Top 10 Foods Highest in Calories

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Top 10 Foods Highest in Calories

Calories are the basic unit of energy used for measuring the energy in food and we all need a certain number of calories to maintain the body's vital functions. The number of calories a person needs depends on factors such as age, gender, and lean muscle mass.

Eating too few calories for a prolonged period of time causes a person to become underweight leading to muscle atrophy, weakened immunity, and eventually, organ failure. Conversely, eating too many calories causes a person to become overweight then obese, increasing their chances of heart disease, type II diabetes, and cancer.

People looking to gain weight in the form of lean muscle mass can aim to eat around 3000 calories per day depending on how many strength-building exercises they are doing.

Healthy high-calorie foods include granola, meats, tofu, fish, avocados, milk, beans, sweet potatoes, whole grains, and nuts. In general, the daily value (DV) for calories is 2000 calories per day, but people active with strength training or other exercises may want to consume more.

Below is a list of the top 10 high calorie foods ranked by common serving size, if you are looking to lose weight, see the list on unhealthy high calorie foods to avoid. If you are looking to gain weight, see the section on select meal portions for eating more calories, and the article on high calorie weight gain meal plans.

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A printable list of high-calorie foods for weight gain.

Tips for Gaining Weight

  • Add high calorie foods to existing dishes - Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit make a great addition to salads, rice dishes, pasta dishes, etc.
  • Add healthy fats and oils to existing dishes - Add olive oil, peanut oil, or safflower oil to as many foods as possible. For example, rice, other gains, pasta, salads etc.
  • Increase portion sizes - Create larger meals of calorie dense foods like rice, mashed potatoes, and pasta.
  • Drink Calories - Drinks are an easy way to intake calories on the go. Drink juice, soy milk, milk, smoothies, and other healthy high-calorie beverages.
  • Do Muscle Building (Anaerobic) Exercises - Muscle building exercises can increase appetite and also increase weight as your body builds muscle. This is especially true when combined with high protein foods like nuts, peanut butter, fish, or beans.
  • Track your progress and set goals - Setting goals and targets is important to any achievement. Set healthy weight gain targets each month. No more than 7lbs (~3.5kg) a month is reasonable.

Select Meal Portions for Eating More Calories

  • 1/2 Cup of Macadamia Nuts: 474 calories
  • 1/2 Cup of Almonds: 411 calories
  • 1 Glass of Grape Juice (16oz): 308 calories
  • 2 Whole Wheat Crackers with a 1 ounce slice of Cheese on each: 262 calories
  • 2 Whole Wheat Crackers with 1 tbsp of Peanut Butter on each: 224 calories
  • 1 Cup Brown Rice (Cooked): 218 calories
  • 1 Cup Brown Rice (Cooked) with 2 tbsp of Olive Oil: 466 calories
  • 1 Cup Oatmeal (Cooked): 166 calories
  • 1 Cup Oatmeal with 1/4 Cup Raisins and 1/4 Cup Almonds: 480 calories
  • 1 Square of Dark Chocolate (29g): 145 calories
  • 1/2 Cup of Dates: 208 calories
  • 1/2 Cup of Dried Apricots: 156 calories

About the Data

Data for the curated food lists comes from the USDA Food Data Central Repository.

You can check our data against the USDA by clicking the (Source) link at the bottom of each food listing.

Note: When checking data please be sure the serving sizes are the same. In the rare case you find any difference, please contact us and we will fix it right away.

About Nutrient Targets

Setting targets can provide a guide to healthy eating.

Some of the most popular targets include:
  • Daily Value (%DV) - The daily value (%DV) is a general guideline for consumption that will prevent deficiency of a particular nutrient in most people. The %DV refers to the percentage of an amount that\'s found in a single serving of a food. It also accounts for absorption factors. It is set by the U.S. FDA.
  • Recommended Dietary Allowance (%RDA) - The RDA sets an average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97.5%) healthy individuals. It\'s more specific than the daily value, and varies by age and gender. The RDA is set by the US National Institutes of Health.
  • Reference Dietary Intake (%RDI) -The reference dietary intake is similar to the recommended daily allowance, but is specific to age and gender. The RDI for amino acids is set by the U.N. World Health Organization.
  • Adequate Intake (%AI) - This value is primarily used in reference to omega-3 and omega-6 fats. The Adequate Intake is set by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. Because there is less evidence to determine the ideal targets for consumption of these nutrients, the specific amount is considered to be less reliable. Using the term Adequate Intake, rather than one of the other terms, helps to emphasize that the ideal intake of that particular nutrient has not yet been scientifically determined.

See the Guide to Recommended Daily Intakes for more information.

Want to set your own targets? Sign up for an account and set custom targets in the daily food log.

Use the ranking tool links below to select foods and create your own food list to share or print.


View more nutrients with the nutrient ranking tool, or see ratios with the nutrient ratio tool.

Data Sources and References

  1. U.S. Agricultural Research Service Food Data Central
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