What is the optimal weight gain meal plan?

If you have an answer, please let me know.

I’ve always had a weird relationship with food. I think I mentioned it in past posts, but I’ll say it again. I don’t really ~like~ eating. Planning out what to eat, the process of eating, the cost of eating, etc. is EXHAUSTING. Especially when you’re a picky eater like me.

I’m learning that I might need 2 important things for the ‘optimal weight gain meal plan’.

Foods I like to eat
A food eating schedule

Foods I Like

I’ve started to make a small list of foods I like. But sometimes it changes? For the most part, I’m pretty consistent. But I do get bored or sick with some foods. As does everyone, I’m sure.

Here’s my ‘Foods I Like’ list:

Salmon
Chicken breasts
Fish / tilapia
Pasta
Potatoes
Broccoli
Spinach
Carrots
Asparagus
Pizza
Almonds
Peanuts
Walnuts
Pecans
Yogurt
Bagels
Eggs
Cereal
Peanut butter
Granola
Waffles
Apples
Bananas
Tangerines
Oranges
Grapes
Strawberries
Plums
Toast
Cheese
Pita bread
Hummus

There’s DEFINITELY more. But the fact that I can put majority of the foods I like in a list is kinda crazy.

Food Eating Schedule

Does a ‘Food Eating Schedule’ even exist? Is it possible to create one and then follow one? No idea.

But I think this is what I need.

Based on the foods I like above, I think I need to plan out when to eat each day. Maybe even down to the hour.

If I wake up around 7:30am, I should eat breakfast around 8am / 8:30am.

I’ll start work, have some meetings and then have a ~snack~ around 10am.

My biggest struggle is lunch. I don’t like lunch foods. But I know I need calories and having lunch is important for gaining weight. Therefore, 12pm / 12:30pm I should have lunch.

I need to have another snack around 2pm.

And then dinner at 5:30pm / 6pm.

AND THEN pre-bed cereal after working out aka 8:30pm / 9pm.

In theory, that all sounds great. Now it’s just a matter of WHAT do I eat at these time slots.

8am: Breakfast
10am: Snack
12pm: Lunch
2pm/3pm: Snack
5pm/6pm: Dinner
9pm: Snack

Breakfast Foods

Toast
Cereal
Bagels
Fruits
Eggs

Lunches

Quesadillas
Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Chicken Nuggets

Snacks

Granola Bars
Fruits
Protein Shakes
Protein Ballz

Dinners

Chicken & Pasta & Veggie
Salmon & Rice & Veggie

Food will always be a journey for me. I’ve been trying to eat healthier and eat the foods I actually enjoy eating. But I am trying to increase that intake. My dad said he’s going to find some weight gainer supplements for me to take in addition to my meals and snacks.

I think at this point, working out definitely makes me more hungry. I just need to be better at fueling my body and adding in more foods to my day-to-day life.

Big Little Gains