The Importance of Snacking
When it comes to feedism and weight gain, the meals you eat are only half the story. Big, calorie-dense feasts play a key role in helping someone grow, but the true secret to consistent gains lies in the importance of snacking. Constant grazing throughout the day ensures that a feedee’s body never has a chance to burn off calories too quickly, keeping a steady flow of fat-building nutrients in their system.
Why Snacking is Key for Gains
Snacking may seem small in comparison to a heavy, calorie-laden meal, but the calories you sneak in between those big plates make a huge difference. Each snack is an opportunity to add extra calories and prevent hunger from setting in, because if you’re hungry, you’re not eating enough. Long periods of hunger can also lead to burning off stored energy (the horror), so frequent snacking is practically necessary to keep the metabolism focused on digesting and absorbing nutrients, allowing excess calories to be stored as fat. High-calorie, fat-rich snacks are particularly effective, as they are energy-dense and help the body accumulate fat more efficiently.
This steady flow of calories ensures that you’re consistently eating more than your body needs, leading to weight gain over time. If you’re only relying on a few meals to hit your daily calorie intake, you’ll struggle to gain at the pace you (or your feeder) desire. Snacking bridges the gaps between meals, making sure your body is always in “gaining mode.”
How To Snack
Not all snacks are created equal. You want snacks that are calorie-packed and delicious, making it easy to munch all day long. When choosing your fattening snacks, it’s essential to focus on calorie density. Ones that pack a lot of calories into small portions are ideal, as they allow you to eat more without feeling overly full.
Unhealthy Snacking
Chips, cookies, snack cakes…this is likely where your brain goes when thinking about snacking, mine does too. Not only are they far yummier than healthier alternatives, but they usually pack in far more calories as well…albeit empty ones.
There are a wealth of options when it comes to this type of grazing. Many of these snacks are highly processed and pre-packaged, which gives them a unique convenience factor and potential for instant gratification. It also makes it easy to choose the highest calorie options and track said calories, as all the info you need is somewhere on the packaging. Simply choosing the options that appeal the most to you or your overfed butterball is all the guidance you’d need for picking the best snacks, as most of the treats in this category should have all the fat and sugar you “need.”
A good practice is to collect a range of both sweet and savory snacks that you can switch between to keep your appetite whetted. When you’re sick of cookies and candy bars, switch to chips and pizza rolls, and vice versa. For beverages, sugary sodas and fruit juices are perfect companions to your snack choices and are easy contributors to weight gain. Most importantly, prioritize snacks that are easy to consume, whether it’s because they’re a favorite, light in nature, or are just hard to grow sick of. Any snack that can be eaten in large quantities without causing too much discomfort makes for a great, tempting choice to indulge in frequently.
Here are some fattening snack ideas to inspire your next grocery store run:
Packaged Snacks: Fill your cart with potato chips, Pop-Tarts, cookies, crackers, snack cakes, candy, pudding cups, sugary cereals and more.
Frozen Convenience Items: Think pizza rolls, corn dogs, chicken nuggets, frozen burritos and breakfast sandwiches...they may take a little longer to prepare but make for more substantial and filling snacks.
Sugary Drinks: Filled with far too much added sugar, soda, energy drinks, sweetened teas, and fruit juices are an easy way to add hundreds of calories to your day.
Ice Cream & Milkshakes: Putting away an entire pint of full-fat ice cream, or blending it up in a shake with heavy cream, protein powder, and your favorite flavors is an indulgent way to add calories between meals. Check out this milkshake recipe for inspiration!
Sweet Treats: So soft, so sweet, so full of sugar and fat. Pastries, donuts, cupcakes, etc.—just ransack the store's bakery.
Healthy Snacking
I get it—health is important, and so is nutritional value, something most unhealthy snacks lack. For those who are leaning more toward a healthy or clean “permanent bulk,” it’s essential to maintain a focus on calorie density while being mindful of the quality of your macros.
Prioritize snacks high in healthy fats. Fats provide more calories per gram than proteins or carbohydrates, making them essential for gaining weight. Avocados, dark chocolate, and foods cooked in oils or butter are excellent choices for boosting calorie intake. Good options include nuts and nut butters, which are rich in healthy fats and protein, as well as full-fat dairy like cheese, which pairs perfectly with crackers or toast for a quick bite. While pastries and sweets can be seen as unhealthy, they can certainly play a role in a balanced approach when enjoyed in moderation. For example, incorporating a pastry or a piece of chocolate once in a while can satisfy cravings, making the overall eating experience more enjoyable.
Combining carbohydrates and protein in snacks is another effective strategy to keep energy levels steady and prevent your feedee from feeling too full too quickly. Sandwiches layered with full-fat ingredients like cheese, meats, and spreads, or granola bars packed with oats, honey, and nuts, are balanced options that encourage frequent eating.
Just as with indulgent snacking, prioritize ease of eating. Healthier snacks tend to be more nutrient packed and filling, which means they keep a belly fuller for longer. But don’t let that stop you from choosing options that you can easily eat tons of. A helpful practice may be to have more small snacks throughout the day, rather than large quantities at once.
Here are some healthier examples of snack options to keep those calories coming:
Nut Butters and Fruit: Spread peanut butter thick on a banana, almond butter on some apples, or even chocolate or caramel on some strawberries for a quick snack packed with fats and carbs.
Cheese and Crackers: Choose full-fat cheese and buttery crackers for a snack that’s both satisfying and loaded with calories. Pair it with some thick cut deli meats for a boost in protein.
Trail Mix: Filled with nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate, trail mix is an easy, portable way to consume hundreds of calories.
Smoothies: They’re basically fruity milkshakes. Blend up your favorite fruits with milk, heavy cream or yogurt, nut butters, and maybe even veg–cough–veggies…ew.
Other Options: Granola bars, hummus and pita bread or chips, yogurt topped with nuts and fruit…or just give in and eat a tub of cookie dough.
Timing is Everything
The key to effective snacking is consistency. If you only snack once a day, you’re missing out on the opportunity to keep your metabolism constantly working on converting those extra calories into gorgeous, rippling fat. Aim to snack every couple of hours or at least once between meals to ensure that calories are always building up. Setting a schedule or even setting alarms to remind you to snack is a great way to keep yourself on track.
For feeders, this is where you can get creative. Leaving snacks within easy reach, casually offering bites, or preparing your feedee’s favorite and most tempting treats throughout the day are excellent ways to keep them constantly consuming and growing for you. Be as gentle and encouraging, or forceful and manipulative as works for the both of you.
Never forget to bring snacks with you wherever you go. Keep snacks stored at work, in your purse or backpack, in your car’s glove compartment. Never put yourself or your tubby loved one in a position where you’re not prepared. Be Safe, Bring a Snack.
Snacking for Gains: A Key Strategy
If your aim is to gain, constant snacking is non-negotiable. It’s a fun, stress-free way to boost your calorie intake, keep your body in constant growth mode, and push your gains to the next level. Whether you’re the feedee or the feeder, learning how to integrate high-calorie snacks into your daily routine will make all the difference in reaching your weight gain goals.
So go ahead—grab that extra snack, because every bite counts toward the bigger picture!
