The struggle can be very real for the health-conscious athlete who is trying to gain weight in a safe and effective manner.   Most of our athletes lead incredibly busy lifestyles, leaving virtually zero time to think about optimal sports nutrition and cook elaborate, calorically dense meals each day.

On top of that, many of the weight gain shakes on the market are filled with fake ingredients galore!   It is not unusual for an athlete to come into my office in a panic after suddenly discovering he or she experiences gastrointestinal upset from casein (the milk protein most notable for weight gain),  headaches, bloating, and feelings of lethargy from various other unknown ingredients found in that expensive tub of weight gain powder. This is no surprise considering many of the “gainer” shakes advertised to athletes barely even contain any form of real food.

It is also not uncommon for an athlete to say, “Listen, just tell me exactly what to eat for my meals, snacks, and shakes to gain weight!”

We hear you. No problem, here is our Ultimate Guide for Weight Gain.

As for the rest of you, keep reading to learn our best weight gain tips and tricks as well as our fan-favorite weight gain shake recipes!

A Great Weight Gain Shake Should Meet the Following Criteria:

1. Ingredients you can actually recognize/pronounce. (Not an issue if you make your own shake!)
2. 20-30 g of protein per serving ( Smaller amounts of protein consumed more frequently throughout the day is better for digestion and absorption vs. one large load).
3.  A 3-4:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio ( This may vary depending on sport and dietary intake each day)
4.  NSF Certified for Sport certification (This pertains to any powders or additional supplements you are adding to your shake).

Now for the fun part. I’m going to introduce you to a functional sports nutrition approach to making weight gain shakes that not only aim to increase muscle mass, but will make sure they enhance recovery, reduce inflammation and fight soreness as well.  A functional approach steps beyond simply looking at calories, protein, carbohydrates, fat, etc. and considers the effect foods may have  your body in a variety of ways (i.e. up-regulating or down-regulating genes, causing inflammation, stabilizing blood sugar, etc. )   Here are five weight gain shakes that contain real food, anti-inflammatory ingredients, and the perfect macronutrient ratio:

(Usual disclaimer: FWDfuel Sports Nutrition is a participant in the Emerson Wellevate Associates program as well as the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.)

FWDFUEL PRO TIP:  Some of you are going to prefer a thick and creamy shake while others will only drink more of a thin smoothie. Feel free to test the waters a bit and experiment with different portions of the ingredients until your tastebuds are happy. Chia, flax, nut butters and banana will thicken a shake whereas any type of liquid or fresh fruit will thin a shake. As long as you don’t make dramatic changes in portion size to every single ingredient, the calorie content and macronutrient ratio of the shake will still allow you to achieve your goals if consumed on a consistent basis.  

If you’d like even more weight gain shake recipes, a grocery guide, and a meal plan with snacks that accompany the shakes, check out our Ultimate Weight Gain Guide. 

Best NSF Certified for Sport protein powders to add to these shakes:

Don’t forget to read the label of your shake in order to figure out how many scoops you need to achieve a 20-30g protein serving! Keep in mind that the shakes listed above naturally contain about 10g of protein, so adding a 15g protein scoop of your favorite powder gives you that perfect 25g scoop of protein, allowing for a 3-4:1 carb to protein ratio.  

We recommend the following NSF Certified for Sport powders:

• SFH Pure Grass Fed Whey Protein
• Garden of Life Sport Certified Grass Fed Whey
• Vital Protein Collagen Peptides
• Garden of Life Sport- Organic Plant Based Performance Protein

FYI the Vital Protein Collagen Peptides is perfect for the athlete that often cannot stand the texture or “chalky flavor” of traditional protein powders. Collagen protein is so easy to mix that many clients even blend it in their coffee in the morning without even noticing it. We can promise that it will blend better than just about any protein powder on the market.

The SFH whey protein is one of our favorite tasting grass fed offerings and the Garden of Life Sport Grass Fed Whey is a great grass fed offering that also includes BCAAs, glutamine, and probiotics. The final option is the plant-based version of the Garden of Life Sport which is great for all athletes to mix in their routine in addition to being a staple for those who are vegan.

If you’re looking for more flavors such as a mocha, churro, or bourbon vanilla, check out our post on Best Grass Fed Whey Protein Powders for other tasty and amazingly healthy options.  

A few other tidbits to keep in mind:

• Creatine can be a great addition to the shakes listed. All I ask is that you: a) choose a brand that is pure in terms of ingredients and also NSF Certified for Sport. My favorite is Klean Athlete – Klean Creatine Mention Work with your sports dietitian to figure out the best dosage and timing for your specific training needs c) Stay hydrated and eat well throughout the day to avoid any potential side effects. Although research tells us that high-quality creatine is safe for athletes above the age of 18, you still need to be smart about dosage and your hydration/fueling strategy throughout the day.

• The goal of 3-4:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio can be confusing to many coaches and athletes. Think of it as a basic math equation. If you know that your shake should contain 20-30g of protein, this means that the carbohydrate content should fall somewhere around 60-90 grams/serving.

• Even if you are someone who struggles to gain weight, this does not mean you should consume one massive 1,000 calorie shake each day.  Instead, consume a shake like the ones listed above 2-3 times throughout the day.  Try having one right after morning practice and another 1-2 hours before bed each night.  Remember, a “gainer” shake is not meant to be used as a miraculous potion to cure your inability to gain weight but more as a calorie supplement to your daily food intake.

• Last but not least, if for whatever reason you do not feel well after certain meals when trying to gain weight, it would be worth it to keep a food journal to track symptoms and possibly even consider an elimination diet for a brief period of time to ensure that you are choosing the right foods for your body.

So there we have it folks, your cliff notes guide to weight gain and 5 new, whole-food shakes to get the job done in the safest and most effective way!   If you are looking for more extensive guidance regarding weight gain, check out our Ultimate Weight Gain Guide and our 1 on 1 virtual coaching packages. Everything you need to succeed is here with FWDFuel. Our guides and coaches will help by providing you with shake and meal recipes, tips and tricks for success, supplement suggestions, a grocery guide, meal plan, and consultations. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about protein and weight gain shakes.