ID VERSION
With all of the talk about a kid obesity problem, many parents are probably surprised that some of their children need to hunt for weight-gain suggestions.
Gaining Weight Healthily
Although many parents believe that their children do not eat as well as they would want, this may not be an issue unless they are not gaining weight properly. If your child is thin and eats a lot of junk food, stop him and urge him to eat healthier. Consume ample vegetables and fruits to get enough vitamins, if your child is a picky eater, get him to take a multivitamin.
Whatever the reason, here are some general guidelines for healthy weight gain:
- Consider eating four or five small meals each day, rather than three big meals, because your child is unlikely to finish all of them.
- Encouraging one or two nutritious snacks per day.
- Avoiding low-nutrient, high-energy foods such as junk foods containing empty calories such as candy, chips, and soft drinks.
- Consuming high-nutrient, energy-dense meals that are high in calories but also contain vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, such as whole milk, yogurt produced from whole milk, peanut butter, and so on.
- Low-energy or non-energy-containing drinks, such as diet soda and fruit drinks, should be avoided.
- Limiting drinks at mealtimes so that your child does not become overly full and may want to eat more food.
- Consult a qualified dietitian for additional assistance, especially if your child suffers from malabsorption or has a chronic disease that causes him to be underweight.
Most essential, encourage your child to eat when he is most hungry and to at least eat something, rather than completely skipping a meal, if he isn't hungry at a certain time of day.
