Healthy kid-friendly & kid-approved...

ReginaMarie7
ReginaMarie7 Posts: 15 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Meal and snack ideas are desperately needed. My daughter just turned 4 years old and at her wellness appointment yesterday the doctor was concerned with her weight. She is only in the 60% range for her age and height. She has went from being in the 95% range as an infant, to the 75% range as a toddler, and now she is in the 60% range as a 4 year old. I really need some good, healthy ideas for her meals and snacks. I'm guessing something with protein and fiber would be awesome! Anyway, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Please do not send ideas that include cookies and other junk food. Just because she needs to gain a little weight doesn't mean I want it to be in the form of icecream and potato chips. My goal is to get her started eating healthy early rather than her having to work through it as an adult like myself.

Thank you so much for any ideas that you have!

Replies

  • momtokgo
    momtokgo Posts: 446 Member
    I have no snack ideas right now, but honestly 60% is not a huge deal, it's a perfect weight for a child. It's average.
  • amanda_ataraxia
    amanda_ataraxia Posts: 400 Member
    Was the doctor concerned?I know that 60% is a good percentile, but I do know that they also look at curves and what is normal for your child.
  • damorzacon
    damorzacon Posts: 124 Member
    I don't know that I'd worry too much about the percentage as long as she's healthy.

    But for snacks my boys love a bowl of apple sauce with peanut butter mixed into it...can't say myself how it is, but it must be good. lol

    1/2 a graham cracker with a little PB and banana slices is a favorite as well.
  • jlight54
    jlight54 Posts: 1
    String cheese, yogurt (not the sugary kids stuff), carrots and ranch dressing, apples and peanut butter just a few off the top of my head.
  • graelwyn
    graelwyn Posts: 1,340 Member
    rice cakes with peanut butter, yoghurt, oatmeal with some dried fruit or fresh fruit mixed in(and seeds if she can eat those), sugar free cereals, full fat milk and cheese, eggs are good too and you can get these no sugar added kids oat bars and the like.
  • lkm111
    lkm111 Posts: 629 Member
    My daughter loves hummus and whole wheat flat bread.
  • bulbadoof
    bulbadoof Posts: 1,058 Member
    Nuts are great high-calorie snacks full of protein and healthy fats. Justin's Nut Butter makes chocolate+nut and honey+nut spreads that are way healthier than things like Nutella, if she doesn't like them plain. Peanut butter and celery is also a classic.
  • jodycoady
    jodycoady Posts: 598 Member
    Meal and snack ideas are desperately needed. My daughter just turned 4 years old and at her wellness appointment yesterday the doctor was concerned with her weight. She is only in the 60% range for her age and height. She has went from being in the 95% range as an infant, to the 75% range as a toddler, and now she is in the 60% range as a 4 year old. I really need some good, healthy ideas for her meals and snacks. I'm guessing something with protein and fiber would be awesome! Anyway, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Please do not send ideas that include cookies and other junk food. Just because she needs to gain a little weight doesn't mean I want it to be in the form of icecream and potato chips. My goal is to get her started eating healthy early rather than her having to work through it as an adult like myself.

    Thank you so much for any ideas that you have!

    What about unsalted types of nuts...

    I'm not sure how healthy banana chips are.....Raisins....and of course, tons of fruit....and peanut butter...low sodium cheese....biobest yogurt....Please forgive me if I've listed something unhealthy -- I'm sure someone out there will set me straight!

    p.s. I don't feed my child Nutella!
  • KJanae87
    KJanae87 Posts: 54
    I personally wouldnt worry, my boy was 99% and above as an infant. Hes now 20 months and probably 65% in weight, but still 97% in height. He runs around like crazy and i can tell he eats when he is hungry.

    I try to give him high calorie foods, and try cooking foods with extra butter, adding butter to noodles and breads, or adding cheeses to foods, Cooking with half and half and giving kids condiments with foods (mayo, ketchup). And always give whole (vitamin d) milk and not lower fat milk. At this age fats are a great importance for brain developement!

    Ive been thinking about giving my son those pediasure sidekicks, bc he hardly stops running to eat but will drink a lot through the day.

    [edit to say] his pediatrician gave me these reccommendations for adding extra calories,
  • lyttlewon
    lyttlewon Posts: 1,118 Member
    My kids love these http://www.soveryblessed.com/2012/02/quinoa-pizza-bites.html
  • ReginaMarie7
    ReginaMarie7 Posts: 15 Member
    The doctor did mention a little concern for her weight. If he hadn't I wouldn't be so worried about it. I mean, she thrives mentally and physically so...
  • ishtar13
    ishtar13 Posts: 528 Member
    From the time my daughter was 3 months old, she's been below weight for her age on those charts. Like, below the lowest curve.

    They kept trying to have me put her on a "high calorie diet".

    She simply would not eat that much food.

    Turns out, she's just small.

    As long as she hit her milestone markers for development, I didn't worry much about it.

    She's now 16, eats like a pig, is only 4'11" tall and 95 lbs (also talented, strong and smart as a whip).

    She's still small. She'll always be small.

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