What is your main goal? Are you trying to put some major size on or just a few lbs. Are you training for a specific sport? Or are you trying to get buffed for the babes? Those meal replacement packages don't have a whole lotta more calories then your basic protiens bar. Depending on your metabolism and how your body processes the meals you consume plays a big role in whether, you will gain weight or not. It's my experience with a very fast metabolism that eating "clean" is an impossibility, if i want to make any serious gains in weight. I think this whole eating clean thing is taken way to serious especially during a bulking phase. Bring a small cooler with a couple of cups milk, weight gainer powder in a zip-lock and one of those shaker bottles to mix it all together.Like i wrote above thats 1200 cals. and is a fast meal. Or you can use just whey protien w/milk but also add a 1/2-1 cup of raw oatmeal for even more cals. Here is a break down of cals. for the Whey shake. whey powder 120 cals., 21g pro., 4g carb., 1 cup whole milk 150 cals. 8g pro., 12g carbs., 1/2 cup dry oatmeal 150 cals., 5g pro., 27g carbs. add fruit or jellies for flavor?? I scoop of whey is $.50,, oatmeal is nickels and dimes, and milk is $.20. So for under a dollar a serving you get 450 calories, 34grams of protien and 44grams of carbs. Hard boiled eggs are also very quick and for me i eat the yolks lotta calories there. For me if i want to gain weight, eating clean is the last thing on my mind. I consume what i have stated above, eat frozen custard, greasy cheeseburgers, pizza. Basicly high caloric foods for serving. I also get my share of fruits and veggies as well. Save the eating clean for post cycle when your getting your system back in balance or pre contest dieting. My first cycle in the spring of this year I went from 141lbs. to 168lbs. in 2.5 months, and with my metabolism it was a very lean 168. That is the blessing to a fast metabolism, the curse is how many calories i have to consume to get there plus maintain it. Some here may totally disagree with my stratigies,, but i'm 34 and have worked with weights most of my life, i know what works for "this" body.Through alot of trial and error. Fruits are fine pre-workout but are a carb source which is burned very fast. I wouldn't use them to replace a meal. Peanut butter sandwitches would help.When i'm training/bulking i'm eating for that factor, taste/preferance are never considered. Its all about the nutrients i can get nto this body. Good luck friend, gaining weight is hard work and takes dedication. Some nites i wakeup in the middle of the nite go downstairs and get yet another rotien shake in me, or maybe some cottage cheese. Sorry so long winded its just that i know how hard it can be to put those extra lbs on, just trying to help. Clint