Dd 17 needs to gain weight. healthy protein laden snack ideas please

[QOD]

Got her to weigh herself today as she told me her friend told her that her mum ( my friend ) said she looks really skinny

She's 7st 2lb at 5ft 5 that makes her in the red and underweight on the nhs bmi checker

I feel guilty that I'd not noticed. She was about 8St 7lb last summer so has lost weight

We've cleaned up our diet at home this last 18 months. We now have fresh meat delivered, have a slow cook casserole twice a week, chicken breast and chips, a toast and then she has spag bol once or twice a week. Rarely do we have an unhealthy meal now so basically her calorie intake has dropped
she only drinks water
has 2 rolls (no marge ot butter) spread with mayo for lunch with cheese 8n one and ham and cheese in another

I'm 100% positive no bulemic or anorexic stuff going on. She eats a good size meal but rarely snacks these days as she worries about her skin

She's always bern that kid who doesn't finish a bag of maltesers

Tomorrow we are going shopping for healthy snacks

Smoothie to take to school
fruit juice cartons instead if just water (doesn't do fizz)
Pistachios are the only nuts she's tried

She doesn't want to eat cakes and choc aa will just get spots and fat tummy

.I've been very fat in the past. Always worried she might get fat as I "took the easy option" and had a gastric bypass
I'm so gutted I missed this and in case I've made her too worried about getting fat

[ivykaty44]

Perhaps excersise should be more on her radar, a bit can really help with studies as well. My own DD is at college and working so tends to squeeze in a gym session after work or college - depending how early she starts work ( sometimes 7am) but it really helps her state of mind and she likes to keep fit.

I certainly notice a difference in her eat though after a gym session.

[QOD]

She does no exercise! Long days at 6th form and lots of homework but we will get out and about when it warms up

[ivykaty44]

Can I ask what excersise does your DD do? It's that possibly concentrating that accepect of " I don't want a fat tummy" may help. It would also mean that she is naturally hungry.

My DD is same age and a bit taller and a few pounds heavier but she does go to the gym a couple of times a week - which makes her appetite increase by probably 20%

[ivykaty44]

Avacados are amazing for skin and are packed with a whole list of nutrients along with more potassium than banana. Lidl is a great place to get cheap avacados so she can have one per day.

They are lovely cut in half, twist and just scopp out with a grapefruit spoon. Or scoop the flesh out and spread on toast then a little black pepper and put a lightly poached egg on top - delicious.

[Gobbolino6]

Houmous or guacamole with wholegrain crackers /pitta bread or crudités. Full fat yogurt (Yeo Valley plain is nice with fruit). Pumpkin seed or almond butter. Almond butter is nice on a cut up apple.

[QOD]

Yes but keeps commenting that she doesn't want a fat tummy ...
her boyfriend is very small, taller and thinner, we seem to be giving him dinner 3 times a week lately and I'm giving him man sized dinners and she eats every morsel of hers when he's here. Plus brownies they baked etc
I think it'll be a keep my eye on the ball situation
she is going away on a school trip for 6 days soon so that'll be interesting as she started the weight loss when away with ncs as she wasn't keen on the food ...
will load her up with nuts etc

[Onykahonie]

Thanks for the update QOD.
Glad to hear she's managing to eat a little more. Is she feeling ok with the weight gain?

[QOD]

She's put on 3.5lb
we've added a benacol before breakfast, at least 1.smoothie a.day and I'm serving larger meals

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

I agree Higge, my DD has found it is all about watching what she eats. Unfortunately I don't think she's been very careful while she's at Uni.

[Higge]

i suffered with acid reflux for donkey's years - solution was to cut anything with ibroprofen like Nurofen and stay off wheat for a few weeks. Now I can eat bread again but when I feel the reflux coming back I reduce the bread and it disappears - I am not alone in finding this combination more effective than Rennie or Gaviscon.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Interestingly QOD, my DD has the same issues with reflux, and also IBS. I think it just puts them off eating to be honest: the pain and discomfort can be greater than the pleasure.

Hope your DD manages to put on a bit of weight though. Strangely my DD manages this best when she is also doing loads of exercise; it gives her an appetite she can't ignore.

[PitPatKitKat]

Oh, sorry to hear that QOD. I have similar due to hiatus hernia and have been prescribed same meds. Found cutting back on spicey foods, onions/garlic, fried/fatty foods and anything acidic like citrus fruit/pickles/tomatoes/pineapple really helped too. Now plan meals round potatoes/rice as a carbs, loads of veggies and lean meats.

