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. (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.)
Ok, and now I’ll stop being sappy.
As promised, today’s post is a follow-up to Thursday’s. It was written for anyone who’d like some higher-calorie options 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 ones (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 calorie-dense snacks, 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 recipes on the blog. (How many times have I said “my favorite” now in this post? Sorry, can’t help it.)
I don’t like granola (too crunchy), 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!
Question of the Day:
What are some of your favorite high-calorie foods?
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. Someday I really should try that avocado chocolate mousse you’ve all been recommending…
{ 130 comments… read them below or add one }
Not that I need extra calpries, but I love peanut butter, raw desserts, and raw cashews! Anyways your ice cream looks so marshmallow-y! My blender is a weak little guy so mine always comes out icy.
High calorie foods are best in the form of nuts! AND your Chocolate-Banana Fudge Cake
Your banana peanut butter is SO good. I love it on toast.
My favorite good fat source is avocado. They are really good in smoothies – you don’t detect the taste, but you get all the creaminess. Maybe you could try a chocolate-banana-avocado shake?
fav high calorie food? PEANUT BUTTER. eat it all day, every day<3
Hi Katie! I feel bad that you feel you have to do this, but I’m glad you can be a resource for other girls out there who have trouble gaining weight. My mom and I are the same way – we eat thousands of calories every day, but still manage to stay thin. I’m positive that “having a little fat on your bones” is really just a societal thing that is totally unnecessary. Keep up what you do here, because I’m sure your low-calorie desserts help so many girls enjoy what they eat while trying to maintain or lose weight.
I don’t like avocado on salads or sandwiches but I love guacamole! Have you tried it? I’m going to try the smoothies people are recommending you although I don’t need extra calories!
Yeah, guac is pretty much a staple around here (Texas). We probably have the best guac outside of Mexico… and yet I still don’t like it
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As I sit here – a plump vegan – I marvel. My MIL always tried to gain weight, too, and my body always was in awe.
The problem is that I love all those precious foods that are for you who need to gain weight. My current favorite is coconut cream! Oh, man. Friday I made a “cheesecake” that was mostly nuts (walnuts and almonds in the crust and cashews in the body) and coconut cream. I seriously could have eaten the whole thing BY MYSELF. Thankfully, none of my family was going to allow that! lol The other thing I am addicted to are the peanut butter shakes. Hmm…no WONDER I’m not skinny! LOL Keep up the good work, Katie. I tell lots of people about your site.
Aw thank you so much! And lol I wish I lived near you… I’d have helped you eat that cheesecake. Coconut cream is incredible!
How have I missed coconut melties?! I am absolutely making those! Cashews are my favorite high-calorie snack!
I am certainly not one to need to add calories to my diet. I’m not overweight, but I could probably stand to lose a few pounds to be in better shape to jog, etc. I do admit liking the higher calorie yummies you make, too. A little note about avocados: I love them in any shape or form, and I will share a secret with you about a nice way to hide their flavor. I throw a combo of different frozen fruits in the blender with an avocado to make a deliciously creamy ice cream treat even my avocado hating daughter loves. One of my favorite combos is banana, mango, raspberry, avocado. Frozen figs are another nice addition when our tree over-produces and leaves me with tons of frozen figs (which are pretty high in calories, as well). Oh, another high calorie snack I grew up with (that disgusts some people when they just look at the fat content involved)… My great aunt used to mix margarine with peanut butter and maple syrup to make a creamy spread for toast. It is one of my favorite comfort foods I crave when stressed. I’m sure there are ways to make it healthier with something other than margarine. Some kind of healthier oil might be interesting. Sounds gross to add oil to the peanut butter, but the creamy texture is amazing. Your banana peanut butter spread with the addition of maple syrup might do it. It is the peanut butter/maple syrup combo that is the good part in my opinion. I use that in oatmeal, too. A pinch of salt added makes one of my all-time favorite breakfast foods. Hmmm. I must be hungry. Could probably go on and on here…
Thanks, Krista! I’m excited to try making avocado ice cream now!
