High Calorie Foods for Toddler

Archived Q&A and Reviews

2001

Our daughter's endocinologist has recommended that we start her on a calorie supplement. She is 20 months old. We have tried a liquid supplement but she finds it too sweet and refuses it. Can anyone recommend a non flavoured supplement in powder form? We have tried GNC but they only stock a vitamin supplement for kids. Also any ideas for high calorie foods with nutritional value would also be greatly appreciated. So far we have come up with: Cliff bars, peanuts, ice cream milk shakes. Vivienne

avocado is a fabulous high calorie food! Lyla

As an alternative to ice cream milk shakes, may I suggest whole milk yogurt fruit shakes? If you really want to increase the calories and nutritional value, you could boost with some protein powder or brewer's yeast (both available at health stores). Things like coconut milk are also highly caloric and flavorful. Kristina

My toddler loves avacado, which contain potassium, folic acid, vitamin E and fiber, in addition to a substantial number of calories. Karen

I can't help you find supplements, but an easy-to-prepare food that my (picky) daughter requests often is Peanut Butter Play Dough. Mix approximately equal amounts of creamy peanut butter and powdered milk together; sweeten with honey to taste. Aim for a dough-like consistency, so that it can be squished, rolled, and stamped into cookie shapes if she's into playing as well as eating. Sorry to be so vague about the proportions, but it's a forgiving recipe -- and full of protein, calcium, fat, and toddler appeal. Best of luck getting your daughter's weight up. Jennifer

High calorie foods! My favorite topic! But seriously, if your toddler isn't fond of too sweet, you might try these things my toddler likes: Hummus (on whole wheat pita) Whole wheat pasta with plenty of pesto Full fat cream cheese (on an egg bagel)- they come in plenty of flavors at Noah's Almond, cashew, or peanut butter (My guy will eat these with a spoon out of the jar if you let him!) Homemade oven fries- I have the most excellent recipe! Cheese cubes- my guy likes cheddar best- string cheese is actually lower in fat and calories. You could also try watering down the too sweet supplement, but I assume you've already thought of this! Good luck! Mel

You can try making fortified milk, by mixing 1-2 tbsp of dry milk powder into a glass of milk. Carnation Instant Breakfast is a sweeter option. Trader Joe's also has a couple of powders; we have their milk and egg protein powder, we could taste the kind of chalky flavor when we added it to the fruit smoothie, but I might try a smaller amount next time, or a stronger flavor of fruit. Foods high in fat are good sources of calories for toddlers because kids eat such a small amount and a small amount of fat is very high in calories. Peanuts are a choking hazard and are not recommended until 4 years old. You can try a spoonful of peanutbutter in a fruit smoothie. In oatmeal I usually add a teaspoonful of butter or peanutbutter. All whole milk dairy products are good: yogurt, cheese. Avocado, guacamole, hummus made with a bit of oil. Jennifer

I wanted to add my two cents on helping parents increase their toddler's calorie and fat intake since this has been my focus for several months now. I put butter on all of her vegetables (and anything else I can think of: pancakes, toast, pasta, etc.) Sometimes I add a tiny bit of salt to vegetables just to make it more enticing. Specifically I take about 2-3 T. of frozen corn or peas, microwave them for about 45 seconds and add a hefty tablespoon of butter.

One of the other foods that has been extremely helpful is whole milk yogurt (French Vanilla by Stoneyfield Farm has been a great hit). My 15 month old can eat 6 oz of this stuff after having eaten pasta, fruit and veggies. Sometimes I add maple syrup to the yogurt too.

Pasta with butter, 1/2 and1/2 and lots of parmesan has also been a good calorie entree. I just stumbled across using Radiatore pasta--it is easily graspable and more of it goes in the mouth instead of on the bib and floor. Another good pasta is Annie's Organic pasta (the Wisconsin Aged Cheese is especially good with my daughter). This simple Mac and Cheese is great and doesn't use the orange dye which causes allergic reactions in many children that other Mac and Cheese products use.

Also....ice cream and more ice cream. I mix it with a bit of 1/2 and 1/2 to make a sort of shake. Oreos--full of lard--have recently become another nice dessert item. If the name of the game is helping your child gain weight--these items will help.