feeding my CF toddler

[jdprecious]

I thought enzymes were non-negotiable with CF'ers? Especially, in children? Why would a doctor be ok with waiting until there is a problem?

But Jaelyn started to gain the second enzymes were introduced at 3 yrs old. She grew well from 6 mos old to a year when she was switched to formula, and slowly thereafter. But from age 2 to age 3, she did not gain an ounce. She ate like a horse and stayed at 24.5 lbs. It freaked me out to start to see her ribs and her severe jawline. It was like nobody noticed but me. Her doctors seemed uninterested that she looked like she belonged in one of those starving children commercials. Sorry about the long tangent, back to the point...

We packed the pounds on with unlimited full fat chocolate milk, avacados, bananas, nuts, coconut oil in everything from sauteed veggies to yogurts. Anywhere you would use cooking oil or butter, we used coconut oil. Its super healthy and I believe it helps her in more ways than weight gain. Google it. She is so heavy now and super tall now she is at 97%ile for her age. (bigger than my 8 yr old stepson)She is a monster! LOL.

 

[jdprecious]

I thought enzymes were non-negotiable with CF'ers? Especially, in children? Why would a doctor be ok with waiting until there is a problem?

But Jaelyn started to gain the second enzymes were introduced at 3 yrs old. She grew well from 6 mos old to a year when she was switched to formula, and slowly thereafter. But from age 2 to age 3, she did not gain an ounce. She ate like a horse and stayed at 24.5 lbs. It freaked me out to start to see her ribs and her severe jawline. It was like nobody noticed but me. Her doctors seemed uninterested that she looked like she belonged in one of those starving children commercials. Sorry about the long tangent, back to the point...

We packed the pounds on with unlimited full fat chocolate milk, avacados, bananas, nuts, coconut oil in everything from sauteed veggies to yogurts. Anywhere you would use cooking oil or butter, we used coconut oil. Its super healthy and I believe it helps her in more ways than weight gain. Google it. She is so heavy now and super tall now she is at 97%ile for her age. (bigger than my 8 yr old stepson)She is a monster! LOL.

 

[jdprecious]

I thought enzymes were non-negotiable with CF'ers? Especially, in children? Why would a doctor be ok with waiting until there is a problem?

But Jaelyn started to gain the second enzymes were introduced at 3 yrs old. She grew well from 6 mos old to a year when she was switched to formula, and slowly thereafter. But from age 2 to age 3, she did not gain an ounce. She ate like a horse and stayed at 24.5 lbs. It freaked me out to start to see her ribs and her severe jawline. It was like nobody noticed but me. Her doctors seemed uninterested that she looked like she belonged in one of those starving children commercials. Sorry about the long tangent, back to the point...

We packed the pounds on with unlimited full fat chocolate milk, avacados, bananas, nuts, coconut oil in everything from sauteed veggies to yogurts. Anywhere you would use cooking oil or butter, we used coconut oil. Its super healthy and I believe it helps her in more ways than weight gain. Google it. She is so heavy now and super tall now she is at 97%ile for her age. (bigger than my 8 yr old stepson)She is a monster! LOL.

 

[jdprecious]

I thought enzymes were non-negotiable with CF'ers? Especially, in children? Why would a doctor be ok with waiting until there is a problem?

But Jaelyn started to gain the second enzymes were introduced at 3 yrs old. She grew well from 6 mos old to a year when she was switched to formula, and slowly thereafter. But from age 2 to age 3, she did not gain an ounce. She ate like a horse and stayed at 24.5 lbs. It freaked me out to start to see her ribs and her severe jawline. It was like nobody noticed but me. Her doctors seemed uninterested that she looked like she belonged in one of those starving children commercials. Sorry about the long tangent, back to the point...

We packed the pounds on with unlimited full fat chocolate milk, avacados, bananas, nuts, coconut oil in everything from sauteed veggies to yogurts. Anywhere you would use cooking oil or butter, we used coconut oil. Its super healthy and I believe it helps her in more ways than weight gain. Google it. She is so heavy now and super tall now she is at 97%ile for her age. (bigger than my 8 yr old stepson)She is a monster! LOL.

