Stubborn child and nutrition

[jimiv]

confused;
My son Parker is 9yo and has been DXed since he was 6months old. The primary problem throughout his journey has been diet and nutrition. Everyday it is close to hand to hand combat to get him to take in enough calories. He does not need a feeding tube (yet) but we are always hovering around the zero to fifth percentile in BMI for his size and age. I have tried several different ideas, recipies and foods. I have taken suggestions from him about what foods he likes and every morning it is the same battle. The latest round is over scandishakes. I am trying to hold my ground but it is difficult. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Reading some of the blogs reminds me how lucky we are to have this be the primary problem but something has to change. I am going to try several recipies that I have found but I seek any other suggestions as well. Thanks

Jim, father of Parker 9yo w/CF

 

[jimiv]

confused;
My son Parker is 9yo and has been DXed since he was 6months old. The primary problem throughout his journey has been diet and nutrition. Everyday it is close to hand to hand combat to get him to take in enough calories. He does not need a feeding tube (yet) but we are always hovering around the zero to fifth percentile in BMI for his size and age. I have tried several different ideas, recipies and foods. I have taken suggestions from him about what foods he likes and every morning it is the same battle. The latest round is over scandishakes. I am trying to hold my ground but it is difficult. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Reading some of the blogs reminds me how lucky we are to have this be the primary problem but something has to change. I am going to try several recipies that I have found but I seek any other suggestions as well. Thanks

Jim, father of Parker 9yo w/CF

 

[jimiv]

confused;
My son Parker is 9yo and has been DXed since he was 6months old. The primary problem throughout his journey has been diet and nutrition. Everyday it is close to hand to hand combat to get him to take in enough calories. He does not need a feeding tube (yet) but we are always hovering around the zero to fifth percentile in BMI for his size and age. I have tried several different ideas, recipies and foods. I have taken suggestions from him about what foods he likes and every morning it is the same battle. The latest round is over scandishakes. I am trying to hold my ground but it is difficult. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Reading some of the blogs reminds me how lucky we are to have this be the primary problem but something has to change. I am going to try several recipies that I have found but I seek any other suggestions as well. Thanks

Jim, father of Parker 9yo w/CF

 

[jimiv]

confused;
My son Parker is 9yo and has been DXed since he was 6months old. The primary problem throughout his journey has been diet and nutrition. Everyday it is close to hand to hand combat to get him to take in enough calories. He does not need a feeding tube (yet) but we are always hovering around the zero to fifth percentile in BMI for his size and age. I have tried several different ideas, recipies and foods. I have taken suggestions from him about what foods he likes and every morning it is the same battle. The latest round is over scandishakes. I am trying to hold my ground but it is difficult. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Reading some of the blogs reminds me how lucky we are to have this be the primary problem but something has to change. I am going to try several recipies that I have found but I seek any other suggestions as well. Thanks

Jim, father of Parker 9yo w/CF

 

[jimiv]

confused;
My son Parker is 9yo and has been DXed since he was 6months old. The primary problem throughout his journey has been diet and nutrition. Everyday it is close to hand to hand combat to get him to take in enough calories. He does not need a feeding tube (yet) but we are always hovering around the zero to fifth percentile in BMI for his size and age. I have tried several different ideas, recipies and foods. I have taken suggestions from him about what foods he likes and every morning it is the same battle. The latest round is over scandishakes. I am trying to hold my ground but it is difficult. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Reading some of the blogs reminds me how lucky we are to have this be the primary problem but something has to change. I am going to try several recipies that I have found but I seek any other suggestions as well. Thanks

Jim, father of Parker 9yo w/CF

 

[TonyaH]

Hi Jim,

We give Andrew challenges. Every three months has a three-tiered reward for weight gain.

If Andrew gains one pound, he gets pizza for dinner after clinic. (Not a hard sell for me because I'm usually too tired to cook after clinic days, anyway!

If he gains two pounds, he gets his pizza and a trip to Borders to buy a new book. (He's loves to read.)

If he gains three pounds, there is a big celebration that he gets to choose. He has only met that goal once, and he chose to have a friend over to spend the night and watch movies. (They were asleep in their sleeping bags by 11:00, but to them they thought they stayed up all night!)

I always have goals for one, two , and three pounds because one pound is pretty attainable. Then he doesn't feel defeated.

Weight is a struggle at our house, too. Know you are not alone in this! All you can do in incourage snacking. Nutritious, calorie-filled snacking. We have no luck with scandishakes. Andrew won't eat them. But he will eat three sticks of string cheese and a 380 calorie packet of peanuts for a snack. So, that works for me. I find that the more pressure I put on him the less he eats.

