The Best Way To Add Calories To Your Diet

3 High Calorie Foods For A Muscle Building Diet

On today’s episode of Live Lean TV, Jessica and I share the easiest and best way to add calories to your diet.

We have another great episode from our #WayBackWednesday series, where we highlight the best questions from previous episodes of our #AskLiveLeanTV Q&A show.

This question is from #AskLiveLeanTV Ep. 001.

To get more context, and dig a little deeper into the answer to today’s question, be sure to click the links and images in this post, to learn more.

So if you’re looking to build muscle, keep reading.

Gregg Palmer: @Palmerfamilyman on Twitter asks the following question: Brad, what’s the best way to add calories to your diet?

Great question Gregg, and by the way, thank you for engaging so much with us on our Live Lean TV YouTube channel and Twitter.

When you’re one of our top engagers, we do our best to answer your questions first.

Best High Calorie Foods To Build Muscle Not Fat

One of the easiest ways to add calories to your diet, if you’re looking to add lean and healthy calories, is nuts.

#1. Eat More Nuts And Seeds For Snacks

Nuts and seeds are high calorie, but they are very calorie dense since they’re full of micronutrients.

This means nuts and seeds are a great source of vitamins and minerals.

You can also add nut butters to your shakes and smoothies.

Check out this delicious PB and J muscle building protein shake recipe.

#2. Add Fruit Juice To Your Protein Shakes And Smoothies

This may not be as clean of an option, but another way to add calories to your diet, is using fruit juice in your protein shakes and smoothies.

But remember, even if 100% fruit juice is cleaner than artificially flavored juice, it’s still very high in sugar.

This is why we typically recommend most people use water in your smoothie recipes.

However, if you’re already lean and an ectomorph, adding fruit juice to your smoothies is an easy way to increase your calorie consumption.

An ectomorph is typically a body type that has a harder time adding body fat and muscle.

Regardless, when it comes to adding more calories to your diet, focus first on consuming higher healthy fat sources.

#3. Eat A Spoonful Of Coconut Oil

Another easy way to add calories to your diet is to simply take a spoonful of coconut oil.

Coconut oil is delicious and it’s higher in healthy fat.

Again, lean more towards consuming foods higher in healthy fat rather than sugar.

Bottom Line: The Best Way To Add Calories To Your Diet

Eat more fat, not sugar.

When you increase your sugar rapidly, it can become a problem for fat storage, as sugar increases hunger, and spikes the fat storing hormone, insulin.

When you increase your fat consumption, it doesn’t convert to fat as easily, since fatty foods are more satiating, thus reducing hunger and food cravings.

This will help you manage your insulin and add lean muscle gains, instead of just blowing up.

And that’s what Living Lean is all about, lean gains.

Let’s Gain Some Muscle: Yes, You Too Ladies

Okay, if you’re a female, we know what 79% may be thinking.

I don’t want to build muscle, I want to look like a lady.

But, here’s the deal ladies.

You need muscle if you want to be lean.

And we’re not talking huge bulky looking muscles, or the Michelin Man.

We’re talking about lean and sexy, beach body type of muscle.

The Key To Building Muscle Is You Have To Eat

It’s true, if you don’t eat enough, you’ll never build muscle.

So these tips on the best way to add calories to your diet works for the ladies too.