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Make
mealtimes easier for both kids and parents
To make mealtimes easier and
maximize the chances that your child will eat, you can:
- avoid trying to force or bribe
your child to eat. Turning meals into a power struggle
usually doesn't help and may make your child more resistant to
eating.
- Have a schedule for meals and
snacks, which should include 3 meals and 2-3 snacks each day
of high calorie foods with lots of nutrients (see below).
- Allow your child to feed
himself, especially finger foods, as much as possible.
- Only offer liquids, especially
juice, after the meal.
- Avoid large amounts of juices,
sodas, or water. Offer milk or formula, which have more
calories and protein, instead.
A Pediatric nutritionist can also
suggest ways that you can provide your child with more calories by
offering high calorie foods that are high in protein with lots
of nutrients, especially since he will need additional
calories to help him catch-up with his growth, including
(disclaimer: only use these suggestions for increasing the
calories that you are giving your child under the guidance of your
Pediatrician or a Pediatric nutritionist):
- avoid junk foods, such as
candy, which may have calories, but are usually low in
protein.
- for younger children, under
the direction of your Pediatrician or a nutritionist, your
infant's formula can be concentrated to provide more
than the regular 20 calories/ounce.
- for older children, over 12
months of age, instead of milk, you can offer Pediasure,
which has 30 calories/ounce (vs 20 calories/ounce for whole
milk) 2-3 times a day.
- or mix whole milk with a
packet of instant breakfast powder (adds 130 calories)
or dry milk powder (adds 33 calories per tablespoon) to
increase calories.
- when baking and cooking,
substitute whole milk, half and half, evaporated milk or
condensed milk mixed with dry milk powder for water or milk.
- for high calorie snacks, offer
milk shakes made with a cup of whole milk, a
packet of instant breakfast powder and a cup of ice cream
blended together (can provide over 400 calories).
- pudding can also
provide a lot of calories if you add 1/2 cup of dry milk
powder to the milk and instant pudding mix.
- add cheese as a topping
for sandwiches, vegetables, etc.
- use peanut butter
(about 100 calories/tablespoon) as a snack and as a topping
for vegetables, crackers, and fruits or blended with milk, ice
cream or yogurt
- make a high calorie fruit
snack using fruits canned in heavy syrup, add sugar or
yogurt to fresh fruit or add a packet of instant breakfast
powder to strained fruits.
- make high calorie jello
by substituting fruit juice for water in its preparation
- serve meats and breads with
added butter, margarine, gravy or sauces
- serve fried foods, such
as fish and chicken and add breading or flour before cooking
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