 

[jdprecious]

I thought enzymes were non-negotiable with CF'ers? Especially, in children? Why would a doctor be ok with waiting until there is a problem?
<br />
<br />But Jaelyn started to gain the second enzymes were introduced at 3 yrs old. She grew well from 6 mos old to a year when she was switched to formula, and slowly thereafter. But from age 2 to age 3, she did not gain an ounce. She ate like a horse and stayed at 24.5 lbs. It freaked me out to start to see her ribs and her severe jawline. It was like nobody noticed but me. Her doctors seemed uninterested that she looked like she belonged in one of those starving children commercials. Sorry about the long tangent, back to the point...
<br />
<br />We packed the pounds on with unlimited full fat chocolate milk, avacados, bananas, nuts, coconut oil in everything from sauteed veggies to yogurts. Anywhere you would use cooking oil or butter, we used coconut oil. Its super healthy and I believe it helps her in more ways than weight gain. Google it. She is so heavy now and super tall now she is at 97%ile for her age. (bigger than my 8 yr old stepson)She is a monster! LOL.

 

[cheygemini]

It can be so hard to feed a toddler!!!
The only real study that has been done on CF kids & eating found that extending meal times any longer than 25 minutes, pressuring, bribing etc... does not work. Here's the study:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/109/5/e75
">http://pediatrics.aappublicati.../full/109/5/e75
</a>
I know that I have had meal times last an hour or more. It is no fun!! Reverse psychology worked for me for a while (hey- don't eat that!!! and she does)
-Go for whole foods over refined foods when you can. The more nutrients from whole grains, beans and protein, the better. Mince veggies and add to tacos, spaghetti etc...
Good nutrition is really important. Take lots of AQUAdeks (or equivalent)
-YES YES YES for the Coconut oil!!! (virgin, unrefined & organic) It is a wonderful source of calories and MCT's (medium chain triglycerides) and tastes really good. It as also easier to digest than other oils. My daughter eats it off the spoon sometimes.
-As for enzymes, even healthy people can benefit from them (in a weaker dose than CF'ers take) when eating high fat foods. I would think that even a small dose of enzymes could help your daughter get the most out of eating high fat foods.
-Also Zinc can help boost an appetite (takes 1-2 weeks to notice a difference) They make kid's chewable zinc.
-Personally, my daughter has never done well on dairy. She gains better without it. I use a little butter sometimes, but mostly I use: olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, organic sausage, ham, beef, Buffalo, salmon, & chicken. My other favorites are Hemp Seed Milk and Goat milk. She eats goat milk cheese (or raw cow milk cheese sometimes), and rice or soy yogurt w/baby oatmeal added to thicken. I make hot cereal from rice, buckwheat or oats, cooked in milk. After adding some coconut oil or butter, 3/4 cup of cooked cereal is about 300 calories. On a good day she gets about 1500 calories a day and is gaining fine (she just turned 3 and is 32 lbs but short for her age). But it is a lot of work always making sure the calories are coming in.
When I did let slack off, she didn't gain for 3 months and she had a hard time getting over her colds.

Hang in there and do the best you can. That is all you can do! It is very stressful when your child isn't eating. Praise for good behavior can really work.


-Willow from Willits, CA. mom to Cheyenne, 3, w/cf

 

[cheygemini]

It can be so hard to feed a toddler!!!
The only real study that has been done on CF kids & eating found that extending meal times any longer than 25 minutes, pressuring, bribing etc... does not work. Here's the study:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/109/5/e75
">http://pediatrics.aappublicati.../full/109/5/e75
</a>
I know that I have had meal times last an hour or more. It is no fun!! Reverse psychology worked for me for a while (hey- don't eat that!!! and she does)
-Go for whole foods over refined foods when you can. The more nutrients from whole grains, beans and protein, the better. Mince veggies and add to tacos, spaghetti etc...
Good nutrition is really important. Take lots of AQUAdeks (or equivalent)
-YES YES YES for the Coconut oil!!! (virgin, unrefined & organic) It is a wonderful source of calories and MCT's (medium chain triglycerides) and tastes really good. It as also easier to digest than other oils. My daughter eats it off the spoon sometimes.
-As for enzymes, even healthy people can benefit from them (in a weaker dose than CF'ers take) when eating high fat foods. I would think that even a small dose of enzymes could help your daughter get the most out of eating high fat foods.
-Also Zinc can help boost an appetite (takes 1-2 weeks to notice a difference) They make kid's chewable zinc.
-Personally, my daughter has never done well on dairy. She gains better without it. I use a little butter sometimes, but mostly I use: olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, organic sausage, ham, beef, Buffalo, salmon, & chicken. My other favorites are Hemp Seed Milk and Goat milk. She eats goat milk cheese (or raw cow milk cheese sometimes), and rice or soy yogurt w/baby oatmeal added to thicken. I make hot cereal from rice, buckwheat or oats, cooked in milk. After adding some coconut oil or butter, 3/4 cup of cooked cereal is about 300 calories. On a good day she gets about 1500 calories a day and is gaining fine (she just turned 3 and is 32 lbs but short for her age). But it is a lot of work always making sure the calories are coming in.
When I did let slack off, she didn't gain for 3 months and she had a hard time getting over her colds.

