Uh oh, I'm losing, but so is my special needs child

alphastarz

Need ideas of what type of foods any of you can suggest for helping an underweight ADHD/ASD/lactose intolerant child gain weight while not derailing my attempts to lose weight. Stocking the pantry with junk food (chips, soda, oven french fries) like we were accustomed to appease him before is too tempting for me in my own fight against obesity, and cooking double so he doesn't pitch a fit about the healthier foods we are trying is overwhelming. To be specific, he is underweight and Losing currently, enough that Dr. Is worried about the trend.

williammuney

Kids clif bars do it for my kids

JeromeBarry1

Find his TDEE and feed him above it. It can be healthy, nutritious food. It doesn't have to be industrial junk because that would be unfair to you.

Oishii

My eldest is a fruitaholic which helps. Does he have any favourite healthy foods? Also, if you buy things really for him, you may be able to resist it better.

MelaniaTrump

Could you handle having smucker's peanut butter around the house?
... I know it's hard. I cook double. Only way.
Ensure drinks have 350 calories, and kids say it taste good (In case it's really bad). Not sure lactose content.
Could you buy fast food for him only from time to time?
For ADD I've read fish oil could help.

RodaRose

Did the doc have some suggestions?
Probably you can make similar foods for yourself that you make for him: fries for him; baked fries for yourself.

Oishii

Does he like peanut butter? That can be a good way to add calories. Avocado? Butter? Oils? I have petit, slender boys and I worry too. My 2 year old eats far worse than my eldest though.

2011rocket3touring

Oishii wrote: »

Does he like peanut butter? That can be a good way to add calories. Avocado? Butter? Oils?

This. Food nutritionally sound but high in calories.

capaul42

I also second the peanut butter. My daughter (ASD) loves it. Still trying to convince her to try it on Apple slices but it'll come eventually.
And I know it'd be high cal for you, but mashed potatoes is always a hit. I make them 2-3x a week. I just have smaller portions and load up on extra veggies as well

Owlfan88

When my younger son was a toddler, he was very underweight and I added heavy cream and cream of coconut (I think that's what it was) to anything I reasonably could. I also got some sort of pediasure type drink that wasn't milk based. Sort of more like high calorie juice/koolaid. I thought it would be more appealing in the heat of summer. I can't remember the name but he seemed to like it well enough and it was something like 250-300 calories per juice box. In his case I had to make every bit or sip count because he wouldn't eat in any quantity. Good luck! I remember how frustrating it was and I wasn't trying to watch my own weight then, but I noticed that all the focus on calories and how the little one was eating was making my 5 year old notice and pay more attention than I thought was healthy.

alphastarz

He's already eating peanut butter sandwiches daily, I'll try doubling since heaven forbid he does eat them. He throws away large portions of dinner (casseroles, meat and potatoes, vegetables) and teacher reports he's throwing away the crackers and fruit cups that were being packed in his lunch. We saw the psych today which sees and weighs him more frequently than developmental pediatrician... His initial suggestions of things like ensure or carnation breakfast don't work because the lactose intolerance, he punted to the Dev ped for follow up on his diet which we have to wait to get an appointment. He will try to steal sausage... I mean like he'll want to eat 20+ links in one sitting with no moderation. But I'm not sure letting him go that unchecked with sausage is a good idea? He doesn't seem to be able to feel or realize he's hungry or full, he just eats or refuses based on if he likes the food.

alphastarz

No butter (lactose)

alphastarz

williammuney wrote: »

Kids clif bars do it for my kids

I'm totally going to see if he might go for these. He does like granola bars with chocolate, but can't normally give since the chocolate/lactose issue. And he rather starve than eat the raisin ones.

alphastarz

Owlfan88 wrote: »

When my younger son was a toddler, he was very underweight and I added heavy cream and cream of coconut (I think that's what it was) to anything I reasonably could. I also got some sort of pediasure type drink that wasn't milk based. Sort of more like high calorie juice/koolaid. I thought it would be more appealing in the heat of summer. I can't remember the name but he seemed to like it well enough and it was something like 250-300 calories per juice box. In his case I had to make every bit or sip count because he wouldn't eat in any quantity. Good luck! I remember how frustrating it was and I wasn't trying to watch my own weight then, but I noticed that all the focus on calories and how the little one was eating was making my 5 year old notice and pay more attention than I thought was healthy.

Cream of coconut?! Oh I will have to try a smoothy recipe with this as a sub and see if he will tolerate. Also apparently need to head back to the pediasure aisle at a larger grocer and recheck labels, I didn't initially see any that were dairy free or a high calorie juice version at the first place I looked.

