I need help with food ideas for my toddler

[mistylavon]

Hi - I've not posted in a while, just lurking here and there. I need some ideas for my 19 month old. We went to her doc on Friday and she's not gaining weight like she should and her belly is compacted w/ stool even though she goes about 5x a day. He upped her enzyme amount and we're going to be starting the fecal fat test here in a few days. My daughter is so finiky (sp?) right now, one day she likes something and the next she doesn't. She loves yogurt and cheese and strawberry milk, I'm afraid she's really going to get backed up and contipated eating so much dairy. Her doc says her diet is good, but I'm wondering what others feed their toddlers or if anyone has any good ice cream/shake recipes?

Please Help! We're worried if this continues she's gonna have to get a feeding tube put in.

 

[HelpCureCF]

I too have a 19 month old daughter with cf. I've been singing the praises of Boost Pudding. It's 240 calories. My daughter eats 2 a day. They come in Chocolate, Vanilla and Butterscotch. You can ask your grocery store to order it for you, or do what we do and have Taget order it (the pharmacy can get it in 24 hours). This had made all the difference in the world for us. Also...Pediasure. We buy vanilla (and add chocolate syrup sometimes which adds calories)
My daughter has her good days and bad as far as eating goes......sometimes she fights us on taking her enzymes...which makes me so upset....other times...we will give her her enzymes and then she won't eat...which makes me even more upset ?!?!?
Other suggestions:
Mac and Cheese...(we do Easy Mac...and add butter to it)
Bake a sweet potato...mash it and add brown sugar and cinnamon....
Dibs ice cream nuggets are awesome!! Very high in calories.
peanut butter on a spoon......
shredded cheese
hope this helps....It's so hard sometimes. Do what every you can to avoid a feeding tube. It's normal that kids fight you with eating at this age .....the cf compounds this I know.....hang in there....
email me if I can help.
Dal96@aol.com

 

[anonymous]

That's TARGET...for the Boost Pudding....sorry.......

 

[anonymous]

I would feed her a lot more fiber enriched foods. Perhaps some more fruit with yogurt and some added oatmeal. Putting some foods into the blender will help break it down for digestion. I would buy some granola and add some water to it and put this into the blender along with the yogurt but watch that you do not over load her with too much sugar.

Vegetables are important so perhaps you can add in some veggies three times per day. She might start going more but if she is impacted this will help. I also believe in warm compresses and massaging the abdomen going toward her left side. Start on the right side and work your way around.

Perhaps take her to a massage therapist if you are not certain how to do this.

Brown rice is extremely rich in fiber. Start slowly by adding more fiber. Just because she is going to the bathroom more does not mean she cannot gain weight. It is the amount of calories that go into a person that matters for weight gain.

It is important to clean her out. If there is any way that you can get her to move around more exercise really helps and drinking water too

 

[norcotrent]

Misty,

I have a 17 month old and can truly relate with day to day likes and dislikes.
We stick to a basic philosophy... Give her what she'll eat. Sometimes this means trying several different things until we find the right combo for that particular meal.
Also, and I think we're lucky with this, Cass loves fruit. Apples w/ PB, Oranges, grapes, and strawberries are a staple around our house. Lastly, keep on the docs and nutritionist about enzyme amounts. If you think she needs more, let them know. Cass is up to Creon 10 - Usually give her 1 with a snack, 1 1/2 with meal, and 2 with bottle.

Hope this helps a bit.

Regards,

Trent
Dad to Cass 17mo's w/ CF and Em 5yrs no CF

 

[Ratatosk]

DS had the same problem -- we had to give him milk of mag from time to time. He'd still be pooing, but xrays would show backed up stool or he'd cut back on his eating 'cuz his tummy would feel full.

We give DS carnation instant breakfast made with whole milk (8 ounces) and an ounce of cream with breakfast and dinner. Think he just gets whole milk at preschool. We've been getting the chocolate CIB powder at the wholesale club much cheaper than the grocery store, but lately he wants white or pink milk. So I've been buying him that. Love spagettios, to which we add a dollop of olive oil. Think he got burnt out on Mac & Cheese -- but I'd make it with whole milk, butter and a little bit of cream.