Hang in there and do the best you can. That is all you can do! It is very stressful when your child isn't eating. Praise for good behavior can really work.


-Willow from Willits, CA. mom to Cheyenne, 3, w/cf

 

[cheygemini]

It can be so hard to feed a toddler!!!
The only real study that has been done on CF kids & eating found that extending meal times any longer than 25 minutes, pressuring, bribing etc... does not work. Here's the study:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/109/5/e75
">http://pediatrics.aappublicati.../full/109/5/e75
</a>
I know that I have had meal times last an hour or more. It is no fun!! Reverse psychology worked for me for a while (hey- don't eat that!!! and she does)
-Go for whole foods over refined foods when you can. The more nutrients from whole grains, beans and protein, the better. Mince veggies and add to tacos, spaghetti etc...
Good nutrition is really important. Take lots of AQUAdeks (or equivalent)
-YES YES YES for the Coconut oil!!! (virgin, unrefined & organic) It is a wonderful source of calories and MCT's (medium chain triglycerides) and tastes really good. It as also easier to digest than other oils. My daughter eats it off the spoon sometimes.
-As for enzymes, even healthy people can benefit from them (in a weaker dose than CF'ers take) when eating high fat foods. I would think that even a small dose of enzymes could help your daughter get the most out of eating high fat foods.
-Also Zinc can help boost an appetite (takes 1-2 weeks to notice a difference) They make kid's chewable zinc.
-Personally, my daughter has never done well on dairy. She gains better without it. I use a little butter sometimes, but mostly I use: olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, organic sausage, ham, beef, Buffalo, salmon, & chicken. My other favorites are Hemp Seed Milk and Goat milk. She eats goat milk cheese (or raw cow milk cheese sometimes), and rice or soy yogurt w/baby oatmeal added to thicken. I make hot cereal from rice, buckwheat or oats, cooked in milk. After adding some coconut oil or butter, 3/4 cup of cooked cereal is about 300 calories. On a good day she gets about 1500 calories a day and is gaining fine (she just turned 3 and is 32 lbs but short for her age). But it is a lot of work always making sure the calories are coming in.
When I did let slack off, she didn't gain for 3 months and she had a hard time getting over her colds.

Hang in there and do the best you can. That is all you can do! It is very stressful when your child isn't eating. Praise for good behavior can really work.


-Willow from Willits, CA. mom to Cheyenne, 3, w/cf

 

[cheygemini]

It can be so hard to feed a toddler!!!
The only real study that has been done on CF kids & eating found that extending meal times any longer than 25 minutes, pressuring, bribing etc... does not work. Here's the study:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/109/5/e75
">http://pediatrics.aappublicati.../full/109/5/e75
</a>
I know that I have had meal times last an hour or more. It is no fun!! Reverse psychology worked for me for a while (hey- don't eat that!!! and she does)
-Go for whole foods over refined foods when you can. The more nutrients from whole grains, beans and protein, the better. Mince veggies and add to tacos, spaghetti etc...
Good nutrition is really important. Take lots of AQUAdeks (or equivalent)
-YES YES YES for the Coconut oil!!! (virgin, unrefined & organic) It is a wonderful source of calories and MCT's (medium chain triglycerides) and tastes really good. It as also easier to digest than other oils. My daughter eats it off the spoon sometimes.
-As for enzymes, even healthy people can benefit from them (in a weaker dose than CF'ers take) when eating high fat foods. I would think that even a small dose of enzymes could help your daughter get the most out of eating high fat foods.
-Also Zinc can help boost an appetite (takes 1-2 weeks to notice a difference) They make kid's chewable zinc.
-Personally, my daughter has never done well on dairy. She gains better without it. I use a little butter sometimes, but mostly I use: olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, organic sausage, ham, beef, Buffalo, salmon, & chicken. My other favorites are Hemp Seed Milk and Goat milk. She eats goat milk cheese (or raw cow milk cheese sometimes), and rice or soy yogurt w/baby oatmeal added to thicken. I make hot cereal from rice, buckwheat or oats, cooked in milk. After adding some coconut oil or butter, 3/4 cup of cooked cereal is about 300 calories. On a good day she gets about 1500 calories a day and is gaining fine (she just turned 3 and is 32 lbs but short for her age). But it is a lot of work always making sure the calories are coming in.
When I did let slack off, she didn't gain for 3 months and she had a hard time getting over her colds.

