High Calorie Food

[waybuloony]

This is my first post so bear with me...

Last week I found out my 17 month old ds is teetering above the dreaded 'blue' zone on the growth chart so I feel like I need to try and boost his calorie intake.

The problem is he just never seems to have an appetite, often only eating 2-3 mouthfuls of a meal. He's got a real independent streak and loves the challenge of getting something on a fork so will eat fried mushrooms but wouldn't touch mashed potato for example. His favourite food is fruit so not particularly helpful for piling on the pounds.

Can anyone recommend any food/meal ideas so that the few mouthfuls he has are calorie-laden? In addition, I try to eat with him as I find this does mean he'll eat more but I could do with shifting a few pounds...oh the irony!

Any suggestions welcome.

Avocado is packed full of good fats

Cheese, butter, cream etc. can all be packed into conventional meals to pile on the calories

My top tip is to mix a good dollop of 10% fat greek yogurt into anything sweet or savoury he will eat.

If he likes fruit can you do fruity meat/chicken stews with rice or pasta, maybe, with lots of bigger bits for him to practice using his fork on?

Thanks for all the tips and the reassurance. Yes - he does have loads of energy and on the whole is a happy little chap. Plus his dad is tall and slim so chances are it's genetic...just not from my side of the family

Not tried avocado with him for a while so will give it a go again - maybe in a fruit smoothie with a spot of yoghurt or cream.

Plus love the idea of fruity meat dishes, with lots of carbs. I'd forgotten that carbs are a good source of cals...was just thinking along the lines of fatty/dairy options. So thanks for that.

Oily fish - nutritious but lots of calories

I would recommend avocado or banana for getting a lot of calories into a small amount of food - see these pages for banana calories and avocado calories.

I wouldn't worry but here are a few ideas.

Nut butters are v carolific, I used to give DD some on a spoon straight out the jar, cashew nut is delicious, almond a bit more savoury. Also coconut oil has a lot of calories, is solid at room temp so can spread it on toast (under cream cheese for even more fat )If you like easy baking, make some banana muffins, loaded with calories if you put in coconut oil, seeds which are also good fats, and porridge oats instead of some of the flour.

That reminds me, if he likes smoothie, try banana and apple juice with lots of seeds (soak overnight so breakdown easily), spoonful of Udo oil (a seed oil), superfood powders for other nutrition.

Or make raw chocolate, v easy: melt coconut oil, mix in raw chocolate powder and agave or maple syrup, and nuts, put in a tub to set, yum and healthy and lots of calories in a small amount.