Likes yellow cheese (american slices), has just got into smoked string cheese. For some reason he likes ham patties, but doesn't like lunch meat. Sometimes I cut the patties or cheese into moon shapes. Loves peanut butter. Yogurt -- I usually try to find the highest calorie stuff -- Yo baby, le creme.

He used to like hot dogs and corn dogs. Chicken ala king or chicken and dumplings, bean soup.. Not so much anymore. He's not really a sweets person -- doesn't like ice cream, cookies or cake -- prefers saltier stuff. So for snacks he gets goldfish crackers, saltines, pretzels, pringles, and tortilla chips. He's also been on a nut kick -- loves sunflower nuts.

For snacks, too he loves fruit, so I give him raspberries, mandarin orange slices, apples, bananas, applesauce. No fat, but calories are calories and he can mow down watermelon or cantaloup in a heartbeat. L

 

[anonymous]

You know what, I have never actually made a big deal out of it! I have twins that are 20 months old. One eats really good and is over 50% and one that eats really good that is around 25% for their weight. I think one is just going to be small. Also they have growth spurts, its going to happen with all kids, one week they will eat good and one week not eat good. They are toddlers, that says it all! I have 6 kids, the twins the only one with CF, have never liked to sit down and eat alot. I give them breakfast, lunch, dinner, but I also give them a gazillion snacks. I let them walk around with it or they will go and get up on their seats and sit at the table. I give them everything we eat, like we have always eaten it. I dont double the butter or count calories. I give them what I know they like. I do have to change it up alot though cause they get sick of eating the same things over and over. They also like to eat what anyone else in the house is eating, so say dh went in and got a piece of cake. If they just eat a couple bites we just let them eat it, if they are wolfing it down then after a few bites we will give them enzymes.

Example:B: yesterday they had frosted rice crispies and a half of a doughnut
S:
fruit snacks
cookies
cheese puffs
L:
rice a roni
banana
m&ms
bread & butter(they love)
S:
sunflower seeds
bologna
D:
spaghetti(w/cheese)
garlic bread
S:
cheese cubes
There is no way to say how much they really eat and how much is on the floor, but hey at least they ate, thats all I care about!!

They really dont like dairy except cheese. I give them soy milk cause they drink it better then regular(w/strawberry nesquick), no other reason. So overall give them what they like and not what is the most fattening ect... you will see a change in no time! My dieticians have always been amazed that they have never had to really come in and talk to me or give me a meal plan, they say whatever you are doing keep it up!!!! Of course this is not for everyone though, I guess.....<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0">

Take care, Jen

 

[Ratatosk]

I know our dietician always stresses dips and stuff for fruits and veggies. But DS is a purist. No dressing on his veggies, no yogurt or whipped cream on his fruit. He will eat whipped cream out of the can if his dad squirts it into his mouth. Pasta noodles -- butter -- no sauce. Likes ketchup though, which he calls red mustard. He's also probably the only child I know who hates chicken mcnuggets. Shortly after his second birthday he did start eating hamburgers, but just the patty, no bread, no cheese. He's now graduated to eating a regular burger with fixings, but picks the bread off and eats it separate.

Oh and fruit snacks are a godsend. I give DS a package or two on the short drive home from preschool. I also give him a glass of white grape juice for a snack, too.

Toddlers, argh!

 

[JRPandTJP]

My thoughts would be to back off of dairy for awhile or maybe only one serving a day. It is very difficult to digest and the casein protein can be very irritating to the gut. <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.drweil.com/u/QA/QA115499/">http://www.drweil.com/u/QA/QA115499/</a> & <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cysticfibrosis.com/articles.cfm?article_id=100033">http://www.cysticfibrosis.com/....cfm?article_id=100033</a> (this guy has CF and has some great ideas and shares his experience with getting rid of dairy).