I’m also jealous you have a fig tree. I love fresh figs… I’m just sad their season is so short.
We have a banana tree… but it never yields any fruit!
my fave high calorie food is peanut butter! i tried to give it up for lent. who was i kidding?!?!?! i couldn’t last 12 hours. i’m actually baking some peanut butter oatmeal butterscotch cookies right now.
Dang, now I wish I had to gain weight!
I am so incredibly jealous that you get to enjoy the full fat yummy buttery tasting recipes. I look at fat and I gain weight.
For breakfast this morning, I decided that I’d use up the rest of my strawberries and whip up your Strawberry Shortcake Pancakes – sans fat, per usual. Upon reading this post, however, I took your advice and whipped up said pancakes, but this time with a tablespoon of coconut butter.
Oh my goodness – it’s amazing how that mere tablespoon transforms the pancakes from being a little dry and scarce into a luscious, incredibly rich, and profuse stack of pancakes!
I’m quite happy to report that my stomach is replete with this outcome! Thank you so much
So glad you tried them with the oil! Really, I think it’s what MAKES the pancakes. But then again, I think I’d like ANYthing if it included coconut oil
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My favorite high calorie foods is peanut butter and granola! I could eat them endlessly!
Your food photos are just so pretty. I haven’t been here long enough to know if that is what you do for a living, but if you don’t, you should! Food stylist extraordinaire!
Aw thank you so much! This actually is my job… but food styling is just one part of it. I’ve always wondered how professional food stylists landed that job!
I love all your recipes that I’ve tried, but I’m scared to try the ones with banana’s, because I hate the taste of bananas! I was wondering, can you taste the bananas that are in your recipes? Everything else looks amazing to me…except that one ingredient! Thank you!
if you use a ripe banana, you most definitely can taste it. Katie advised me once to use a greener banana if I didn’t want to taste the banana as much. I haven’t tried it yet though b/c I have so many frozen ripe banana pieces lol. I like banana, but sometimes I’d like it not to be the primary taste in what I’m eating/drinking.
I sometimes use a banana that has a little bit of green on each end when I don’t want to taste as much banana flavor. Chocolate and or cocoa are the best banana flavor cover-ups. But… I still would use a less ripe banana if you really can’t stand the taste and add a bit of sweetener to the recipe (unless you like unsweetened things) because less ripe bananas are nowhere near as sweet.
Thanks, Shelly and Mya! I’ll try that!
We really think alike Katie, this whole time since I have found your blog, I have been making banana/pb and had NO idea you had the same exact recipe/idea! So good, I like with frozen bananas too.
my go to is avocado, nut butters, muffins, granola just to name a few.
Have a great day!
I think it is so weird, bc my weight stays the same, no matter how many fatty calories I consume. However, if I increase my carb-intake, I gain weight within seconds. Like, I just have to look at pasta and gain weight.
So strange.
I love almonds as my no 1 fat and protein source.
I’m the same way, which is such a shame b/c I LOVE BREAD. So much. Science says that a calorie is a calorie but I beg to differ.
I trained myself not to eat it anymore, as I do love it, too!
Oh, I have never believed that a calorie is a calorie, definitely not!
We are the proven example, right?
haha yes!
I have to beg to differ!! If I use anything fatty like nuts I will gain weight, but since I switched over to adding white rice in my diet and breads and things, I’ve been dropping. I have an extremely hard time digesting food in general though, so maybe you guys just have healthy digestive tracts and need that fat for the fullness factor, otherwise you just feel hungrier later on? Whereas I just eat the fat and get addicted and want more and eat more and then get stomach aches all day (that’s probably also a food-intolerance…that’s pretty common amongst people with food-intolerances…getting addicted to what they’re intolerant to and then not being able to digest it properly and it making them feel physically even worse). Anyway–Interesting…I definitely have seen a lot of trend with people who eat lots of fats–they tend to feel pretty sleepy/sluggish if they aren’t burning them all. I guess it’s all about balance and what works for you personally.
and the best part is peanut butter and dark chocolate are really good for you. Coconut is depending on who you ask, too. Love all these recipes!