Good luck, Jim,
Let us know if you find something that works for you. We would all appreciate the tip!

 

[TonyaH]

Hi Jim,

We give Andrew challenges. Every three months has a three-tiered reward for weight gain.

If Andrew gains one pound, he gets pizza for dinner after clinic. (Not a hard sell for me because I'm usually too tired to cook after clinic days, anyway!

If he gains two pounds, he gets his pizza and a trip to Borders to buy a new book. (He's loves to read.)

If he gains three pounds, there is a big celebration that he gets to choose. He has only met that goal once, and he chose to have a friend over to spend the night and watch movies. (They were asleep in their sleeping bags by 11:00, but to them they thought they stayed up all night!)

I always have goals for one, two , and three pounds because one pound is pretty attainable. Then he doesn't feel defeated.

Weight is a struggle at our house, too. Know you are not alone in this! All you can do in incourage snacking. Nutritious, calorie-filled snacking. We have no luck with scandishakes. Andrew won't eat them. But he will eat three sticks of string cheese and a 380 calorie packet of peanuts for a snack. So, that works for me. I find that the more pressure I put on him the less he eats.

Good luck, Jim,
Let us know if you find something that works for you. We would all appreciate the tip!

 

[TonyaH]

Hi Jim,

We give Andrew challenges. Every three months has a three-tiered reward for weight gain.

If Andrew gains one pound, he gets pizza for dinner after clinic. (Not a hard sell for me because I'm usually too tired to cook after clinic days, anyway!

If he gains two pounds, he gets his pizza and a trip to Borders to buy a new book. (He's loves to read.)

If he gains three pounds, there is a big celebration that he gets to choose. He has only met that goal once, and he chose to have a friend over to spend the night and watch movies. (They were asleep in their sleeping bags by 11:00, but to them they thought they stayed up all night!)

I always have goals for one, two , and three pounds because one pound is pretty attainable. Then he doesn't feel defeated.

Weight is a struggle at our house, too. Know you are not alone in this! All you can do in incourage snacking. Nutritious, calorie-filled snacking. We have no luck with scandishakes. Andrew won't eat them. But he will eat three sticks of string cheese and a 380 calorie packet of peanuts for a snack. So, that works for me. I find that the more pressure I put on him the less he eats.

Good luck, Jim,
Let us know if you find something that works for you. We would all appreciate the tip!

 

[TonyaH]

Hi Jim,

We give Andrew challenges. Every three months has a three-tiered reward for weight gain.

If Andrew gains one pound, he gets pizza for dinner after clinic. (Not a hard sell for me because I'm usually too tired to cook after clinic days, anyway!

If he gains two pounds, he gets his pizza and a trip to Borders to buy a new book. (He's loves to read.)

If he gains three pounds, there is a big celebration that he gets to choose. He has only met that goal once, and he chose to have a friend over to spend the night and watch movies. (They were asleep in their sleeping bags by 11:00, but to them they thought they stayed up all night!)

I always have goals for one, two , and three pounds because one pound is pretty attainable. Then he doesn't feel defeated.

Weight is a struggle at our house, too. Know you are not alone in this! All you can do in incourage snacking. Nutritious, calorie-filled snacking. We have no luck with scandishakes. Andrew won't eat them. But he will eat three sticks of string cheese and a 380 calorie packet of peanuts for a snack. So, that works for me. I find that the more pressure I put on him the less he eats.

Good luck, Jim,
Let us know if you find something that works for you. We would all appreciate the tip!

 

[TonyaH]

Hi Jim,

We give Andrew challenges. Every three months has a three-tiered reward for weight gain.

If Andrew gains one pound, he gets pizza for dinner after clinic. (Not a hard sell for me because I'm usually too tired to cook after clinic days, anyway!

If he gains two pounds, he gets his pizza and a trip to Borders to buy a new book. (He's loves to read.)

If he gains three pounds, there is a big celebration that he gets to choose. He has only met that goal once, and he chose to have a friend over to spend the night and watch movies. (They were asleep in their sleeping bags by 11:00, but to them they thought they stayed up all night!)

I always have goals for one, two , and three pounds because one pound is pretty attainable. Then he doesn't feel defeated.

