Healthy tips to gain weight for kids

[chellt]

We had to see a nutritionist with my son at the request of his GI. One of the things the nutritionist suggested at first was the carnation instant breakfast and whole milk to get some weight on him. Once we got him closer to where we wanted him, she had me back off on the carnation instant breakfast (but not the whole milk). She said the Carnation Instant Breakfast is like lead in their bellies so while it can help them gain weight, it also keeps them from feeling hungry and eating when they should.

We started making lots of smoothies with yogurt and cottage cheese, all sorts of nut butters and things like that. He LOVES smoothies and I know I can get the nutrients in them he needs and he'll drink it. He loves hummus with carrots, celery with cream cheese or nut butters. I cook a lot with coconut oil.

Hope everything goes okay with the other appts.

Would you mind sharing some of your smoothie ideas? That would be most helpful!

 

[turkeymama]

Would you mind sharing some of your smoothie ideas? That would be most helpful!

Yes! It would be helpful. I bought a blender today so I can try my hand at some smoothies.

 

[kkandaj]

DH and I make a protein shake every morning for breakfast. A frozen banana, 1 cup milk and 1tbsp of sunflower seed butter. You can use whole milk and the recipe calls for 2 tbsp of the peanut butter or substitute butter, I just don't like it that "strong."

DS was almost failure to thrive as a baby because of his food allergies. Nutritionist suggested adding olive oil to everything because you really can't taste it. You can even put it in the smoothies. Lots of food allergy moms hide good fatty oils in foods. Avocados were another suggestion and we fed them to DS for every meal.

Like previous posters, I would wait until you see the specialists before I make too many changes. You don't want to mask any potential symptoms. Good luck to you!

 

[FireDancer]

Oh, I was thinking you were not eating for an entire day!

Here is what I would tell you to do with regards to weight gain.

Get yourself a food scale and BOTH of you do a "food diary" for a whole 2 weeks.

Write down everything you eat and drink. (I know it is a pain, but it is something that is invaluable with regards to calories, vitamins, overall nutrition.)

The food scale is wonderful for "showing you" how many calories you are eating. This is a tool that is very enlightening for weight loss or weight gain for that matter. I have the "Biggest Loser" scale.

At the end of each day calculate the calories.

After the 2 weeks you will notice patterns, how many calories you are eating, proteins, etc...This is when you can begin "diet tweaking" and adjust portions or add a serving of something to round out a snack or meal if necessary.

I have used "My Fitness Pal" to calculate my stuff in the past.

This is just generally good advice for anyone. I do pretty much all of that and I'm neither trying to gain or lose weight, I'm right where I want to be. Along with reading labels it helps to know not only exactly what but how much of everything you are putting into your body.

 

[shortbun]

Try the Almond Breeze unsweetened and make shakes/smoothies out of it. Peanut butter, healthy carbs-baked potatoes, Sweet potato fries, apples, bananas and peanut butter. Consult a pediatric dietician. I think the Carnation Breakfast might be a bad idea but I haven't looked at their nutrient content for many years.

 

[tink20]

We went to the cardiologist (who was awesome) and everything was fine! We aren't going to the other doctor, I though he was a orthopedic, but he is a surgeon, and the cardio said the only reason he would need surgery is for cosmetic reasons the pectus evac. isn't causing any functional problems.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We went to the cardiologist (who was awesome) and everything was fine! We aren't going to the other doctor, I though he was a orthopedic, but he is a surgeon, and the cardio said the only reason he would need surgery is for cosmetic reasons the pectus evac. isn't causing any functional problems.

Oh good to hear!!!!

 

[turkeymama]

We went to the cardiologist (who was awesome) and everything was fine! We aren't going to the other doctor, I though he was a orthopedic, but he is a surgeon, and the cardio said the only reason he would need surgery is for cosmetic reasons the pectus evac. isn't causing any functional problems.

My son also has the pectus problem and also mild scoliosis. They actually put DS in a brace that he is supposed to wear 24/7. This is not to treat the scoliosis in any way. It is only to correct the chest bone. The pediatrician and surgeon both told us it could get significantly worse over time if we don't treat it. The brace is torture for DS as he has many sensory issues along with some dermatological issues. I'm now wondering if we should have sought a second opinion. He is also very thin (so is DD, and DH and I both were thin as kids).

Glad to see the cardiologist appt went well.

 

[tink20]

My son also has the pectus problem and also mild scoliosis. They actually put DS in a brace that he is supposed to wear 24/7. This is not to treat the scoliosis in any way. It is only to correct the chest bone. The pediatrician and surgeon both told us it could get significantly worse over time if we don't treat it. The brace is torture for DS as he has many sensory issues along with some dermatological issues. I'm now wondering if we should have sought a second opinion. He is also very thin (so is DD, and DH and I both were thin as kids).

Glad to see the cardiologist appt went well.

Has the brace made a difference at all? She didn't even mention the brace. I would keep the other apt. with the surgeon, but I just don't feel like having him try to pressure me into surgery and making me feel bad, because I am not going to do it.

The doctor we saw was a pediatric cardiologist and she was so easy to talk to. Her son sees the same pediatrician that my son sees and her son also had the pectus problem. She said they have not done anything for it, and it doesn't give him any problems. Her son is 16. Her advice to me was to just wait, because I told her that I had no desire for my son to have chest surgery unless it is needed. She said as long as its not pressing on the heart or lungs, then its just a cosmetic problem.

Hope things get better for your son.

 

[turkeymama]

Has the brace made a difference at all? She didn't even mention the brace. I would keep the other apt. with the surgeon, but I just don't feel like having him try to pressure me into surgery and making me feel bad, because I am not going to do it.

The doctor we saw was a pediatric cardiologist and she was so easy to talk to. Her son sees the same pediatrician that my son sees and her son also had the pectus problem. She said they have not done anything for it, and it doesn't give him any problems. Her son is 16. Her advice to me was to just wait, because I told her that I had no desire for my son to have chest surgery unless it is needed. She said as long as its not pressing on the heart or lungs, then its just a cosmetic problem.

Hope things get better for your son.

He hasn't worn it consistently enough for it to have made a difference yet. If anything, we think the brace has made it worse. When I mentioned that concern to the surgeon, he said, "well if that happens we can do surgery." Sheesh, that's what we wanted to avoid with the brace.
They just told me it could get worse when he hits puberty. They did X-rays to rule out any problems and to make sure it wasn't pressing on his heart. In light of the problems DS has had wearing the brace, I may talk to the pediatrician about more of a wait-and-see approach.

Edit: I don't blame you for holding off on visiting the surgeon. More than likely, he would pressure you into a brace before surgery, although, I'm sure surgery would be at least mentioned.

 

[wander74]

Would you mind sharing some of your smoothie ideas? That would be most helpful!

Definitely. Am heading to bed in a few but I'll post tomorrow.

 

[wander74]

PB Banana Smoothie
-1/3 banana
-1-2 tbs PB (or other nut butter)
-1 c. milk
-ice
-will sometimes add choc. instant bkfst mix or choc pudding mix

Strawberry Cheesecake
-1 c. milk
-1-2 tbs cream cheese
-strawberries (we use frozen)
-ice

Pineapple Coconut Shake
-1 c. coconut milk
-pineapples
-ice

Orange smoothie
-1 cup milk
-mandarin orange cup
-yogurt or cottage cheese
-ice