Frozen bananas into soft serve or milkshakes or even that better peanut butter is the only way I can eat bananas and they are delicious!
I’m in love with avocado and hummus sandwiches, that’s my favourite way to to eat avocado. It’s so rich and buttery, I can’t help myself. I must try your coconut melties though, they look so cute!
Oh wow I absolutely must try that!
Ice cream and olive oil. Not together though lol. Hummus is definitely a runner up! Best veggie dip ever. Excuse me, I need to go to the kitchen.
I tried ice cream and olive oil together after seeing it in a cookbook…. and yes, it’s as disgusting as it sounds!
Jeese Katie! I am practically drooling after reading this post my favorite high calorie things are who,e wheat pasta and candy. Because I haven’t figured out a way to live without the latter, I am mostly selecting low calorie foods. My favorite of which are chips and salsa and shakeology. El pintos (they have a salsa locator on their website in case you wanted to try it) makes my favorite salsa and The vegan tropical shakeology is currently awaiting me to get up and serve myself some lunch before my workout today. I’m gonna have to dive into these peanut butter posts of yours in the near future though!
I’ve heard a lot of people talking about this Shakeology! Honestly, I never paid much attention because I had no idea they made a vegan one. That’s great to know
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I just started reading your blog maybe 2 months ago, and let me just say that I LOVE it. You give good recipes for those that want to eat healthier, but don’t want to sacrifice sweets to do it. I also feel like you tackle some big issues like you did here. I know a lot of people think that being “healthy” means you don’t eat a lot of calories. But its so much more than that. Being healthy has to do with what you eat, but it also has to do with how much you exercise and even how much you sleep. I think you do a great job in accommodating all the people who want to be healthy for all their own reasons. Plus I am in love with the cookie dough dip! <3
As a request, would you mind doing some more vanilla type recipes in the future? I love chocolate, but sometimes I like a change too.
I love your blog and I hope you keep on writing!
I can definitely try. How about one tomorrow?
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!
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
My fave high calorie foods are definitely nuts, nut butters, dried fruits, and grains!! I loooove crackers and cereals! I can literally eat multiple servings at once so low calorie foods can become pretty high calorie very quickly!
You say you can gain weight on a healthy diet, and you now that your weight is underweight, which isnt healthy at all, then why don’t you set a good example and try to gain weight on a healthy diet? You dont have to stuff your face with junk food to gain like you said! Why dont you do it? Or the benefit of yourself, and your folowers?
I’m sure for people struggling to lose weight it must be impossible to conceive that someone could struggle to maintain weight, no matter how much they eat, but I guess this is the way of the closed-minded world: people don’t want to look outside of what they know.
I ment that comment that I just posted in the nicest way possible. You would look so much more beautiful and healthier if you gained weight and got to a healthy weight! I am sure you would be even happier too!
“I think you look ugly now, and you’re too skinny.
Oh, but I meant that in a nice way.”
WTF? How can you criticize someone and say you’re doing it in a “nice way”? Rudeness is rudeness! Don’t try to cover it.
As impossible as it may be to believe, there are people who can eat enormous amounts of food and still not gain weight while the majority of us have the opposite problem. I understood Katie to mean that she went through a phase where she attempted to eat these extra necessary calories in the form of junk food. How is that different than most young people who subsist on a diet of chips, snacks and fast food meals? She’s making the point here that there are healthier ways to get large calorie doses, if that is what your body needs. I don’t see why this post is such a problem for some.
Just something to think about: Would you say to a blogger who you thought was overweight “You would look so much healthier and more beautiful if you lost some weight!”
