that I don´t like my desserts toothachingly sweet.
I find it very sad that people are constantly making such negative comments.
Where has Katie ever claimed not to like dessert? I’m pretty sure she says over and over in this blog that she loves dessert.
Also very clearly you have a skewed idea of what an “eating disorder” is. An eating disorder is precisely that- a disordered relationship with food. Katie definitely doesn’t. I think poor Katie’s problem is that she tries to please her readers too much and many people (you included Ms Jen) are way too obsessed with labels to actually examine the content. Katie is a person of substance and content but sadly most people are only comfortable with putting things in boxes and having a nice neat label for them, and people of substance rarely fit easily into these boxes.
Good luck to you, Jen. I hope you seek help from a professional for whatever it is that makes you lash out at people on the internet.
you have eating issues katie.
eat real food.
And you have personality issues. Don’t be rude because you wish you could be as successful and well liked as Katie. K thanks bye.
This made me lol since this entire blog comprises only whole foods, which are the epitome of real foods.
I really admire you, Katie. From seeing past photos I think it’s obvious you have had an ED in the past at least – I have an Ed myself. It’s as obvious as the sky is blue. And I think you have come a long way and I admire that and find that inspiring.
i just WISH that you would be honest about it. Please, there is so much stigma and shame already attached to eating disorders – and this is perpetuating it. I get the impression from all the people ‘standing up for you’ thinking that you haven’t had an Ed, of course Katie could never have an Ed.. seem to think that it’s a BAD thing to have had one. It’s not. It’s an illness like any other.
This blog of yours is amazing and it’s such a good opportunity to help others through what you have been through – to inspire, to raise awareness, to educate – it’s ignorance that drives stigma the most.
And thank you for this post – I might try a few of the recipes to replace my much hated resource plus and ensure plus drinks – those things should not be allowed to exist lol 🙂
Fiona,
I don’t even know how to respond to your untrue (and hurtful) accusation, except to say: I have a very successful blog, which means obviously all my friends and family members know about it. Don’t you think if I had some sort of eating disorder in the past they’d easily know if I was lying about it now? Yes, an eating disorder is not something to be ashamed about… but that doesn’t mean I’m going to pretend I have/had one to make people feel better about their own EDs.
argh sorry.. please delete my comments, I’m way out of line.
I just have had a few friends lately who ARE gravely ill with anorexia flat out denying it all the way into hospital. It does nobody any good.
And it doesn’t help others who suffer this to feel it’s something to be ashamed of.
What is your problem if that’s okay to ask? I’m sorry I hurt you.
It is so unusual to see someone get so emaciated as you are in some photos from dietary factors (sans any ed) alone. Do you have a food allergy or a muscle wasting disease?
I’m sorry.
katie!!! warning, this girl is on gomi, so I wouldn’t believe anything she wrote in her last comment. just wanted to give you a heads up.
fiona, you are a troll! just because YOU have an eating disorder and you’re unhappy with your life doesn’t give you the right to bring others down. do us all a favor and go back to gomi :(.
I’m a troll because I’m 1. honest that I have an Ed and 2. want people to know they should NOT be ashamed of having one? and also 3. just want people to be honest about it?
My head is just spinning about the ‘troll’ bit since I’ve made it a habit of defending people to the so called trolls. Yes I’ve been on GOMI in the past – to defend a dear friend, NicoleandGwendolyn, when they picked on her. If you witnessed that, you would know that i’m no troll out to hurt people.
oh so you’re NOT the girl on gomi who posted almost the exact same thing on the cck thread a few hours ago as your first comment on this post? really? well then there must be two of you.
and here YOU are talking about being truthful. wow. hypocrisy much?
i can see someone’s reply in my email but not on here. Anyway i’m Figs on Gomi, and out of the hundreds of comments all saying the same thing i have no idea which one you think I have made. Also, it sounds like you are a fellow GOMI watcher. I don’t like the snarking and I made a mistake of agreeing with what they were saying on this particular thread and voicing it. That is all.
hey katie,
i have a semi little blog and its recently being ripped apart on that site, and its made me even think about quitting blogging, their bullying has gotten so bad. i know they pick you apart too and i was wondering how do you handle it? sorry i know this is an old post, and also slightly OT. but i’d appreciate any insight you have for me.
