I need DS9 to bulk up!

[FusionChefGeoff]

Having watched DS9 play both cricket and rugby recently I've realised just how tiny he is compared to his team mates. He's pretty good at both sports but currently is definitely on the back foot due to his size. He was born at 37 weeks and has always been very slim but eats really well - I don't know where he puts it!!

What can I try to bulk him up a bit???

He has porridge made with full fat milk and we add ground nuts and syrup.

Lunch is hot school dinners.

Sometimes takes malt loaf or sugar snap peas as snack, sometimes doesn't want one / comes back uneaten.

After school snack toast or fruit - definitely mileage for something better here I think

Dinner - normal stuff but with generous use of olive oil / fatty meat / butter. No pudding as standard but sometimes has Greek yog with granola and honey.

I've just got him into cashews so am shoving those in front of his nose as often as I can.

He's not a big fan of cheese but I try to add a handful of grated to wraps / pasta etc.

He doesn't like cream but I can get away with squirty cream but I don't like the sugar content.

Doesn't like bananas - so ideas for how to make nice but low sugar smoothies would be appreciated as I think this could be one Avenue.

Is there anything I'm missing??

He doesn't need bulking up.

9yos are supposed to be skinny.

My DS was playing a cricket match aged about 12 and a mum from the other team
turned to me and asked "Why is your DS so short?" I mean how do you answer that? He'd always been the shortest and thinnest in his class. I didn't point out the 5ft 2inch man standing next to us was his grandfather. Anyway, he's now 5ft 11inches tall, and I didn't do anything other than feed him family meals and send him out to play sport. (He did get puppy fat aged 10, which is when we upped the sport- luckily DS really enjoyed it)

If he has plenty of energy he's probably healthy. End of.

@ftw163532

Is there anything I'm missing??

A reality check.

This!

My son has played rugby from the age of 5 he’s now 21, rugby players come in all shapes and sizes (even the professionals). You are being completely unreasonable to think he needs to bulk up, as long as he has a healthy diet his body will change as he grows.

Once he hits puberty he will bulk up like the Incredible Hulk. My skinny Ds grew bone and muscle so fast he got stretch marks.

He is a child.

You really need to stop trying to make him eat stuff he doesn’t like, like cream.

Calm down, back off, and just provide a good healthy diet with plenty of all food groups.

You are going to cause all kinds of body any diet issues onto him if you keep this up.
Just be happy that he is an active, happy nine year old and try keeping your warped ideas of how someone else's body should look to yourself

Feeding him all those fatty foods will not do him any good.

It sounds like you are adding extra oil/ butter to his meals? Please stop trying to shove fat into him that he doesn't need, it's very unhealthy and his body won't be able to process it.

Why are you worried about the sugar content in squirty cream but not about all of the fat you are trying to feed him?

I’ve never read such nonsense OP.

Please don't force your own insecurities onto your son. 9 year olds are supposed to be skinny, he will bulk out with age.

Incidentally mine plays rugby and loves it despite being one of the lightest on the pitch. Admittedly he’ll probably never be a 2nd row but I don’t think he’s want to be either, the backs have much more fun!!

Honestly I know how easy it is to get drawn into such thoughts. My DS2 is 11 and short and a swimmer if he were taller he would do much better. But he is what he is.

I dont see how bulk will help at all in cricket? My DS1 plays cricket and is as skinny as can be, doesnt harm him at all. He used to play rugby as well and was a back/winger so didn't really need bulk just fast legs.

He is 9 and you shouldn't be doing anything other than feeding him a balanced diet.

Woah been busy with work and just read first few responses.

Not sure I'm going to read the rest as it suggests it's gone down a route that might not be that productive!

I didn't mean I want him to be fatter or that I'm going in about it in his earshot - I'm just after some general nutritional advice on good food for hungry / energetic kids.

Blimey!

Another thread that I think was maybe missing the word 'light hearted' in the title as I assumed people could sense the tone but obviously not.

Ignore all the posts taking the spirit the wrong way @FusionChefGeoff, it was obvious what you were asking. But it sounds like his diet is fine. Just keep offering the same stuff and maybe gradually increase portion sizes if he is actually underweight, if this is his natural weight he might not want to eat more though. Does he like avocado or nut butter? Both of those can be put in smoothies, maybe not together though…

Oh avocado is a good one I'd written off as he's not keen on it in its normal form but I'd never considered adding it to a smoothie / as an ingredient. Thanks

Fruit isn’t very filling or high calorie.

I would do snacks of peanut butter sandwiches with carrot / cucumber sticks if he is hungry.

When adult want to bulk up they increase protein and do muscle building exercises rather than the fats and sugars you have in your OP.

As a 9 year old child excessive protein is not appropriate and neither is certain exercises while their growth plates are still open. Feed him healthy, keep him exercising, but otherwise he will just be the slim shape he is until puberty hits and he'll broaden out a bit then.

What are his weight and height looking like on his centile chart? Unless he’s actually underweight, in which case he needs to see a dr and paediatric dietician, then there is no need to change his diet surely? Encourage healthy regular meals and snacks and try and discourage too much junk food/empty calories (this gets much harder once they’re at high school and buying their own lunches etc!) and he’ll bulk up when his body’s ready to.