[QOD]

Been today. She's on omsprasole for acid reflux type issues as she's had a nausea attached after eating spicey food and.super strength prescription vitamins
the blood test she has showed the remnants of a viral infection
the Dr agreed with me that she is to gain weight and wants a nice gain in the next month
quick chat about eating more and listening to mum
she's actually eaten loads today infront of me and her boyf
will.weigh her in a week or 2

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

I've just had my DD home from Uni, 5'5", slightly built and her weight has dropped to 8 stone 2. She doesn't have an ounce of fat on her and I am worried. Frankly if she were 7 stone 2 I'd be very worried. Your daughter will be well into the red zone. I think you should take her to the doctor.

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

Just another perspective - I was roughly that height and weight at 16/17yo. Nothing wrong with me, I was just really bloody skinny. Got out of the habit of eating, things to do. I think I'd just had a growth spurt or something, but quickly went back up to 8 stone soon after.

[QOD]

Dh lost 2 stone on our healthy diet change, I stayed same but we've both since put weoght on as went back to shitty snacks! - she hasnt though
I had a really bad yr health wise and gained about what she lost (typical ) .
she's just had bloods done that included iron levels and thyroid etc. We will discuss properly with gp tomorrow

She has actually been better about snacking since Sunday (I know I know early days) but has had a.smoothie and nuts.plus fruit juice and a benacol as well as her meals so she's listened to me
Will update tomorrow


I do worry that I've done this as I do have an over eating disorder (obviously as I had a gastric bypass) but I've discussed this with her now and explained the long term effect of over AND under eating
fingers crossed we've caught anything before it becomes a.problem

Tha ks

[BarbaraofSeville]

Something like wholegrain toast with the avocado or peanut butter? Dried fruit and full fat yogurt as snacks.

Some of the salmon/cheese/avocado suggestions, while healthy and delicious sound suspiciously like a low carb high fat diet, which may not help her gain.

So need healthy carbs in there too?

[HeadDreamer]

Oh and I love cheese of all sorts. Especially blue cheese. Buy a block and eat with crackers.

[HeadDreamer]

Are you sure she has no eating disorder?

I was always skinny but I'm from a family of skinny people. DD2 is at 0.4th centile, and I'm at BMI 19-20 after two babies.

Anyway, if you are sure there's no eating disorder, then all I can say is don't stress! I eat cake, chocolates, ice cream, etc. I think I don't eat much so I don't gain weight from it. I would say don't have the smoothies as it's just sugar. But if she likes it, then it's no harm. Otherwise, you've got great suggestions here with avocados, nut butters, hummus, nuts, fruit, dried fruit. But tbh, if you aren't struggling with weight, you tend to just eat whatever you fancy. So sometimes it's a box of £1 muffin from the supermarket, or a bag of cookies, or a sausage roll.

[canyou]

I bulk bake a crustless quiche in fairy cake tins and freeze to reheat and have on bagel or pitta.
In the freezer currently have spinach and salmon, chicken and roast veg, ham and cheese and some four cheese. Can you guess I clean out the fridge when I make them

[thenumberseven]

Avocados seasoned with a little salt, lemon juice and olive oil.
Oil packed Tuna or sardines on toast.
Tuna spread made by blending full fat cream cheese, tuna and mayonnaise
Season salads with olive oil and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.
Pasta dishes with protein(meat or tuna) and cheese
Milk shake made from milk, ice cream and banana
Potato omelette

[Tigerblue]

I appreciate you've had a change in diet, but have the rest of the family lost weight? If not, why have your DD is particular lost weight?

As others have said cheese, peanut butter maybe with a bagel or wrap all contain protein. If you like pasta, it's easy to add some parmesan cheese to spag bol or make a tomato & veggie based pasta dish and sprinkle with cheese before cooking, or even a cheesy tuna pasta bake. If she's having having rolls, you could add fruit or veggie sticks - not calories laden but extra and good for her. Will she drinks fruit juice or hot chocolate - they are healthy from the point of view they contain vitamins or protein and calcium. Maybe she could have something extra for breakfast, ie my DD has cereal and toast. It all adds up.

[misscph1973]

Be careful with things like "detailed food diaries", 17 is a sensitive age. Most of my friends at that age had some sort of eating disorder. Just saying.

[Lucked]

I agree with previous poster that I wouldn't focus on protein based snacks. Protein has fewer calories than fats and carbs and it is also filling so may curb her appetite.

I would increase carb portions at her three main meals.

I would start a detailed food diary to see where her calorie intake is at the moment.