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While many children naturally gain enough weight as they grow, underweight children may need some help.
You might think that gaining weight should be easy for your child.
Just do all the things that experts recommend you don't do when you're worried about being overweight.
However, things are often not that simple, and it is important to gain weight in a healthy way.
On the one hand, just trying to overeat or eat whatever you want to gain weight isn't necessarily healthy.
In addition, children with difficulty gaining weight often have a poor appetite, so they may not eat much at first.
Healthy weight gain
Although many parents believe that their children are not eating as well as they would like, this may not be a real problem unless they are actually gaining weight badly.
Note that there is a difference between being thin and underweight.
If your child is thin and eats a lot of junk food, encourage them to eat healthy and give them a multivitamin if you think they are missing important nutrients.
Studies have shown that children who have difficulty gaining weight, such as those with limited diets, are more likely to adversely affect their nutrition, growth, physical activity, and overall health.
Before making major changes to your child's diet, it's important to check with your child's pediatrician and find out if these changes are recommended.
Children who really need help gaining weight may include those who are underweight, picky eaters, those with chronic medical conditions, who may need special diets, and those who take medications that may affect their appetite.
Weight gain can be a challenge for some children who take stimulants to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
These medicines usually reduce appetite and reduce your child's appetite. Adjusting the dose or changing the medication can help.
Whatever the cause, some general recommendations for healthy weight gain include not skipping meals and eating four to five small meals a day instead of trying to eat three large meals, as your child may not eat all of their food.
Additionally, healthy snacks are encouraged to be eaten once or twice a day on a regular basis.
Avoid low-nutrient, high-energy foods, such as non-calorie junk food, including candy, chips, and soft drinks. Eat high-nutrient, high-energy foods that are high in calories but also contain vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, such as whole milk, yogurt made from whole milk, and peanut butter.
Avoid low- or no-energy beverages, such as diet soda and juice drinks, as they fill your stomach but don't provide too many calories or nutrients.
Also, limit the amount of alcohol you drink at meals so your child doesn't get too full and doesn't want to eat enough food.
Most importantly, encourage your child to eat when they are most hungry and if they are not hungry at a certain time of the day, at least eat something instead of skipping meals altogether.
Consult a registered dietitian for extra help, especially if your child has malabsorption or a chronic medical condition that causes them to be underweight.
Wholesome food
In general, while you want your child who needs help gaining weight to eat high-calorie foods, these foods should be high-nutrient or nutrient-dense, energy-dense healthy foods, not low-nutrient foods.
Therefore, you need foods that contain a lot of protein, fat, and other nutrients in small packages, such as:
1) Cereal with whole milk.
2) Cheese or yogurt made with whole milk or 2% milk.
3) Fried eggs.
4) Orange juice. 5) Peanut butter.
6) Mix dried fruits, seeds, and nuts.
7) Whole milk or 2% milk.
You can also make a list of foods that your child really enjoys eating and then try to find more nutrient-dense and energy-dense versions of those foods.
This should include fruits and vegetables and a variety of foods in all food groups.
Supplements
While nutrition experts don't usually recommend giving supplements to children to help them gain weight, they can often help them replenish the extra calories in their diet, such as adding the following nutrient-dense foods to some other foods:
Avocado. Cheese.
Honey. Ready-to-eat breakfast combo.
Margarine. Mayonnaise.
Peanut butter. Dried milk.
Mayonnaise. Sour cream.
Wheat germ. For example, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk powder to 240 ml of whole milk (150 calories) can add an additional 30 to 60 calories to a child's glass of milk.
Alternatively, you can add a packet of meal replacement powder to a glass of whole milk and then add another 130 calories to that cup of milk, for a total of 280 calories.
You can also use milk or milk powder instead of water in some recipes, such as when making pudding or oatmeal.
Alternatively, you can add a serving of cheese to some of your child's favorite foods to add about 60 calories.
Even a banana can be added to the calories by adding a tablespoon of peanut butter, giving your child an extra 100 calories while eating this snack.
Summary
Keep in mind that many of these weight gain tips are often not necessary for young toddlers who eat only one meal a day.
At this age, this is developmentally normal, as many toddlers and some preschoolers may only eat one good meal a day, and they will only choose other meals.
This toddler diet is usually normal as long as your child does not drink too much milk and juice and gains good weight.
Older children should eat more regularly.
Talk to your pediatrician to see if your child is healthy and if any dietary intervention is needed.