You may want to add acidophilus (Culterelle- 1 cap sprinkled on applesauce or yogurt) to her vitamin regimen. This helps build up the good bacteria in the gut, reducing inflammation and aiding digestion. Allow 2 weeks to see results (they may be a tiny bit gassy at first). Our son has been on it since 7 weeks old and it helped tremendously. Dairy can also fill up a toddler before a meal is offered. Try not offering any beverages before a meal and then provide it after they have eaten most if not everything.

Try varying the sources of protein away from milk to a little soy cheese/yogurt, some Rice Dream after meals, hard boiled eggs at snack times, adding egg powder to smoothies, nut butters (peanut if not allergic, almond and cashew are great on breads) or even rice or soy powders. These can be found in most health food stores or online if you can't find stuff. I have a stock pile of links to non-dairy products and sites if you're interested. Also don't forget beans. Many kids like lentils and white beans in soups and other dishes. Great fiber and protein.

A way to sneak greens in is to buy a powdered or liquid form that has a sweeter flavor or no flavor. I add it to their smoothies in the AM and they don't even know it. Smashed peas with soy sour cream and salt is a good one (put baby peas in food processor with a little sour cream and salt, blend until smooth). Greens also help to keep things going. Water to drink or sip on throughout the day.

At around your daughter's age Ben started liking smoothies. I make them these 2 alot...no dairy, full day's worth of fruit and packed with calories. Ask her to help you get the ingredients ready and have her put stuff in the blender. She will love helping and it makes them more eager to try it.

Strawberry Banana Orange: First I grind some flax seeds (are really good for keeping intestines in good working order). I put powder in then add cup or so frozen strawberries (raspberries or blueberries too), one banana, cup or so orange juice, 2 TBSP of egg white powder or other protein powder (use judgement on amount I shoot for total of 8-10 grams), the greens powder and a couple of ice cubes. Blend and enjoy. Sometimes I add a few drops of walnut oil to Ben's

Chocolate Peanut butter Shake: 2 huge scoops of Soy Dream Chocolate or Rice Dream Chocolate ice cream, cup or so Rice Dream milk, and a huge scoop of peanut butter. Blend and enjoy.

Meals we do lots of chicken tenders, pastas, turkey meatballs, lunch meat (some good no nitrate stuff now), turkey bacon. Try chicken/tuna/egg/macaroni salads with her plain or one soft multigrain bread (Hellmans makes a canola mayo). Sometimes Ben will eat a scoop of mayo with some cheese or turkey lunch meat. Gross but he loves the stuff. Also most toddlers like cucumbers for some reason. I cut them in half rounds take a little soy sour cream and white vinegar mixed and toss together with some really sweet cherrie tomatoes as a side with chicken tenders. They could eat this for days in a row sometimes.

I avoid sugery and high saturated fat snacks. Just asking for trouble in my opinion since they get use to the sweet all the time and tend not to try other foods. The sat fats are highly irritating to the gut (as are the corn syrup found in most snacks and drinks like Boost) and are linked to inflammation as well. I sometimes just put out lots of fun looking finger foods and see if he'll come on his own to graze at snack times. They need to not feel forced and sometimes he lets me feed him things while he is playing if he is too engrossed to stop all together. Make it fun and she will come.

I am creating a web site dedicated to breastfeeding and nutrition if you are interested in getting updates on when the site will be up just email me. I will have a chef providing his ideas for getting kids to eat well and enjoy food plus lots of shared recipes and ideas for early infant food ideas to toddlers and children. Anyone else is welcome to join the email list as well just put CF Nutrition Site in the subject line. I hope to have it up by August or September.

I have seen Ben's weight spike since we started using GSH as a supplement. You have to do your own research on this but we are not alone in finding a positive weight gain. Try <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/mdd/v05/i04/html/04health.html">http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/...i04/html/04health.html</a> & <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.members.tripod.com/uvicf/
">http://www.members.tripod.com/uvicf/
</a>
Good luck. Hope some of these ideas and links spark your little ones weight. You can do this!

