Does your child happen to be malnourished or too thin for his age? Your child may be underweight even after you feed him properly. What your child eats matter. We have gathered some weight gaining foods that will not ensure healthy growth, development and proper weight gain.
Here are eight weight gain foods for your toddlers that can put on some fat on his bones:
- Milk and Cream
Milk is a rich source of carbohydrates and protein along with other nutrients. Giving your child at least 2 glasses of milk a day is important. If he is fussy about drinking milk, you can always give him in the form of smoothies, cereals and milk shakes. You can even add fresh cream made of whole milk to your child’s salad or cereal.
- Bananas
Bananas are not only a good source of energy but they are also full of calories (about 105 calories). They contain essential carbohydrates that help to fill up your kid with some healthy fat. What makes bananas a great option is that they are quiet versatile when it comes to serving them. You can add them to puddings, cream and even milk shakes. Your kid is not going to give you a tough time in eating it.
- Nut Butters
Nut butters like almond butter and peanut butter are a rich source of proteins and fats which can help your little one put on some weight. This gives you a reason to purchase that jar of peanut butter and add it to sandwiches and even shakes.
- Eggs
It is no secret that eggs are a rich source of protein. 100g of eggs consist of 13g or protein. They are also full of vitamin B12 and vitamin A which are important for development and growth of your little ones. You can incorporate eggs to your kid’s diet in a variety of ways. Having an egg a day will keep all the supplementary vitamins away.
- Lean Red Meat
Lean red meat like beef steak or lamb or packed with fat and iron. Your toddler needs both for healthy growth and development. You need to add this to your kid’s diet in one way or the other. Avoid processed and cured meats as they may contain food preservatives and additives. Stick to fresh cuts.
- Potatoes
If you are trying to help your kid gain weight, then his diet should include a minimum of carbohydrates and what can be better than potatoes in that regard. Potatoes are packed with amino acids like glutamine and arginine which makes them a healthy food for toddlers and babies. Kids are usually lovers of potatoes. You can give them in the form of mashed potatoes, fries of baked potatoes.
- Dairy Butter
Butter is actually one of the richest sources of fat. That makes it great for kids who are too slim. Don’t give him excess of butter but it is always good to give them in moderation. Do not add heaps of butter to everything your kid eats like oat meal or boiled veggies. Make sure you buy reputed butter brands.
- Chicken
We all know protein is a building unit of muscle. What can be better than chicken for your underweight kids and toddlers! It is affordable compared to other types of meat and is easily available everywhere. You can give it to your child in a variety of ways. You can add chicken to stews, soups, rice, curry, mashed potatoes, salad and much more.