Please use at your own "risk" this is what we did to help Tara through difficult times.

              

                 

               

 

From baby food to table foods Be consistent

• Ease into solid foods

• Mix textures (baby food mixed with slightly textured foods)

• coat textured foods with the baby food

• slowly take the coating away (1 bite with coating on 1 bite without coating on)

• increase number of bites without coating before giving 1 coated

• make dessert VERY desirable to be able to finish Breakfast/lunch/dinner don't give dessert before finishing meal

OR

• Ease into solids (these steps can take day (s) weeks or months)

• put solid on plate ( doesn't have to eat just leave on the plate)

• child touches solid with fingers

• child then picks up solid

• child then touches solid to mouth

• child then takes tiny bite

• child then has to swallow bite

• then add 1 piece at a time to the desired amount

 

Drinking from a straw

• Put favorite liquid in straw place finger over 1 end so the fluid stays in straw

• Child closes lips around straw

• When child opens mouth close lips and lets straw in mouth then let fluids out slowly

• then use a squeeze bottle to squeeze fluids into mouth

• Then encourage child to suck in order to get reward of liquid

• then after child gets that down then move to thicker consistency like pudding

•  Child should then be able to suck out of straw

 

Weight Gaining Ideas

• Carnation Instant breakfast (1 envelope) to cereal, milk, formula (anything liquid especially water to add calories)

• Peanut butter (if you know your child is NOT allergic to peanuts)

• Cheeses (if not lactose intolerant

• Tofu (never tried looks gross to us)

• Yogurt (not low fat)

• Dry milk powder can be added to anything

• Fortified Milk

• Evaporated Milk

• An Additional 500 Calories per day to your intake will encourage an approximate 1 pound weight gain per week.

• Make it an Automatic response, Every time you prepare food think of something you can add to make it just a little more nutritious.

• Make every bite a 2 for 1 proposition- you have to eat only half as much this way. (Example: toast with Jelly and butter)

• If you eat more, increase your servings, even if only 1 or 2 more bites.

• Plan to eat 3 meals a day plus in between snacks

• Limit intake of calorie free beverages such as coffee and Tea or add cream and or sugar when possible

• Keep non-Perishable food items such as crackers, hard candy, nuts and juices handy by your favorite chair, bedside, etc

• Increasing Calories

• Incorporate more high fat foods in your diet. At 9 calories per gram, including more high fat foods will offer you the greatest number of calories in the smallest amount of food.

• Whipped Cream - Approximately 75 calories per tablespoon. Add to puddings, custards, pies, cake, fruit, hot chocolate cereal etc.

• Sour Cream (Tara's favorite) - Approximately 75 calories per round tablespoon. Use extra on meat fruit vetables, pasta, rice, in dips, as a garnish in soups, on baked potato.

• Butter or margarine - At 45 calories per generous teaspoon. Use extra on bread or toast add to soups, vegetables, pasta, rice, hot cereals.

• Mayonnaise At 100 Callories per tablespoon, Add to deviled eggs, salads, sandwiches, sauces, garnish for fresh fruits and vegetables or molded salads.

• Oil - Use oil in cooking to add flavor and calories. Specialty oils such as olive oil, peanut oil, and sesame oil add interesting flavors to foods.

• Gravy or cream sauce - Provides approximately 50 Calories per tablespoon. Use on foods to add flavor and moistness as well as calories. Add cheese to cream sauce for additional protein.

• Salad dressing - Use generously on fresh salads, Has approximately 75 Calories per tablespoon.

• High Calorie Ready made Items

• Brownies

• Cheesecake

• Danish Pastries

• Health food mixes (dried fruits nuts and seeds)

• Granola

• Nuts

• Peanut butter

• soft cheeses and cheese spreads

• chips and dip (sour cream or other flavors)

•  Candy bars

• Super rich Ice Cream

• Canned or refrigerated fruit drinks

• Frozen Entrees (Mac n cheese, meat and noodle dishes)

• Ready to eat puddings, custards, or Tapioca

• Chunky soups, canned stews, Chili, Hash

• Frozen Desserts, Ice Cream bars

• Pizza

• Fast foods (Double burgers/shakes)

• Reuben sandwich

• Yogurt with fruit

• Canned soups with MILK instead of water