How to Increase Appetite

If you're underweight or you need to maintain your muscle mass during an illness, increasing your appetite is necessary. Some people find it difficult to eat if they're not hungry. When you need to consume more calories, try some simple techniques to increase your desire for food.

Instructions

1

Take a walk. If a poor appetite is caused by depression, a stroll outside can raise your spirits.

2

Add cinnamon to your food. Cinnamon stimulates your appetite naturally. Add a little to your cocoa or combine it with a little sugar and sprinkle it over buttered toast for a tasty treat. Other spices that increase appetite are ginger, peppermint and anise.

3

Talk to your doctor about an alternative medication if your prescription is the cause of your lowered appetite.

4

Reduce your fiber intake. Eating fiber makes you feel full which is great when you're trying to lose weight but when you need to increase your appetite, eating less fiber leaves more room in your stomach for high calorie foods.

5

Drink a small glass of fruit juice half an hour before your meal. The sugar in fruit juice causes a spike, followed by a decline in your blood sugar that triggers your appetite.

6

Eat just before you go to bed. Consuming food at night increases the release of insulin and stimulates your appetite. However, doing this every night will also increase your metabolism. Try eating late at night only once every 3 to 4 days.

7

Use artificial sweeteners to increase your appetite. Some researchers think these sweeteners might cause your insulin level to spike, increasing your appetite.

8

Try eating a little more food than you actually want at each meal. As your stomach stretches, your appetite will increase accordingly.