Hang in there and do the best you can. That is all you can do! It is very stressful when your child isn't eating. Praise for good behavior can really work.


-Willow from Willits, CA. mom to Cheyenne, 3, w/cf

 

[cheygemini]

It can be so hard to feed a toddler!!!
<br />The only real study that has been done on CF kids & eating found that extending meal times any longer than 25 minutes, pressuring, bribing etc... does not work. Here's the study:
<br /><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/109/5/e75
<br />">http://pediatrics.aappublicati.../full/109/5/e75
<br /></a>
<br />I know that I have had meal times last an hour or more. It is no fun!! Reverse psychology worked for me for a while (hey- don't eat that!!! and she does)
<br />-Go for whole foods over refined foods when you can. The more nutrients from whole grains, beans and protein, the better. Mince veggies and add to tacos, spaghetti etc...
<br />Good nutrition is really important. Take lots of AQUAdeks (or equivalent)
<br />-YES YES YES for the Coconut oil!!! (virgin, unrefined & organic) It is a wonderful source of calories and MCT's (medium chain triglycerides) and tastes really good. It as also easier to digest than other oils. My daughter eats it off the spoon sometimes.
<br />-As for enzymes, even healthy people can benefit from them (in a weaker dose than CF'ers take) when eating high fat foods. I would think that even a small dose of enzymes could help your daughter get the most out of eating high fat foods.
<br />-Also Zinc can help boost an appetite (takes 1-2 weeks to notice a difference) They make kid's chewable zinc.
<br />-Personally, my daughter has never done well on dairy. She gains better without it. I use a little butter sometimes, but mostly I use: olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, organic sausage, ham, beef, Buffalo, salmon, & chicken. My other favorites are Hemp Seed Milk and Goat milk. She eats goat milk cheese (or raw cow milk cheese sometimes), and rice or soy yogurt w/baby oatmeal added to thicken. I make hot cereal from rice, buckwheat or oats, cooked in milk. After adding some coconut oil or butter, 3/4 cup of cooked cereal is about 300 calories. On a good day she gets about 1500 calories a day and is gaining fine (she just turned 3 and is 32 lbs but short for her age). But it is a lot of work always making sure the calories are coming in.
<br />When I did let slack off, she didn't gain for 3 months and she had a hard time getting over her colds.
<br />
<br />Hang in there and do the best you can. That is all you can do! It is very stressful when your child isn't eating. Praise for good behavior can really work.
<br />
<br />
<br />-Willow from Willits, CA. mom to Cheyenne, 3, w/cf

 

[Ratatosk]

With DS, the most frustrating thing is that he's sooo incredibly picky and it seems to take him FOREVER to eat. This past weekend was a struggle from He@#! I'd fix him something and he'd have a nibble and tell me he was full, that he wanted something else. His former GI specialist would tell us to just let him not eat, eventually he'll get hungry. Nope. Not this kid.

It's one thing to fix high calorie foods, but some days it's a major struggle to get ANYTHING in him. If he had a salt shaker and a glass of ice water, he'd be perfectly content and call it lunch. Ugh!

 

[Ratatosk]

With DS, the most frustrating thing is that he's sooo incredibly picky and it seems to take him FOREVER to eat. This past weekend was a struggle from He@#! I'd fix him something and he'd have a nibble and tell me he was full, that he wanted something else. His former GI specialist would tell us to just let him not eat, eventually he'll get hungry. Nope. Not this kid.

It's one thing to fix high calorie foods, but some days it's a major struggle to get ANYTHING in him. If he had a salt shaker and a glass of ice water, he'd be perfectly content and call it lunch. Ugh!