RodaRose

alphastarz wrote: »

He's already eating peanut butter sandwiches daily, I'll try doubling since heaven forbid he does eat them. He throws away large portions of dinner (casseroles, meat and potatoes, vegetables) and teacher reports he's throwing away the crackers and fruit cups that were being packed in his lunch. We saw the psych today which sees and weighs him more frequently than developmental pediatrician... His initial suggestions of things like ensure or carnation breakfast don't work because the lactose intolerance, he punted to the Dev ped for follow up on his diet which we have to wait to get an appointment. He will try to steal sausage... I mean like he'll want to eat 20+ links in one sitting with no moderation. But I'm not sure letting him go that unchecked with sausage is a good idea? He doesn't seem to be able to feel or realize he's hungry or full, he just eats or refuses based on if he likes the food.

If the child is underweight and likes sausages, give him sausages.

synchkat

My child will only eat chicken. but lives aero bars and peanut butter cups. his doc was worried he was losing weight, I'm sure the mis weighed him but I always have a supply if aeros or Pb cups on hand. If he wants them for breakfast why not. If he wants nuggets for breakfast sure. We are regulars at McDonald's because it's lots of calories...I get a salad.

soccerkon26

Peanut butter and banana sandwiches?

lorrpb

Why is it overwhelming to cook a little larger portion for him? If you cook large batches, you will have leftovers for a few days, or something to freeze, so it will be less stressful in the long run. A supplement like Pediasure could add calories and nutrition, if the doctor approves of it.

fluorescentdark

As someone on the autism spectrum I can attest that it was hard for me as a child (and now) to tell if I'm full or hungry so that might be something to watch out for with letting him gorge on sausage, though letting him eat a lot of it and other foods he likes, up to a point shouldn't hurt.

I was at the other end of the scale as a child and thinking back, it would have helped me to have food explained to me in depth because it's never been intuitive that you need a certain number of calories to grow and they should be from nutritionally dense foods and if you go over a certain amount then it can make you fat. But it depends on the reasoning abilities of the child. If there's a way to make eating enough part of his routine or if he has the ability to track things/is mathematically inclined then having him track his calorie intake could be helpful. But that's just coming from my own experiences and all autistics obviously have different strengths/weaknesses/interests.

Along the same track, trying new foods is hard for most people on the spectrum. An idea, if he does well with charts/lists, is making a chart or list of foods he hasn't tried and going through it with him over time might be helpful for finding more things that he enjoys, I try to try one new food a month as an adult and most of the time I don't like them but sometimes I do. Trying foods that are similar to ones he will already eat small portions of might be a good way to go, or even trying things cooked different ways (or not cooked if he does better with raw vegetables).

I hope my suggestions were at least a little bit helpful.

adoette

alphastarz wrote: »

Owlfan88 wrote: »

When my younger son was a toddler, he was very underweight and I added heavy cream and cream of coconut (I think that's what it was) to anything I reasonably could. I also got some sort of pediasure type drink that wasn't milk based. Sort of more like high calorie juice/koolaid. I thought it would be more appealing in the heat of summer. I can't remember the name but he seemed to like it well enough and it was something like 250-300 calories per juice box. In his case I had to make every bit or sip count because he wouldn't eat in any quantity. Good luck! I remember how frustrating it was and I wasn't trying to watch my own weight then, but I noticed that all the focus on calories and how the little one was eating was making my 5 year old notice and pay more attention than I thought was healthy.

Cream of coconut?! Oh I will have to try a smoothy recipe with this as a sub and see if he will tolerate. Also apparently need to head back to the pediasure aisle at a larger grocer and recheck labels, I didn't initially see any that were dairy free or a high calorie juice version at the first place I looked.

Try asking YOUR doctor. We run into this from time to time with our little old people (I work in ICU). They come in with failure to thrive and anorexia (not anorexia nervosa) and we have to supplement them. But they frequently don't do well on the the lactose heavy supplements because they cause... lets just call it fast bowel syndrome. The food has to stay in there long enough for the nutrients to be digested.

Most of the stuff we use is actually perscription, but a talk with a doctor who handles geriatric cases as well as regular family practice, or maybe even a pharmacist at a large drug store might help you to find a lactose free gainer type drink.

IIRC, they make some that are basically super fortified orange juice. Might see if you could find something like that.

skinnyforhi

Can you give him high calorie nutritional supplement shakes between meals? They typically sell that at drugstores and supermarkets. They are tasty enough, but I doubt you'd reach for that to satisfy any type of craving. I suspect they could be blended up with a banana or peanut butter.