Healthyish food for teens who need to put weight on.

[Wbeezer]

Looking for snack and treat ideas for my young adult DS's who have low BMIs for various reasons (naturally slim build plus appetite suppressing meds).
Anyone have good ideas that don't include too much refined sugar, saturated fats, etc. (or should I not worry about that if they are skinny?)
Protein and healthy fat would be good but can't afford too much expensive meat.
Willing to bake.
Don't want all the of them cooking different meals in the kitchen but they could manage the odd shake or smoothy without getting in my way.
One of them won't eat cheese, two won't eat butter and none will touch avocado.
Suggestions for bought snacks / drinks also helpful.

Think hidden calories, the kind that you'd try to cut out if you want to lose weight: Plenty of olive oil on salads, brush pizza crusts with oil before baking, extra marinades on things, cream and croutons on soup, glass of OJ with their cereal for breakfast, banana and peanut butter smoothies, full fat milk, lasagne, almonds/cashews, eggs, gradually increase pasta with dinner.
Does their appetite vary over the day? Can try and work with that. Teens often like toast

@Kinsters they need to put weight on as they are on stimulant medication for ADHD and are loosing weight, if they get any thinner they could have their meds stopped, which, if previous experience is anything to go by, will mean crashing and burning academically (and at other life goals). They are all naturally slim like DH was at that age but DS1 in particular is a lot skinnier than he used to be.

Oh and roast potatoes

And yes DS1 is tired. He is over 18 so I try not to interfere but have been monitoring the situation, he's now approached me asking for help to put weight on.

Mine is 14 and skinny as a rake. I don't really think about fats or sugars tbh as his meals are balanced but I do try and get calories into him.

His breakfast this morning for example is a bagel filled with hot breaded chicken fillets, drizzled with Mayo and a small bowl of cashew nuts with some fruit. Straightaway that's 800 calories

We have cheese and crackers, peanut butter, honey roasted nuts, chicken and salad wraps etc available most times. Plus the usual crisps and chocolate.

And definitely add olive oil where you can

But really, your best bet here is going to be nuts and chocolate. Would they eat chocolate covered nuts or chocolate covered dried fruit? That's full of calories.

What do they actually like to eat, OP?

Fruit cake
Jacket potato
Stewed fruit
Baked beans on toast
Baked apples and ham
Egg
Fruit salad creamy
Quiche
Pies

I struggled to put weight on despite eating like a pig, chocolate, crisps, McDonalds, Greggs etc. I went to my G.P who told me to eat trifles….

The only thing that helped me was exercise, things like body pump, body blast, basically using weights (not to get bulging muscles) to work out. I went from 7.5 stone to 9 stone, I’m 5ft 5. I also ate lots of greens, pasta, rice, eggs and chicken at the time. (I’m vegetarian now.)

I would also add that if you have a fast metabolism or what have you then eating a load of junk food will not make you put weight on IMO. It also creates health issues and unhealthy eating habits in later life. I could’ve had intravenous fat and still looked like a rake!

I have an underweight 16 yo dd, and it's really really hard getting her to eat the right food (there's no ED, just naturally very slim and fussy about food). Her periods haven't even started and she's been advised by her Psychiatrist and the GP to attempt to put weight on. Easier said than done and she IS on board with it. I find the erratic schedule of a teen is really not conducive to them putting on weight. Sleeps late, isn't hungry til middle of the afternoon etc. I 2nd the ideas of using smoothies, and dd will make herself these often. I've recently bought her chocolate Complan and she put extra stuff in like peanut butter etc but it could be full fat greek yoghurt if your son doesn't like nut butter. Ice cream is a good call too! I'm glad to pick that tip up! Dd has also recently got a job at a thai restaurant and gets fed before and after her shift which is great.

Bagels with chocolate spread and strawberries is another favourite. Pasta with a creamy sauce and garlic bread.

Tbh I'm giving up on the "healthy eating" schtick for now. All teens eat shite anyway. If my child needs to put weight on, she can eat whatever it takes. Her psychiatrist basically said the same thing (dd has ASD and also fussy). Healthier eating will return as they get older and it sounds like they grew up with you providing a balanced diet, it would be different it they'd never had that. Good luck!

I would focus on the fact it's more unhealthy for a child to be underweight than it is for them to eat unhealthy food. If they need to gain weight then high fat food isn't really unhealthy it does the job.

Just made a big carton of chocolate milk to leave in the fridge with added coconut cream as i had some left from a curry. Also making them lattes at breakfast.
@Balaur you are right, schedule slippage is an issue, they effectively end up on two meals a day + snacks. Hyperfocus on what they are doing means they don't stop to eat often enough either, unless I provide room service!