Child Care Nutritional Articles

 

underweight

Is your child or toddler underweight? Some children are naturally slight yet achieve all the major milestones. If you are concerned at all check with your GP first and if your child is underweight, then work together to find the cause.

Children are NOT little adults and due to the demands of growth, they need high nutrient energy foods. They also have smaller stomachs so they need to eat smaller quantities more often.

High fibre diets are bulky and filling whilst low fat foods provide only a small amount of energy. If children consume either of these foods they will find it difficult to achieve their energy needs.

there may be a variety of reasons while your child is underweight

  • too much fluid and not enough food
  • high energy requirements
  • persistent feeding problems - fussy eating
  • learned food aversions
  • lack of positive food experiences
  • exaggerated parental health concerns
  • limited attention span at mealtimes

is your child drinking too much fluid?

Try to avoid letting your child fill up on fluids before meals. Fluid can cause a sensation of fullness reducing the child’s desire to eat their meal.


some children have high energy requirements

Children who are very active will need extra energy and carbohydrate. The thought of eating a big quantity of food may be off putting for them, so try increasing the energy value of their food by using energy dense drinks after meals such as:

  • diluted fruit juice (remember: one part fruit juice to ten parts water)
  • milk/milkshakes
  • fruit smoothies

 

children who are picky and fussy eaters

Sometimes children are underweight because they are fussy eaters. To help you both get through this difficult stage:

  • prepare them for a meal – give them five minutes notice to finish the game, wash their hands, etc
  • make them concentrate on the meal – turn the television off, set the table, all sit down together if you can.
  • start with small serves.
  • serve a ‘new’ food with a food your child already likes.
  • new foods may be rejected at first but try again in another week.
  • give enough time to eat – but remove after 20 minutes.
  • offer the new food again (if appropriate) if they come to you hungry after the meal has ended.

to energise the food an underweight toddler is getting try:

  • white bread not wholemeal – by reducing the fibre content your child may not feel so full and will eat an extra slice.
  • toast slice white bread – a thicker slice means more energy.
  • different types of white bread bakery items – English muffins, crumpets, pitas, bagels, pikelets, scones and muffins.
  • adding high energy toppings to bread – pate, peanut butter, cheese, mayonnaise or avocado.
  • a less fibrous breakfast cereal - the child may increase the portion eaten if it’s not too filling (fruit filled mini-wheats rather than a plain, bran cereal; a toasted muesli rather than a 'lite' cereal).
  • egg dishes for breakfast which can add protein and energy.
  • mashing potato with homogenised blue milk and adding cheese or making stuffed potato with ham, corn and cheese – this enriches the value when compared to plain boiled potatoes.
  • grill/baste food with a mono-unsaturated oil – oven wedges baked with olive oil and then served with a cream cheese dip.
  • using cheese sauce over steamed vegetables – this adds extra protein and calcium as well as energy.
  • make soups with milk instead of water ‘cream of soups’ – leek and potato, pumpkin, etc.
  • including a milk-based pudding after dinner – custard with fruit, creamed rice with tinned fruit or instant pudding with banana.

snack suggestions for an underweight child

Snacks are very important ways to top-up a child who may find it difficult to eat enough at meal times.

high energy snacks could include:

  • a smoothie made with fruit and homogenised blue milk
  • a white flour muffin with banana
  • white bread cases filled with creamed corn and melted cheese
  • salami on crackers
  • pikelets with jam
  • pinwheel scones
  • frozen yoghurt
  • milky milo
  • popcorn
  • mini pizzas

 

(The above article was prepared by - Nikki Hart, NZ Registered Dietitian)

 

Further Child Care Nutritional Articles

breakfast

calcium for toddlers

fluid

fruit vegetable

iron-rich meal plan

juice debate

obesity

salt intake

snack foods

three year old meal plan

underweight