That would be horrible, right?
I ALWAYS think this when people criticize Katie on here!!! Katie, you are admirable for even leaving some of these posts up and not just deleting them. People can just be so nasty.
Trial mixes with nuts and dried fruits, or granola, are probably my favorites on high-calorie snacks!
I don’t like avocado on its own, but I love guacamole and I love adding it to smoothies. I find that I can’t taste the avocado but it makes a super thick and creamy shake! Nut butters have to be my favorite high calorie treat though. Peanut butter is the best!
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.
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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!
Avocado is definitely my favorite! You have to try baking with it, it absolutely makes everything delicious. I’m sure you’ll grow to love it some day. Try a recipe for chocolate chip avocado cookies, they’re to die for!
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!
My favorite high calorie foods are peanut butter and all kinds of nuts, especially roasted almonds… Yum!
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.
Girl, you are absolutely awesome. That is all.
Oh, and kindlyy come out with that cookbook soon. Thanks
.
Yeesh, it’d be nice if I could spell my own name right!
i just baked an orange soda cake that i’m sure is very high in calories!
http://theactorsdiet.wordpress.com/2012/03/03/orange-you-glad-i-baked/
Ahh! Agree about the avocado. Actually I used to love avocado, but after getting food poisoning one too many times from eating overripe ones, I no longer can stand them. Note to avocado eaters: Do not eat the avocado if its yellow, smells bad, or has turned brown!!
I just made the banana butter and it is awesome! I used a whole banana to 4 tablespoons of peanut butter because I like the texture more on the fluffy side. It tastes great if you dip apples slices in it!
I was just going to leave a comment about the avocado until I read that awful message from Jen! I really hope you don’t take that to heart, Katie! We all know the difference. I refrained from posting something nasty in reply to her, but only by the tiniest bit!
Anywayyy… back to the avocado! I don’t really care for them either, although I do like guacamole. But I will warn you that it really depends on you love of creamy things and the recipe you choose if you will like the chocolate avocado mousse. I tried two recipes and had to get rid of one, I hated it! The second one was tolerable to me, but still not something I would likely choose if given another option. Unless, of course, that other option had something to do with mangoes. I can’t stand mangoes! lol
Thanks, Mya! Haha I won’t get my hopes up about loving the mousse!
Still don’t understand how you don’t like avocado! Gah! That’s my favorite..and olive oil…and nuts…and coconut oil…and sesame oil…and chocolate…yum
Oh yes, I’m with you on the avocado! I just bought one to FINALLY try chocolate avocado pudding.
I don’t like avocado either…peanut butter id definitely my favorite. But I have to proceed with caution.
nut butters – peanut butter specifically – is my all time favorite high calorie food! i also love raw nuts and avocado!
Love this! I’m the same as you, bring on the nut butters & chocolate!
Katie – these are great recipes. I haven’t been a follower for very long, but I really am loving the references to past recipes that I hadn’t stumbled upon yet. Really like the fact that so many of your recipes can be low or high calorie, depending on you needs.
Avocado is my favorite food, period. One of my favorite snacks is a piece of toast with some hummus and avocado sliced on top with a little garlic salt. Mmm, I’m getting hungry just thinking about it. That’s probably not much help if you don’t like the taste though. As several others have mentioned, have you tried it in a smoothie? It makes them so good and creamy! And I don’t think you can taste it much then either, but maybe I just don’t notice it because I like it.
Don’t let comments from judgmental people get you down. Anyone who actually reads this blog knows the things they say are completely untrue. You’re such a kind and wonderful person, Katie, and you’re such an inspiration to me.
Thank you so much, Kacey! And I hadn’t tried avocado in a smoothie… now it’s on my to-do list!
