Underweight newbie.

Hi . Nut are a good source of protein . And have good fats in them . Butter is also OK to eat and baby bell cheeses is carb free
Clive

1. Eat frequently. You may find that you feel full after eating very little food. If this is the case, eating the standard three meals a day may cause you to not eat enough at these meals. Instead of trying to eat three large meals a day, break those meals up, eating more frequently.

Eat five to six meals a day, instead of the three or two usual meals.
Add toppings and extras to your food for a caloric boost.
Eat as much as you can when you do.

2. Eat foods that are nutrient-rich. Try to eat foods that contain high levels of nutrients to ensure that you are still receiving enough nutrition. Simply eating more food to gain weight won't guarantee that you stay healthy. Try to eat some of the following foods to get the right amount of nutrition.

Grains, pasta and breads should be whole grain. Avoid processed versions of these.
Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, dairy, nuts, seeds, and lean meats.
You may want to try shakes or smoothies.
As always, monitor your diet to provide appropriate levels of sugars.

3. Avoid drinking any liquids before a meal. Some people may find that drinking a beverage of any type before a meal can spoil their appetite. Drinking a beverage may lead you to feel full, before you have actually eaten any food. Avoid this by not drinking anything at least half an hour before a meal.

If you do want something to drink before a meal, make sure it's something that has nutrients and calories.

4. Eat the right snacks. If you enjoy snacks throughout the day, between meals, make sure they offer a great nutritional value. Gaining weight will require an increase in caloric intake and health requires proper nutrition. Try some of the following foods to make sure you get both calories and nutrients in your snacks:

Nuts
Cheese
Peanut butter
Avocados
Dried fruits

5. Eat the right kind of carbohydrates. Increasing the amount of carbohydrate levels can be a great way to add weight and provide energy to the body. However, diabetics should be aware that carbohydrates can affect blood glucose levels. Try eating the following foods to add carbohydrates without causing dangerous levels of glucose.

Whole grains.
Beans.
Milk.
Yogurt.

@tvlicencenumber I think you will find that most if not all whole grains & beans will increase blood sugar levels .. Also Dried fruits ... What kind of diabetes do you have ? The original poster is T2

Edited to add .. Are you eating enough fat .. Butter, cream, nuts, olive oil and coconut oil are good .. Also are you getting enough protein.. If your not vegetarian then eating meat with the fat still on will also be good. There is no need to increase your blood sugar levels by eating high carbs ..

Hi. Are you diagnosed as aT2? If so, it could be that you are actually a Late onset T1? The signs are being slim at diagnosis and possibly having lost weight shortly before diagnosis. This mis-diagnosis is fairly common. Whatever you do food-wise, keep the carbs down. Have enough proteins and fats to help you feel full. Have enough veg to give you fibre and nutrients. If you are a Late onset T1 then you will need suitable meds so keep an eye on the blood sugar and discuss actions with the GP and come back here if needed.

Unfortunately, there's no way to cheat when it comes to gaining healthy weight (muscle). Even testosterone(steroids) by itself will not increase lean mass (muscle). In the end, you have to get in the gym and focus on increasing your maximum strength: that's achieved through heavy weights and low repetitions.

Non-diabetics have the luxury of "bulking" (the process of gaining muscle) however they want. Diabetics, and especially type 2 diabetics have to focus on their carb intake. A "clean bulk" is a lower process, but it limits the amount of fat you'll put on with the muscle. A "dirty bulk" basically involved eating mass amounts of food. It's a faster way to build muscle, but it will likely come at the expense of fat gain and blood sugar issues.

Long story short, I would talk to your doctor about doing a "clean bulk." The idea is to maintain a 500-1000 calorie SURPLUS (eat more than you burn), focus on keeping your protein high, managing (but not cutting out) carbs, and lifting heavy weights 3-5 times a week

EDIT- there are some people that suggest you can gain muscle with a minimal carb intake. I'm not discounting their opinion, but these diets are incredibly complex and require a significant amount of discipline and dedication.

As a type 2 skinny I try to keep my weight up.by eating cheese and nuts as snacks ,adding cream to soups I can manage half a slice of high protein roll with lots of cheese toasted or plenty of butter to make a sandwich or scrambled eggs with cream Full fat yoghurt with berries is a good dessert and a couple of squares of very dark choc is a good treat now and then
CAROL