meal one time every 1 to 2 weeks after good habits are in place. Use sticker charts for young children or fun activities for older children.
Good eating habits include good bowel movement habits. If your child has hard stools, you must fix that as you are trying to improve nutrition. Talk to the doctor for advice.Serve healthy foods:- Offer your child milk and shakes like Pediasure or Ensure Jr.
- Unlike adults, children need more fats and protein as they grow. Talk to your child's doctor to see when to switch your child to low-fat milk.
- Encourage your child to eat more fruits, vegetables, lean meat, and beans.
- Limit your child's juice and flavored drinks. Experts recommend NO juice or flavored drinks. If you must give your child juice or flavored drinks:
- 1 to 6 year old children should have no more than 4 to 6 ounces per day
- 7 to 18 year old children should have no more than 8 to 12 ounces per day
Encourage activity:- Exercise makes the body use energy more efficiently. It also limits grazing.
- Encourage your child to play outside instead of playing video games or on the computer. Limit screen time to 1 to 2 hours each day. This includes TV, cell phone, computer and video games.
- Get the whole family involved. Get everyone a pedometer to track how many steps you take in a day. Find fun activities that the whole family can do. Outdoor activities like walking, hiking, biking, and tennis are good for the whole family.
What will the results be?
By knowing and understanding BMI, you will be able to help your child keep a healthy weight for their age. This will help put off health problems in the future. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
Your childs body needs a balance of foods to: ‚
- Get quick energy. These are mainly carbs.
- Help grow and fix the body. These are mainly proteins.
- Give long-term energy. These are mainly fats.
What foods are good to eat?
- Grains are a good source of carbs and fiber. Try to give your child whole grain, high fiber foods each day. These are things like bread, cereals, brown rice, or pasta.
- Fruits and vegetables are good sources of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Try to pick a variety of kinds and colors. Buy them fresh or frozen, not processed or canned.
- Milk is a good source of protein and some vitamins and minerals. Most children trying to gain weight should choose milk that is higher in fat, like 2% or whole milk. Eating other dairy products such as cheese, yogurt, sour cream, butter, and ice cream are important, but portions should be monitored. Too much milk or dairy can promote hard stools, low iron anemia, or too much sugar.
- Meats and beans are good sources of protein, iron, and fiber. Give your child more meats like beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and fish. Eggs and peanut butter are good sources of protein as well. Dried peas, beans, and lentils are also good. Fatty fish, like salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, and trout, are good to eat and have healthy omega-3 fats.
- Good fats can give your child long-term energy. These are found in fish, nuts, and avocados. Try using olive oil, safflower oil, salad dressing, or trans fat free butter as a topping to add extra calories. Cook with olive, canola, or peanut oil instead of vegetable oil. Other healthy oils include corn, sunflower, and soybean oil.
What foods should be limited or avoided?
- Limit sweets such as candy, cookies, and cake. Stay away from sugary drinks like soda and juice.
- Limit fatty foods such as desserts, fried foods, and chips.
- Limit processed meats and most processed foods.
- Trans fats should avoided. Most trans fats are found in processed foods and are very unhealthy. Saturated fat, which is different from trans fat, should be monitored and limited if portions are too big.
- Limit eating out. This can promote unhealthy choices.
Will there be any other care needed?
- Teach your child about healthy foods. This will help your child make good choices when in school or with friends.
- Ask your childs doctor at each well visit about the choices you make for your child's nutrition.
- Your doctor may order special tests to check your child's nutritional status.
- Visit a registered dietician if you would like more personalized advice.
What problems could happen?
- Malnutrition
- Cholesterol problems
- Heart problems
- Kidney problems
- Teasing from peers
- Low mood
- Anxiety
- Bone problems
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Not gaining weight even with proper diet
- Losing weight
- Upset stomach and throwing up
- Tired and weak
- Low mood and less interest in daily activities
- Stools that are too hard or loose
Where can I learn more?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/childrens_bmi/about_childrens_bmi.html ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://www.kidshealth.org.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/contentpage/pi_id/170 ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/bmi_charts.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