Love this post!!! I’m always starving…and I’d rather eat coconut than sugar.:)
I’m DYING to try that raw chocolate fudge cake, but unfortunately, coconut butter is so darn expensive
I am pretty sure Katie has a recipe on here for Homemade Coconut butter, and it might be a cheaper option for you . . .
I don’t mean this in the wrong way Katie, or CCK readers, but why do you try to gain weight? If it’s because of what other people think, that’s hog-wash. Everyone is fine just the way they are. thin or thick, tall or short, muscular or, well, non-muscular. if you have a big body type, then you have a big body type; if you have a small body type, then you have a small body type, no one should ever try to change that about themselves. you seem healthy; you run, you host a blog, you’re energetic. So, why gain weight?
Unfortunately, being below a certain weight can be unhealthy- equally unhealthy as being obese. Whether it is due to an eating disorder or other factors such as a high metabolism, it is important for people to have enough fat on their body to support healthy body functioning- hormones, immunity, etc.
I agree that in terms of looks we should love our bodies at any size, but for many of us trying to gain weight, outward appearance isn’t the main concern.
Honestly, vanity is a big part of it for me. If you look at my photos from back in 2007-2009, my arms are like sticks. They’re still sticks, but I’m trying to build up some muscle. I’ve managed to add and maintain around ten pounds, which just makes me feel less self-conscious. I know I shouldn’t want to change for anyone, but I’m in an industry where I’m a role model, and I want to be a good one. Even though I might be able to be healthy at such a low weight, I know others can’t and I don’t want to send out the wrong message… plus, I don’t want to perpetuate the stereotype that vegans are scrawny. Still, if I tried way harder I could gain more, I’m sure. But at some point I agree with you that the vanity of looking a certain way isn’t worth spending your entire life planning your next meal!
But another reason for me is that I know it’s good to have a little padding for your bones. Even if you’re healthy, thin people have higher instances of getting osteoporosis. My grandma was stick-thin like me her whole life, and she ended up with osteoporosis when she got older
.
LOL sorry for the novel!
I love to eat cream cheese- with a spoon!
Peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, and avocados are favorites!!!!
yumyummm on everything! love those shots i have one every wk since u posted it haha! and avocado mousse is amazing, i didnt think i would like it AT ALL but i love it.. i like guacomole tho but plain avocado grosses me out.. def give it a try tho!
I don’t actively count calories, I’d drive myself utterly insane, i live a low carb lifestyle and have fr 10 years, lost 75lbs and basically kept it off)I eat treats and exercise daily, not overweight but not thin either, but I’m happy! And NOT hungry! but seeing as how this is a chocolate covered blog- one of my favorite things is the high fat Dutch cocoa powder I buy at penzeys spices, I use it in all your recipes! Adds a richness to everything, about 2x the calories of Hersey cocoa… Makes yummy hot chocolate as well! You can order it online too, I found it from a paleo cookbook I have and haven’t gone back to the cheaper stuff (it’s not expensive! I think 16oz is under $10) so yummy! Especially in your frosting shots (I make this once a week… And the brownies too… I have put on a little weight BUT my hair an skin have never been better!!)
Hi Katie! I was just reading the article that is on today’s AOL main page! Congratulations if you haven’t seen it yet!
http://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-recipes-pictures/healthy-dessert-for-breakfast-recipes.aspx?xid=aol_eh-diet_4_20110227_&aolcat=EFG&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl9%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D139615
Hey, that’s awesome!
Thank you so much for letting me know, Kelly! Haha I had no idea why my site’s page views were going crazy!
Avocados in smoothies make them mousse/pudding like and thick. One avocado, 1/2 banana (optional), 1-2 Tbps hemp seeds, 3 Tbsp rice protein, coconut milk (So Delicious), 1-2Tbsp cocoa. I usually put all the ingredients in the Vitamix, then add coconut milk until it reaches the 2 – 2.5 cup mark, then blend. You can add more/less coconut milk to adjust the consistency of your shake. Super rich, high in calories and healthy fats, protein, really fills you up. Let me know if you try it and what you think.