Weight is a struggle at our house, too. Know you are not alone in this! All you can do in incourage snacking. Nutritious, calorie-filled snacking. We have no luck with scandishakes. Andrew won't eat them. But he will eat three sticks of string cheese and a 380 calorie packet of peanuts for a snack. So, that works for me. I find that the more pressure I put on him the less he eats.

Good luck, Jim,
Let us know if you find something that works for you. We would all appreciate the tip!

 

[Ratatosk]

Ditto on the snacking here. DS loves sunflower nuts and peanuts. When I pick him up from preschool, I usually have a "snack for the road" in the car for the brief -- 5 minute drive. Usually it's a couple packages of fruit snacks, sometimes it's a packet of mini-muffins... Sometimes he snacks while watching tv and vestings. When he was younger, I'd read an article about how feeding your child juice could lead to childhood obesity, so I was feeding him white grape juice a few times a week.

We give him vanilla carnation instant breakfast in the morning and with dinner. If he actually asks for milk with a snack, I'll give him whole milk with a healthy dollop of heavy cream. I add olive oil to whatever I can. Last night he wanted pancakes for supper, but he claims not to like butter if he sees it. So I melted butter on his plate in the microwave and set his pancakes on top of the melted butter.

Currently he's struggling at preschool with eating. Dawdling, refusing to eat, saying he's full. Last week we told him if he ate good for lunch 5 days in a row, he could go to a place similar to chuck-e-cheez with a space theme. He ate wonderfully -- even LICKED the butter off his banana bread, didn't complain about any of the food he was served -- tomato soup, grilled cheese, cooked carrots... Unfortunately, the next day he refused to eat. They put MEATBALLS in his spaghetti.

 

[Ratatosk]

Ditto on the snacking here. DS loves sunflower nuts and peanuts. When I pick him up from preschool, I usually have a "snack for the road" in the car for the brief -- 5 minute drive. Usually it's a couple packages of fruit snacks, sometimes it's a packet of mini-muffins... Sometimes he snacks while watching tv and vestings. When he was younger, I'd read an article about how feeding your child juice could lead to childhood obesity, so I was feeding him white grape juice a few times a week.

We give him vanilla carnation instant breakfast in the morning and with dinner. If he actually asks for milk with a snack, I'll give him whole milk with a healthy dollop of heavy cream. I add olive oil to whatever I can. Last night he wanted pancakes for supper, but he claims not to like butter if he sees it. So I melted butter on his plate in the microwave and set his pancakes on top of the melted butter.

Currently he's struggling at preschool with eating. Dawdling, refusing to eat, saying he's full. Last week we told him if he ate good for lunch 5 days in a row, he could go to a place similar to chuck-e-cheez with a space theme. He ate wonderfully -- even LICKED the butter off his banana bread, didn't complain about any of the food he was served -- tomato soup, grilled cheese, cooked carrots... Unfortunately, the next day he refused to eat. They put MEATBALLS in his spaghetti.

 

[Ratatosk]

Ditto on the snacking here. DS loves sunflower nuts and peanuts. When I pick him up from preschool, I usually have a "snack for the road" in the car for the brief -- 5 minute drive. Usually it's a couple packages of fruit snacks, sometimes it's a packet of mini-muffins... Sometimes he snacks while watching tv and vestings. When he was younger, I'd read an article about how feeding your child juice could lead to childhood obesity, so I was feeding him white grape juice a few times a week.

We give him vanilla carnation instant breakfast in the morning and with dinner. If he actually asks for milk with a snack, I'll give him whole milk with a healthy dollop of heavy cream. I add olive oil to whatever I can. Last night he wanted pancakes for supper, but he claims not to like butter if he sees it. So I melted butter on his plate in the microwave and set his pancakes on top of the melted butter.

Currently he's struggling at preschool with eating. Dawdling, refusing to eat, saying he's full. Last week we told him if he ate good for lunch 5 days in a row, he could go to a place similar to chuck-e-cheez with a space theme. He ate wonderfully -- even LICKED the butter off his banana bread, didn't complain about any of the food he was served -- tomato soup, grilled cheese, cooked carrots... Unfortunately, the next day he refused to eat. They put MEATBALLS in his spaghetti.

 

[Ratatosk]

Ditto on the snacking here. DS loves sunflower nuts and peanuts. When I pick him up from preschool, I usually have a "snack for the road" in the car for the brief -- 5 minute drive. Usually it's a couple packages of fruit snacks, sometimes it's a packet of mini-muffins... Sometimes he snacks while watching tv and vestings. When he was younger, I'd read an article about how feeding your child juice could lead to childhood obesity, so I was feeding him white grape juice a few times a week.

