Toddler diet - not enough fat

[AnneLovesGilbert]

DD2 has had a funny tummy for a couple of weeks and not been herself for a few days so I had a call with the GP today. He said it sounds like Toddler’s Diarrhoea and I need to change her diet. Since this started I’ve cut out fibre but he thinks she might be short on fat. She’s my only and I feel like a bit of a dick if I’ve been on the wrong track so could really use some advice.

We’re veggie and she’s always been a good eater but she’s not keen on eggs so she eats loads of pulses.

Typical day:

Porridge - oats and full fat milk

Fruit - banana, easy peeler, apple etc or Greek yogurt

Daal and brown rice/veg lasagne/veg soup with wholemeal bread/homemade pizza/wholemeal pasta and homemade tomato sauce/toad in the hole with veg sausages/lentil burgers with homemade wedges

Crackers and cream cheese/piece of fruit/hummus and veg sticks/dried fruit/piece of toast

Supper is something else from the lunch list

So I need to cut out pulses, wholemeal carbs and veg. I’ll switch to white rice and pasta and up potatoes. She won’t eat eggs like omelette or eggs on toast.

She’s been miserable without the stuff she likes the last week and not impressed by plain rice or pasta and eating way less than normal. I’m stuck on what to give her beyond stuff on toast and plain carbs.

I need her to stop pooing 10 times a day!

If cows milk if fine surely full fat yogurt and cheese should up the fat easily? Instead of Greek yogurt maybe look at some higher fat fruit ones?

www.swft.nhs.uk/application/files/2414/7626/8750/Dietary_Management_of_Toddler_Diarrhoea.pdf

I put cream on my toddlers porridge once it's cooked and my own . Might be another way to up your fats slightly.

I always add eggs to stir fried (white rice) and I find that they sort of ‘disappear’ in the dish, so it might be worth sneaking some eggs in that way? Or making a carbonara style sauce for spaghetti?
I also do a breakfast burrito which hides the eggs quite well.

Don’t beat yourself up about this. At 3 my youngest pretty much ate only baked beans, cheesy pasta and hummus.

Wanted to update as people were so kind and helpful. We’re on day 4 of much more normal poos and my sanity has returned.

It is counter intuitive as others have said but I’ve explained what changes we need to make for now and she’s been really good about it. Breakfast is stuff like an avo, piece of white homemade bread and a bowl of full fat Greek yogurt, more cheese in things, pancakes, waffles with melted butter in, more peanut butter, ice cream etc. Only fruit and veg is mushrooms, cucumber, apples and the odd banana, carrots if in a veggie mince. I made ginger biscuits and she hammered them. She’s got her appetite back. Trying to keep an eye on sugar but fat definitely up and she’s gone no more than 3 times a day, nearly all in the loo (odd slight accident but very nearly made it) and the mad urgency has gone.

Everyone much happier.

So grateful for all the advice.

Thanks so much for the update - people hardly do that you know !

Glad that DD is doing better and you are both much happier.

Do you think that maybe the dairy is causing digestive problems? It does for loads of people. They’ll be fine with out!

I add a couple of spoons of fat to all of dad's food, either olive oil, butter or ghee.

I also use super high fat milk (gold top or jersey) and yogurt (eg collectives)