Whether your dilemma has been to either lose those few extra pounds or put them on, you've come to the right place. For most of us, the diet has been a big challenge, without complete information, it is hard to stick to a routine. Especially with Indian food, you can never be sure what food is better suited for your fitness goals. This article will help you decide if high-calorie Indian foods are good for you or whether you should avoid them. Read more in detail.
6 High-Calorie Indian Foods for Weight Gain
Gaining weight is a pretty simple task, but gaining weight to stay healthy is a little difficult. All the high-calorie foods in India offer don't mean they're all healthy. We'll help you choose which ones to consume so that you can put on those extra few pounds but in a healthy way. The list of weight gain foods is below:1. Breakfast Cereals
Starting the day right is very crucial, and breakfast is what helps with that. Cereal is the most accessible, ready-to-eat, and high-calorie food, making it a good option for breakfast.
- Recommended intake - 30 to 40 grams Calories in an average bowl of cereal - 125 (approx)
2. Banana Milkshake
Banana milkshakes are not only easy to prepare but also help you with your weight gain goals. Banana shakes are among the healthiest and most weight-gaining foods. Add a handful of almonds to the mix and you will have a wholesome meal replacement. For those who go to the gym, you can add a scoop of your whey protein as well.
- Recommended intake - One glass every day Calories - 400 (approx)
3. Paneer Parantha
As high-calorie foods go, this one was bound to make the list. Paneer parantha is not only a tasty food but is also counted among the high-calorie foods in India. If you don't like breakfast cereal then you can consume these as a substitute.
- Recommended Intake - 2 to 3 servings Calories per serving - 260 (approx)
4. Homemade Yogurt
Homemade yogurt or as we call it in India "dahi" is also one of the foods with high calories in India. Yogurt is a good option to add to your meals to maintain a high-calorie intake.
- Recommended Intake - 1 bowl or cup (approximately 230 grams) Calories - 100 (approx)
5. Chickpeas
Chickpeas, more commonly known as "Chhole," is another high-calorie food for weight gain. Chickpeas are a great alternative if you're a vegan and want to get into bodybuilding. It has high portions of calories and proteins so adding them to your diet will be very beneficial.
- Recommended Intake - 100 grams Calories - 364
6. Tandoori Dishes
I bet this has you excited! Yes, tandoori dishes both vegan and non-vegan are okay to eat in controlled portions. Not only is this among the highest-calorie food in India but it is also a very tasty dish. The method of preparing a tandoori dish makes it a great option because it is either grilled or baked. The marination procedure involves yogurt which is a bonus.
- Recommended Intake - 80 to 100 grams Calories - 400 (approx)
Top High Calorie Indian Foods To Avoid
This will be a list of high-calorie Indian foods which you should avoid. These have very high amounts of calories in the same servings as the foods mentioned above. For your convenience, added to the list are alternatives to these calorie-rich foods.1. White Rice
Rice is a very common companion to any meal prepared in India but we often tend to ignore the size of its portions. With just half of a cup, you get up to 300 calories from rice. And as high-calorie Indian food goes, this is among the top few. Keep your daily intake to only a few fistful servings.
- Healthy Alternative - Brown Rice
2. Clarified Butter (Ghee)
The addition of this food item to the list of high-calorie Indian foods must come as no surprise. Not only is ghee extremely high in calories but it also promotes high levels of cholesterol in the body. This could lead to all kinds of health problems. In a mere one tablespoon of ghee, there are approximately 135 calories.
- Healthy Alternative - Olive Oil
3. Samosas
Again, to no one's surprise, we decided to add this to the list of high-calorie Indian foods that you must avoid. It is not so much the food item itself, but the way we make a samosa. The technique of deep frying a samosa makes this item infamous.
- Healthy Alternative - Baked Samosa
Also Read: Healthy Junk Food Will Ease Your Life!
4. Food Items Prepared With Coconut Milk
Coconut milk makes the consistency of gravy-based food thick. But, the downside to using coconut milk in food is that it contains very high amounts of saturated fat. Hence you should consume it in very frugal portions if not completely avoid it. In 100 grams of coconut milk, there are about 230 calories. So, coconut milk is among the most high-calorie Indian foods.
- Healthy Alternative - Cow Milk or Soy Milk
5. Naan Bread
One of the major problems with this high calorie Indian food is that it is prepared using white flour. The use of white flour makes this food item hard for the stomach to digest. And in a single naan serving, you consume more than 300 calories.
- Healthy Alternatives - Plain Indian Bread
6. Chhole Bhature
Like samosas, chhola-bhatura is also prepared by deep frying the bread. This high-calorie Indian food should be strictly consumed on rare occasions. One serving of Chhole Bhature packs about 400 to 450 calories.
- Healthy Alternative - Chhole but without deep-fried bread
Conclusion
High-calorie foods do look enticing, yet you should be very careful with what goes on in your stomach. You are responsible for your health, take good care of it. The words of popular American writer Mark Twain best conclude this article. "The secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside". Instead of craving a taste from an unhealthy diet, incorporate the low-calorie food items into meals you enjoy and can stick to over a long period. Symptoms of diseases from high-calorie food include weight gain, laziness, and body stress.Also Read: 5 Common Bad Eating Habit Mistakes
Frequently Asked Questions
Which food has high calories?
Breakfast Cereals, Banana Milkshake, Paneer Parantha and Homemade Yogurt.
How to gain calories?
Add extras to your dishes for more calories, such as white rice or nut butter on whole-grain toast.
What are the high-calorie vegetarian foods in India?
High-calorie vegetarian foods in India include ghee, nuts, paneer, coconut, avocado, and dishes like dal makhani, chana masala, and various fried snacks.
What are the calorie-dense foods Indian?
Rice, ghee, paneer, chickpeas, lentils, nuts, and sweets like gulab jamun are calorie-dense foods common in Indian cuisine.
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