gaining weight

Pasta

G & A Scholiers

Pasta is another calorie dense source of carbohydrates so it can serve as the base of a healthy and high calorie meal (one cup of cooked spaghetti noodles has 220 calories). Top your pasta with lycopene-rich marinara sauce and add a quarter cup of shredded cheese for more calories and calcium. If you're pressed for time and money, you can try my ramen noodle makeover.

Dried Fruits

Gary Scott

Give yourself a quick calorie boost by eating dried fruits instead of fresh fruits. They have less volume than their fresh counterparts, so one half-cup of raisins has more calories (over 200) than a full cup of fresh grapes (about 60) and still offers good nutrition. Raisins are probably the most popular dried fruit in your local grocery store, but you can also find dried berries, apricots, cranberries, and even tropical fruits.

Healthy Fats and Oils

Marcello Gambetti

Adding extra fat to your food is an easy way to add calories, but you want to be sure to choose fats and oils that are good for you. Olive oilis rich in healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, while canola oil contains both monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fats, includingomega-3 fatty acids. Extra virgin olive oil can add calories and flavor to pasta, bread, or vegetables, and canola oil makes a terrific all-purpose cooking oil. Walnut and grape seed oils are lighter in flavor.

Avocados

Pat Herman

Avocados are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids plus vitamin K,potassium and fiber. One avocado has more than 200 calories. Add avocado slices to your sandwiches or make guacamole and serve withbaked tortilla chips. You can also add guacamole to soft shell tacos or burritos. Slimcados from Florida are avocados that have less fat than other varieties.

Nuts and Seeds

Mike Coombes

Nuts and seeds contain polyunsaturated fats that add healthy calories to your diet. Brazil nuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, sunflower seeds, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds are all good for you, and offer a variety of flavors. You can eat roasted nuts and seeds by the handful or slather some nut butter on an apple for a nutrient-dense and calorie-dense snack.

Granola

Amanda Rohde

Make your own granola with any combination of dry cereals, nuts, seeds and dried fruits. Store your granola in an airtight container and serve it for breakfast. You can also pack some granola into small plastic containers that you can take with you on a busy day. For more flavor and calories, you can add chocolate chunks or peanut butter chips.

Fruit Juice

Steve Woods

Choose 100-percent fruit juice instead of sugary sodas and energy drinks. Look out for fruit-flavored drinks that are mostly sugar or high-fructose corn syrup -- they just don't have the nutritional value of 100-percent fruit juices. Vegetable juice (low-sodium is best) tends to be lower in calories, but still contains vitamins and minerals.

Bagels

Steve Woods

Breads and cereals are a good source of complex carbohydrates your body needs for energy (no - not all carbs are bad). Bagels just happen to be extra calorie-dense. While one slice of bread has about 70 calories, one small 3-inch bagel has over 150 calories. Top your bagel with cream cheese and some 100-percent fruit spread for a high calorie (but healthy) snack.