Warmly, Jody

email jody@meta4tech.com

 

[katyf13]

THis is an article I used at work for a CF kiddo who was being weaned off a Gtube. You may have seen it before:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cff.org/UploadedFiles/living_with_cf/Files/Nutrition%20-%20For%20your%20Toddler%20with%20CF%20(1%20-%203%20years).pdf
">http://www.cff.org/UploadedFil...%20-%203%20years).pdf
</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cff.org/UploadedFiles/living_with_cf/Files/Nutrition%20-%20For%20your%20Infant%20with%20CF%20(Birth%20-%201%20year).pdf
">http://www.cff.org/UploadedFil...h%20-%201%20year).pdf
</a>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cff.org/UploadedFiles/living_with_cf/Files/Nutrition%20-%20For%20your%20Child%20with%20CF%20(4-6%20years).pdf
">http://www.cff.org/UploadedFil...F%20(4-6%20years).pdf
</a>
Probably stuff you already know but good tips. When I have time I plan on making a post or blog about picky eaters, poor eaters, and feeding problems. I'm trying to go to a conference in the fall all about new treatments for different pediatric feeding issues, and I'm excited to get some new ideas!!

 

[Seana30]

Carnation Instant Breakfast VHC.

Comes in vanilla, we add chocolate or strawberries to it. It has a whopping 560 calories per 8 ounce can!

Seana

 

[Ratatosk]

I'd forgotten also that when we switched DS from Formula to Whole Milk/Carnation Instant Breakfast when he was about 18 months old -- we had a very difficult adjustment time with HORRIBLE constipation issues, eating decreased.... I was beginning to worry that DS would be on formula for the rest of his life. Took a couple of weeks and some Milk of Mag to get things moving and get him adjusted. Liza

 

[anonymous]

We give Sullivan the Carnation High Calorie drink with breakfast and dinner. I think it has about 400 calories, 17g fat and 13g of protien. We also buy the powdered Carnation Instant Breakfast and make it with whole milk and add 1/2 & 1/2 to it for extra calories. It was recommended by our nutritionist. I have some good recipes at home for high calorie milkshakes if you are interested.
Helen

 

[Diana]

Everyone has given some good advice and thought I would add my quick 2 cents. If it's yoghurt your child loves then I highly recommend trying Greek Style yogurt (various brands). It is thicker and creamier and has about 4 times the amount of fat of normal yoghurt. My little one has been eating it since she was around 5 months old and it has really helped bring her weight into the normal range.

I hope you find something that works....but in saying that we know that with kids what works one day, won't the next! All you can do is keep your head up and keep trying.

 

[lovemygirl]

Here is a site I found a couple of years ago when our daughter first started giving us a hard time with food and weight gain. I am kind of glad you posted the question because it is making me look at the site again.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://kidshealth.org/parent/recipes/cf_recipes/about_cf_recipes.html">http://kidshealth.org/parent/r.../about_cf_recipes.html</a>

 

[JRPandTJP]

Good site...this is similar to what I hope to do but with consideration for those who have dairy sensativities or want to avoid it. I like the format. Thanks for sharing this resource. Jody

 

[mistylavon]

Thanks for everyones helpful information. We did the fecal fat test and thank goodness it was only 3 days!!! Morgan is still being a picky eater though.

HelpCureCF - The boost pudding would be great if my daughter liked pudding, I think she thinks it's too thick. Just so you know, you can also order that pudding from the CF Services Pharmacy. Morgan has been fighting us on taking her enzymes lately too. Morgan also likes mac and cheese, and thank goodness for those Dibs, she loves them. She now likes to hang on to the tube so she can get them out herself. If you ask her for one you get a mean look, she thinks they're all hers.

veggies - sometimes I can get her to eat them if they're dipped in Ranch dressing.