We give him vanilla carnation instant breakfast in the morning and with dinner. If he actually asks for milk with a snack, I'll give him whole milk with a healthy dollop of heavy cream. I add olive oil to whatever I can. Last night he wanted pancakes for supper, but he claims not to like butter if he sees it. So I melted butter on his plate in the microwave and set his pancakes on top of the melted butter.

Currently he's struggling at preschool with eating. Dawdling, refusing to eat, saying he's full. Last week we told him if he ate good for lunch 5 days in a row, he could go to a place similar to chuck-e-cheez with a space theme. He ate wonderfully -- even LICKED the butter off his banana bread, didn't complain about any of the food he was served -- tomato soup, grilled cheese, cooked carrots... Unfortunately, the next day he refused to eat. They put MEATBALLS in his spaghetti.

 

[Ratatosk]

Ditto on the snacking here. DS loves sunflower nuts and peanuts. When I pick him up from preschool, I usually have a "snack for the road" in the car for the brief -- 5 minute drive. Usually it's a couple packages of fruit snacks, sometimes it's a packet of mini-muffins... Sometimes he snacks while watching tv and vestings. When he was younger, I'd read an article about how feeding your child juice could lead to childhood obesity, so I was feeding him white grape juice a few times a week.

We give him vanilla carnation instant breakfast in the morning and with dinner. If he actually asks for milk with a snack, I'll give him whole milk with a healthy dollop of heavy cream. I add olive oil to whatever I can. Last night he wanted pancakes for supper, but he claims not to like butter if he sees it. So I melted butter on his plate in the microwave and set his pancakes on top of the melted butter.

Currently he's struggling at preschool with eating. Dawdling, refusing to eat, saying he's full. Last week we told him if he ate good for lunch 5 days in a row, he could go to a place similar to chuck-e-cheez with a space theme. He ate wonderfully -- even LICKED the butter off his banana bread, didn't complain about any of the food he was served -- tomato soup, grilled cheese, cooked carrots... Unfortunately, the next day he refused to eat. They put MEATBALLS in his spaghetti.

 

[izemmom]

Well, I have a toddler, so my feeding issues are different. I just had to comment on your title, though. Stubborn Child AND Nutrition...wow, those are my two cheif worries in life...all wrappped up in my adorable little Emily! She is very stubborn about eating, she does have a feeding tube for that reason. Prior to the tube, "combat zone" was a fit description for my house during meal time too.

Good luck with your guy. Seems like the stubborness goes hand in had with these kids and their eating issues! Glad to know I"m not alone.

 

[izemmom]

Well, I have a toddler, so my feeding issues are different. I just had to comment on your title, though. Stubborn Child AND Nutrition...wow, those are my two cheif worries in life...all wrappped up in my adorable little Emily! She is very stubborn about eating, she does have a feeding tube for that reason. Prior to the tube, "combat zone" was a fit description for my house during meal time too.

Good luck with your guy. Seems like the stubborness goes hand in had with these kids and their eating issues! Glad to know I"m not alone.

 

[izemmom]

Well, I have a toddler, so my feeding issues are different. I just had to comment on your title, though. Stubborn Child AND Nutrition...wow, those are my two cheif worries in life...all wrappped up in my adorable little Emily! She is very stubborn about eating, she does have a feeding tube for that reason. Prior to the tube, "combat zone" was a fit description for my house during meal time too.

Good luck with your guy. Seems like the stubborness goes hand in had with these kids and their eating issues! Glad to know I"m not alone.

 

[izemmom]

Well, I have a toddler, so my feeding issues are different. I just had to comment on your title, though. Stubborn Child AND Nutrition...wow, those are my two cheif worries in life...all wrappped up in my adorable little Emily! She is very stubborn about eating, she does have a feeding tube for that reason. Prior to the tube, "combat zone" was a fit description for my house during meal time too.

Good luck with your guy. Seems like the stubborness goes hand in had with these kids and their eating issues! Glad to know I"m not alone.

 

[izemmom]

Well, I have a toddler, so my feeding issues are different. I just had to comment on your title, though. Stubborn Child AND Nutrition...wow, those are my two cheif worries in life...all wrappped up in my adorable little Emily! She is very stubborn about eating, she does have a feeding tube for that reason. Prior to the tube, "combat zone" was a fit description for my house during meal time too.

Good luck with your guy. Seems like the stubborness goes hand in had with these kids and their eating issues! Glad to know I"m not alone.