Adding Extra Calories

Anyone have any ideas on ways to add extra calories to my toddlers diet. I've gotten some great idea on here before and am looking for more. I've been adding heavy cream and butter to foods.

Does anyone have any high calorie alternatives to puffs or cheerios? Jack would eat these all day long if i let him, but they are so low in calories that he may as well be eating nothing.

Re: Adding Extra Calories

you want to add "good fats" i would think:

avocado
nuts - almonds, cashews
oil - canola, olive, peanut
peanut butter - old fashioned would be best
fish - salmon


what about making some oatmeal cookies with nuts & raisins?

or fish sticks? thick pieces of salmon, coated in panko and baked until nice and crispy?

Re: Adding Extra Calories

Try the yogurt cheerios, I think they have more calories than the regular ones.

Also, give him more yogurt.

You can also do high cal/high fat fruits like avocadoes and bananas.

Re: Adding Extra Calories

I know the intuition is to add fat, but I would actually try adding a little sugar to things like full fat yogurt. it may increase his appetite, talk to your ped. Ours says babies gain weight on cereal and sugar, not fat.

Re: Adding Extra Calories

Thanks for the ideas. I give him most of the foods suggested, but he just will not eat a lot of them. A few bites and he's done. I even tried cooking cheerios in a little olive oil but the consistency got weird and I was afraid he would choke. I'll look up the calorie info on the yogurt covered ones.

Re: Adding Extra Calories

we do a no sugar added carnation instant breakfast, though a pedisure would also do the trick.

Re: Adding Extra Calories

I get the greek yogurt from trader joes. Its like DOUBLE the fat of regular full fat yogurt. Mic in a little honey and cinnamon and she loves it.

My ped reccomended making or buying ghee and adding that to her food. Ghee is clarified butter used in Indian cooking (when my ped is from). Nice way to add calories and a healthier alternative. Have you tried cutting little pieces of cheese for him to nibble on? Alexa loves to eat shelled sunflower seeds, hazelnuts, pecans etc. I break them up and she chomps away.

Dried fruit

I make full fat smoothies with yogurt, whole milk and honey

every once in a while for desert I make fresh whipped cream (not form the can, make it yourself) and drizzle some honey and cinamon on top for dessert.

I make full fat custard for her and rice pudding or tapioca all with whole milk and a little cream.

I also found that she doesn't like to sit down and eat meals. SHe literally eats ALL DAY LONG. A slice of cheese broken up, a small handfull of nuts etc. I have little "stations" set up in the playroom and around teh house with food ( I have to put the dogs away) and she likes to grab bites in between playing. THis is the best way for me to get her to eat the most calories.