I try not to eat too many high-calorie foods, but my favorites are peanut butter, and nuts.
Try Walnuts, for a higher calorie energy packed healthy fat snack. I love walnuts but I hardly ever eat them because they are very high in calories.
I used to be a heavy boy up until high school and I started running and learning more and more about food and nutrition. Here I am now, 12 years later with many endurance running events behind me and currently trying to lay off the monotony of running and work on weight training for strength.
Long story short, you have to eat more to support muscle growth, and I love using your recipes (I might change a few things) to make this increase in food intake a pleasurable and tasty one! It’s really hard for me to eat above maintanence, but I I want to give it a try and make myself eat more. Some might think it’s easy, but I beg to differ….
Oh yeah, pretty sure fresh ground peanut butter is my favorite high cal food; add a banana to that and I’m set!
Goodness! Hopefully at this point you will just ignore the eating disorder comments. Not worth dignifying anymore – not really the point of your blog. I am kind of stunned by them. However I just watched another recipe blog I follow get some out of line vaccination comments when she mentioned her son’s 4 month shots, so I think I just comes with the larger readership.
Good for you for watching out for the bones. I do know that is more of a challenge on a naturally thinner build.
I love my avocados, nuts and peanut butter for my fats. I had forgotten my walnuts in my oatmeal for a few months and my body really really let me know.
RC I agree with you. I still don’t always get my balance for maintenance versus building…even more compounded by the fact that at least for me my needs have changed as I have aged and depending what my dominant physical activity is.
Sad but true. You just can’t please everyone, no matter what you do. I’ve been a huge people-pleaser all my life, so I’m really struggling with that as my readership is growing and more and more people are asking for (or demanding!) different things
.
It’s a good learning experience to be true to oneself!
I actually understand the people-pleaser “problem.”
Boy do I relate to that one.
The problem with written criticism (and this stuff isn’t even “constructive”) is that it is there to be read over and over. I have always maintained that the written word can do far more damage than almost anything said in person, even irrationally heated.
I actually worry what some of these people say on sites that are truly eating disorder web sites (whether the writer is in recovery or not).
I bet you are are learning a lot about yourself and public audience in this process! Someday you can write a book about it.
Have a great day.
Great post and great response to your previous one. When I make your recipes, I change the oil content (or other higher-calorie source) according to the recipient. For me, it’s always oil all the way, I just don’t feel satisfied without it! My favorite high calories snack is nut butter, in any form. I’ve tried to go without it for a little while, but I just never felt truly satisfied. I think one of the take-aways from these couple of posts is that anyone can enjoy dessert, high calorie or low calorie, but having the ability to adapt recipes to your own needs is important!
Thank you for a great pair of posts
My husband has a metabolism I would do unspeakable things for. He’s heading out on a three week hiking trip and I’d like to send him out on the trail with a bit of extra padding – so these are exactly what I need!
Any idea how your larbar recipes store? Instead of buying processed high calorie bars for his hike we’d prefer to make them.
Unfridged a few days, or fridged a few weeks… or frozen for months!
I love this post so much. These are pretty much all of my favorite recipes of yours too. I can’t wait to try that shake with sun butter…gosh, have you ever made sun butter? I made some the other day and it was just divine…it was just like peanut butter, but sunflower seeds are cheaper and I have a nut-intolerance, so perfect compromise. I can’t wait to make it again ( I ate it all!
) and try it in your shake.
I don’t know if you knew this but when I first started visiting your website I was below 100 pounds and recovering from anorexia…I’ve found your site to be a very encouraging source for me to eat healthy amounts of food. Keep up the wonderful work and don’t be disheartened by those whom you see use it for bad choices. No matter what you do in life, someone is going to use something you say wrongly, and although it sucks, there’s nothing you can do about it except allow them to learn from their own mistakes.
