To ask for tips on child’s weight

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My 9 year old DD has been underweight all her life. She had severe reflux as a baby, sensory food issues as a toddler and recurrent tonsillitis as a child. We had her tonsils removed 2 years ago which helped but she has struggled to gain weight. Having her home for 3 meals a day since March has meant I can ensure she eats 3 proper meals (I’m not sure she was eating lunch in school despite reassurances from her teachers). Finally today she has reached 3rd centile and is finally “normal”.

I’m so pleased but really concerned about her losing weight (and this impacts her ability to run, jump, etc.. she gets tired so easily) when she goes back to school. She says she enjoys school dinners but I’m not sure she eats them. She doesn’t like sandwiches or yoghurt. I struggle with ideas for packed lunches that she will eat.

Anyone have any new ideas for things a reasonably easy going kid would eat for lunch that are quick, easy and calorie dense?

My dd also struggles with weight. Get calories in when u can. Make drinks count with calories smoothies, fruit juices etc. Add butter or oil or cheese to food if you can. Buy full fat options. You can get build up shakes but these are vile. Try not to make a thing of it in front of her and get her involved in what you buy and meal prep

What types of foods does she really enjoy? And what types and textures etc are a big no go?

Would upping her meal size help?

What have you been giving her during lockdown? Can this be turned into a packed lunch?

She prefers hot food. Home made sausage rolls are a hit but I don’t think I can send one every day. Lunch today was sausage, baked potato and peas. She will ONLY drink water. School baked potatoes are “lumpy and grey” apparently.
Her favourites are sausage, burgers, bolognese, carbonara, beef pie, steak. She’ll eat rice, potatoes, pasta. Most root veg are fine, sweetcorn, peas, baked beans etc.. basically I’ve been making 2 cooked meals a day.

The obvious answer is school hot dinners but she’s always complained that they are small, don’t taste right, have gravy (gravy is a no-go). I’ve not had school dinners for years. Are they that bad? Certainly they don’t have butter for their baked potatoes!!

My dd is similar. We use thermos 'funtainers' to keep food warm for lunch and she takes pasta with cheese sauce and veggies, spaghetti bolognese, pasta bake, meatballs, soups made with cream etc. Then add full fat yoghurts, banana and custard, creme caramel etc for pud. She has smoothies, mini bottles of milk for drinks. I make sure she has porridge with full fat milk or scrambled eggs with cheese on toast for breakfast. Then we make sure she has a decent snack of something like peanut butter on apple slices or cheese and crackers when she gets in and a good dinner. She still has a cup of milk before bed too.

Is she just in school, or do you need wraparound care?
My (skinny) child used to have 2 breakfasts, lunch, tea at nursery, then a full dinner at home, and often a bowl of porridge before bed.
Could you work it to give a pretty substantial snack between breakfast and school, and another one when she gets home. And/or something before bed? Then the contents of lunch, or amount consumed, becomes less of an issue?

Will school let her take a wideknecked thermos flask? Then she could have a hot dinner.

You may need to up the food intake again when school starts. My kids are eating significantly less during lockdown because they are much less active.

Will she eat wraps or bagels? Flatbreads instead of sandwiches.
How about a pasta salad? I know she prefers hot food but I’m just thinking of alternatives.

What about snacks? Healthy but filling! Flapjacks are good, peanut butter on rice cakes or crackers and cheese?

Full fat yogurts, rice pudding, custard,
Does she drink milkshakes?

A thermos food flask is a really great way of sending her in with pasta bolognese, sausages or even a baked potato if it’s small...

Maybe a pasta salad in her lunchbox made with full fat mayo, chicken and bacon?

I know you said she only drinks water but would she have a hot chocolate before bed...with a piece of homemade sponge cake?

Surely by the age of 9 she'd be able to tell you what she will and won't eat from a packed lunch? She's old enough to have some input, rather than you blindly guessing.