Hi anonymous,
I think the best way is to just not check it ever. If you send me an email, I’ll show you something another blogger taught me: how to block the site from your computer so even if you’re tempted to see what they’re saying about you, you can’t. I haven’t actually visited the site in months.
ok, I hear this stuff from my mom because she used to have an ED so she assumes that I must have one too, and I remember one time she accused me of not eating right after i got home from eating two GIANT servings of fries and a milkshake at mcdonalds back when I was in high school and I just couldn’t do anything but laugh at her. This comment made me do the same. There’s nothing BAD about having an eating disorder, but when you start accusing every person of having one just because they LOOK a certain way, then the problem is yours, not Katie’s. Please consider that there is life outside of eating disorders.
See, I guess that’s the issue I have with your comments, Jen. I am drawn to Katie’s blog because she does advocate REAL food — her recipes are full of whole foods that are minimally processed. The only food restrictions I see are those inherent in veganism. I’ve never gotten the sense that this website enables people with ED in any way — in fact, following the recipes here would go a long way to helping anyone develop healthy, vegan dessert options. I suspect that some of your judgments are unfairly based on Katie’s thin build. But I’m sure you know that being very thin does not always equate to ED.
Trial mixes with nuts and dried fruits, or granola, are probably my favorites on high-calorie snacks!
I love Nut Butters, all of them! I crave the creamy goodness:-)
I just read a blog post on another blog that made me laugh at the comment that you, Katie, need to eat “real food”. So many people no longer know what real food is anymore. It was on kitchen stewardship.com, if you are interested. You seem to eat more real foods than most people, but I assume the commenter meant something along the lines of “don’t be a vegan, because it’s different than what I do and therefore must be wrong.”
It’s sad that people are afraid of what they don’t understand… and therefore they criticize.
I wish I could say I’m above that, but the truth is I used to make fun of things I didn’t know as well. Way back when, before I understood the diet, I made jokes about raw foodists and fruitarians… I even thought vegans were ridiculous! When I went vegetarian, I told my mom, “Don’t worry, I’ll never be a vegan. That’s just weird!” LOL I guess I’m eating my words now, literally ;).
I know lots of people who think eating real food means having a big steak with their dinner..One of the people I live with will basically shove meat at me if i don’t have any for a while. I used to be a vegetarian from grade 7-12 but then switched back to include meat. Since that time i ended up getting really sick and alot of food actually makes me rather ill so i try to cut out alot of foods, including meat, dairy spices and any preservatives but they think its unhealthy and argue that its bad for me. Sometimes people just don’t get that everyone needs a different diet to be healthy and it is rather annoying to have people argue against what you know you need, even if they mean the best.
My favorites are the same as your favorites! Maybe because I’m always eating YOUR recipes! 😉
Katie, I’m not partial to avocados either. I’m like you…I WANT to like them. Everyone raves about them. I don’t dislike them, but they just don’t do much for me. I’d rather have a really good pico de gallo as a chip dip or salad topping as opposed to avocado (then again, I heart tomatoes!). BUT…I can attest to the avocado-chocolate shakes actually being tasty. I tried one last year and was not able to detect the avocado taste that much. I knew it was in there, so I sort of ‘looking’ for it. But even so, it made the shake so unbelievably thick and creamy. If you have a lot of flavoring (chocolate, peanut butter, I need some sweetener as well…), I think you can do an excellent job of masking the fact that it’s in there. As far as the chocolate avocado pie/mousse, I think the trick is to allow them to sit for a while. Don’t eat right away. I used to make raw chocolate avocado pies at the organic health food store/deli I baked for, and straight from the food processor that stuff was gross. But after it sat in the cooler overnight, it was actually a nice, light texture and tasted pleasant. I wouldn’t take it over a peanut butter chocolate pie, but if I had to eat it, I wouldn’t complain.
I think peanut butter is my fave high-cal splurge. And I think that’s pretty typical with most people. I love chocolate as well, but I don’t eat it in large quantities (I used to…I could have been a chocolate-covered Trish three years ago! lol…but when I get my hormones back into balance I don’t crave chocolate as much…).
Anyhow, I appreciate all the testing you do on your recipes to give everyone an option. I WISH I had a need for all the extra calories (believe, I really do…I’m a foodie to the MAX and love, love to eat and write about food), but unfortunately I do not and am very happy you post lower calorie versions for some of us. xoxo
I’ve always enjoyed your low calorie versions of your desserts. I don’t need to gain weight and am always looking for healthier versions and yours are great. I easily gain weight eating nuts, seeds, adding oils, avocados, and high calorie grains. You can also limit your exercising as well. Wish people would enjoy your low cal recipes instead of complaining or judging you! Keep up the good work, Katie!
I love that you always give ways to adapt recipes to all kinds of diets. I appreciate it. Ignore all the mean comments! They clearly are jealous.