 

[Ratatosk]

With DS, the most frustrating thing is that he's sooo incredibly picky and it seems to take him FOREVER to eat. This past weekend was a struggle from He@#! I'd fix him something and he'd have a nibble and tell me he was full, that he wanted something else. His former GI specialist would tell us to just let him not eat, eventually he'll get hungry. Nope. Not this kid.

It's one thing to fix high calorie foods, but some days it's a major struggle to get ANYTHING in him. If he had a salt shaker and a glass of ice water, he'd be perfectly content and call it lunch. Ugh!

 

[Ratatosk]

With DS, the most frustrating thing is that he's sooo incredibly picky and it seems to take him FOREVER to eat. This past weekend was a struggle from He@#! I'd fix him something and he'd have a nibble and tell me he was full, that he wanted something else. His former GI specialist would tell us to just let him not eat, eventually he'll get hungry. Nope. Not this kid.

It's one thing to fix high calorie foods, but some days it's a major struggle to get ANYTHING in him. If he had a salt shaker and a glass of ice water, he'd be perfectly content and call it lunch. Ugh!

 

[Ratatosk]

With DS, the most frustrating thing is that he's sooo incredibly picky and it seems to take him FOREVER to eat. This past weekend was a struggle from He@#! I'd fix him something and he'd have a nibble and tell me he was full, that he wanted something else. His former GI specialist would tell us to just let him not eat, eventually he'll get hungry. Nope. Not this kid.
<br />
<br />It's one thing to fix high calorie foods, but some days it's a major struggle to get ANYTHING in him. If he had a salt shaker and a glass of ice water, he'd be perfectly content and call it lunch. Ugh!

 

[happyone]

I'll have to look for the Coconut oil... sounds great! And I love the idea of shredding veggies in her food... she's definitley one to pick out all the veggies and feed them to the dog. Thankfully she is still gaining weight... just not as much as they want. If she were a normal kid the docs would be fine... she's 25% height and weight... but her CF doc said he'd rather have her at 25 height 75 weight...
so does anyone else feel self consious when out at a restaraunt and you're looking for the richest stuff on the menu and loading up with salt. With all the chilhood obesity issues in the news... I'm just waiting for someone to say something to me someday!

 

[happyone]

I'll have to look for the Coconut oil... sounds great! And I love the idea of shredding veggies in her food... she's definitley one to pick out all the veggies and feed them to the dog. Thankfully she is still gaining weight... just not as much as they want. If she were a normal kid the docs would be fine... she's 25% height and weight... but her CF doc said he'd rather have her at 25 height 75 weight...
so does anyone else feel self consious when out at a restaraunt and you're looking for the richest stuff on the menu and loading up with salt. With all the chilhood obesity issues in the news... I'm just waiting for someone to say something to me someday!

 

[happyone]

I'll have to look for the Coconut oil... sounds great! And I love the idea of shredding veggies in her food... she's definitley one to pick out all the veggies and feed them to the dog. Thankfully she is still gaining weight... just not as much as they want. If she were a normal kid the docs would be fine... she's 25% height and weight... but her CF doc said he'd rather have her at 25 height 75 weight...
so does anyone else feel self consious when out at a restaraunt and you're looking for the richest stuff on the menu and loading up with salt. With all the chilhood obesity issues in the news... I'm just waiting for someone to say something to me someday!

 

[happyone]

I'll have to look for the Coconut oil... sounds great! And I love the idea of shredding veggies in her food... she's definitley one to pick out all the veggies and feed them to the dog. Thankfully she is still gaining weight... just not as much as they want. If she were a normal kid the docs would be fine... she's 25% height and weight... but her CF doc said he'd rather have her at 25 height 75 weight...
so does anyone else feel self consious when out at a restaraunt and you're looking for the richest stuff on the menu and loading up with salt. With all the chilhood obesity issues in the news... I'm just waiting for someone to say something to me someday!

 

[happyone]

I'll have to look for the Coconut oil... sounds great! And I love the idea of shredding veggies in her food... she's definitley one to pick out all the veggies and feed them to the dog. Thankfully she is still gaining weight... just not as much as they want. If she were a normal kid the docs would be fine... she's 25% height and weight... but her CF doc said he'd rather have her at 25 height 75 weight...
<br />so does anyone else feel self consious when out at a restaraunt and you're looking for the richest stuff on the menu and loading up with salt. With all the chilhood obesity issues in the news... I'm just waiting for someone to say something to me someday!