Much love to you, lovely, beautiful lady. Oh and your picture in your newest entry is just fabulous!! You look so beautiful, as always. Take care.
I could eat peanut butter with almost anything…at night I like to make a snack with peanut butter and honey on crackers–then I sprinkle some dark chocolate and raisins on top!
I also regularly make trail mix with nuts, dried fruit, a little chocolate, and other fun mix-ins!
Okay, as someone who’s recovered from an eating disorder myself–and now as a blogger who writes about both eating disorder recovery and healthy eating on a regular basis–I thought I’d chime in on some of the above comments.
It is a challenge for me to maintain a focus on fitness and healthy recipes on my blog, while still showing my belief that a truly healthy diet is all about balance and moderation. I don’t think it’s idea for anyone, especially someone who’s suffered from an eating disorder, to focus on ONLY eating a certain way. Even if that focus is healthier than in the past, it can be a slippery slope when you are cutting out entire food groups. On my blog, I post recipes that I like but try to give suggestions for those who like different things. And I also regularly post tips on keeping a balanced attitude about food and fitness.
Katie is true to posting recipes that have been successful for her readers–she is focused on creating delicious dishes that all of you who read the blog will respond to. If her recipes were like recipes you could find anywhere else, her blog would not be as successful as it is today. What I like about Katie is that she is also open to other diets and trying new kinds of recipes that other readers will enjoy.
I think many, many of us have distorted ideas about food sometimes, even if not a full-fledged disorder. The key is being aware of our eating habits and our reasons for them, and just doing our best to make healthy choices. No matter what Katie has experienced, we should not attack her or accuse her of things. She has ALWAYS been an advocate of including healthy fats in her recipes, and paying attention to health rather than weight loss.
Thank you. Thank you for pointing that out. It’s very true.
I just found you a couple of weeks ago and…wow. I even wrote about you on my blog. I never write about anything except how lazy I am, so you gotta believe how much I love your stuff! Keep it coming.
Crystal
Hmmm… specifically high calorie snacks that I love? Coconut butter is pretty high on my list – anything with coconut really. Chocolate (tofu) pie is pretty high on that list too, and we eat it for breakfast, lunch, snack, and everything in between… I’m sure I’ve eaten half a chocolate pie in one day before.
As for avocados… I like them, I really do, and I love adding them to sandwiches for their creamy taste, extra flavour, and bonus calories. Just don’t ask me to eat them any other way… eew… most people are picky about avocados in some way.
It’s so sad you have to justify what you eat to people! Anyone who actually looks at your blog without jealously can see you’re probably ten times healthier than most of us and the beautiful picture show it!
Ohhhh please you NEED to try chocolate avocado mousse! I just blend really ripe ava with cocoa and soy milk (and sometimes a little agave or nutella) and have served it to SO many people who absolutely love it, it’s amazing! …I know you love your chocolate bar pie but It’s seriously ten times better anything I’ve made with silken tofu!! ^__^
My favorite high calorie foods? Oh boy. Of the healthy: peanut butter, guacamole, granola, lara bars (I have yet to try one of your recipes though) and of the not-so healthy: ribs (sorry, i know you’re vegan), mac n cheese, carrot cake. I really love how you have a range of different recipes for people with different dietary needs, like low calorie or high calorie or gluten free (thanks!) or vegan. Have a great weekend!
Keep up the good work, girl! I love what you do here, and including you in a blog post of mine today…
Thanks for continuing to share tips, inspiration and encouragement to your readers in a transparent, genuine & delicious way! XOXO
If you don’t like avocado, you should try slicing it up on a slice of rye / quinoa bread, with a little bit of olive oil, sliced tomatoes, chili flakes and salt!
it’s now one of my favorite foods, even though i didn’t like tomatoes.
Hi Katie – would coconut milk ever be considered a possible substitute for coconut oil? It’s pretty much impossible to get coconut oil where I live >.<
I guess it depends on the recipe!
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