Ratatosk - I'll have to give the carnation instant breakfast a try, if I can find strawberry, she will not drink chocolate. I'll also try adding some oil to her spegettios. Morgan also loves sliced cheese. I've been buying the Stoneyfield Farms French Vanilla whole milk yogurt with cream on top and adding about 1 Tbsp. of heavy whipping cream, she really likes that. Morgan has starting liking Macadamia Nuts, which are so healthy for you.

Jen - My daughter eats about like your twins do, I think I need to just not worry about it so much and she'll be just fine.

Jody - I have been trying to cut back her dairy. She's eating just a little bit of yogurt a day lately. She's pretty much put a veto on the milk drinking. Thanks for all the meal ideas.

Dee - Where would I find this greek style yogurt and what brand is it? The yogurt she's been eating is 250 cal. for 1 cup and 8g fat.

We should be getting her fecal fat test back early this week. I have a call in to her doc and he should call me on Monday re: changing her enzymes. We have her on a generic now. We tried Ultrase and her belly seemed to do better w/ the generic so both docs let her stay on them. It seems like we've been having these problems and her stools being icky again w/ this new bottle we got about 3 weeks ago. It's the same brand so I don't know if that would cause a problem.

 

[Ratatosk]

It's gotta be a toddler thing. Small window of opportunity to feed them and they're so easily distracted. Drives me bonkers!

Max loves fresh veggies and fruit but doesn't want anything on them -- refers to ranch dressing as white mustard and refuses to touch it. The other day after preschool he asked for fresh broccoli and proceeded to dip it in salt.

I push snacks if he doesn't eat well at dinner -- fruit snacks, crackers, chips, popcorn, pretzels with a glass of whole milk and a dollop of cream added to it.

Hates lunch meat, hot dogs, mac & cheese (think he got burnt out on it). Lately he's been eating buttered noodles, corn on the cob with butter and salt, sunflower nuts, peanuts. He also likes ham patties -- especially if I cut them into shapes like stars and moons. PB&J with butter -- but I have to flatten the bread (sandwich) -- also has to be cut into a shape -- trees, hearts, circles, stars... I've also found some organic flavored milk from Horizon -- chocolate, strawberry and vanilla that doesn't have to be refridgerated. Perfect for travel and has about 190 calories per individual carton (8 ounces) Liza

 

[ehtansky21]

ethan sky (2 years old) drinks 4 oz of whole milk mixed with 4 oz of half & half as his supplement, 3 times a day. I think he really likes the rich taste. I may just be lucky, but he'll drink that whenever I offer it to him.
he will eat peanut butter, honey and banana mixed together, alone or on bread. Cheese sticks are great; yellow potatoes with butter, salt and sour cream; pasta with cheese and a little half& half or just butter and salt; cheese crisp dipped in sourcream (kids love dipping stuff); bagles with cream cheese; cheerios with half&half.
he loved nakes juice mixed with half&half, but we have found that his tummy doesn't like it very much, so make sure your kid can handle the acidity of juice
he also loves frozen treats, but I don't like to give him anything with added sugar..
so i take plain yogurt and mix it wit really well blended fruit and freeze it. it also works well with half&half. Again if they handle juice well you can freeze fruit juice with plain yogurt or half&half.

 

[JRPandTJP]

more great ideas from everyone. most days it feels like a constant snack bar at our house...every 2 hours they are ready to eat either a meal or snack! toddlers are tough...we just found some greek style yogurts they have 15 grams of fat in them!! They come in cow's milk or goat's milk (which I am going to try with Ben tomorrow). Add granola on top for more calories with fruit. Anyone try making hot cereals or higher cal drinks with coconut milk for more calories? My daughter hates it but Ben likes it (me too with banana, and a little Rice milk).

Okay guys, I may try Ben on regular yogurt tomorrow and see what happens. I know milk and ice cream are a no go, but I am wondering if yogurt might be okay on occasion now that he is older. Cross your fingers...if the stools go crazy and his bum turns red than it's back to soy.

Jody