So I have started logging food that David eats. We are also consulting a dietitian that is in our area. I logged a week and then David and I went to meet with the dietitian so we can talk about how many calories we are aiming for. She said we need to try for 1300 to 1400 a day. David weighs 35.4 this week. I am so stressed out over all this crap. I have to only give him calories that are nutritional calories. No more squeeze its and things that he loves. I am not suppose to give him cakes and cookies unless he eats the other stuff. Sounds like normal kid stuff but David is not the normal kid. He is content to just get fed by his tube. If I take away his zebra cakes I am concerned that he won't eat anything at all. It is so hard to think about his eating and how to change it. I am so completely at my wits end. I want to get him off the tube but I am starting to think we are going to be stuck here for a very very long time! I need help people. If you can think of any fattening up ideas I am all for it. I feel like I have used up all my ideas. The dietitian said that we need to use dry milk in mashed potatoes. We also need to add protein powder to other things. HELP!
Try combining the things he likes with the things he needs. For example - squeeze its (that's yogurt, right?). So, you need frozen fruit, a tub of vanilla yogurt, and protein powder (again, go for the vanilla). Oh, and orange juice. So, put some of the fruit in your blender - say, 1/2 a cup. then put a scoop of yogurt, like 1/4 cup or so. Then a scoop or two of protein powder (it usually comes with a scoop in it), and finally, enough orange juice to almost cover the fruit. Then blend. Oh, and by "frozen fruit" I mean just that - what will he use? I prefer raspberries. Only thing is - you'll probably need to food mill it because he won't dig the seeds (texture). Give him a cup of it, and keep the rest in the fridge or freezer. It's like his yogurt (it's a smoothie) and the fruitiness is there, but it's got the protein powder. Also, I used to make these with those danon yogurt cups - like you get an 8-pack of the smaller things all connected by the lids? Anyway, freeze those, as-is. Then you can thrown them in the blender. Unless he's anti-cold. Can't remember, but I wouldn't be surprised if you said so.
ReplyDeleteOh, another idea I haven't tried, but I'll adapt a tiny bit. Frozen banana. Blender. Add a scoop or two of protein powder. Pulverize. Maybe make it fun - like he can help "PULVERIZE" and push the button. Unless the noise might scare him. Anyway, Blend the banana and you get "banana ice cream". With the protein powder, you're good to go.
I'm going to guess that anything using the blender will be a help, because it will smooth out the texture. And you can slip protein powder into LOTS of stuff. Oh, and what about Tofu? I'm no expert, but you can add it to things in the blender, again, for protein and other goodness. And what about, say, chewable vitamins? Blend those suckers in, too. Probably just one of those per thing. What about the GUMMY vitamins? Does he do gummy - i think so. Vitamins will help balance out and absorb the other good stuff.
I also wonder if there might be some recipes for "nutritious" cake - like the kind you can squeeze beans into, for example. I think I made a pinto bean one sometime. It will take a little work and planning, but if you could make homemade alternatives that are packed with power, but also give him an "out", I think that would be a decent compromise.
You can do it! It'll take some adjusting, but you're skilled, you're good at using the internet as a resource, and you're clever at sneaking healthy into things.
Crap on a stick. I had all kinds of ideas, but stupid blogger said I had too many ideas, and wouldn't post my comment bc it was too big. And it didn't let me edit, so all my ideas are gone.
ReplyDeleteShort List (ask me about these things):
1. Smoothies. Using yogurt and protein powder and fruit.
2. Banana "ice cream". Adding protein powder.
3. Blender is your BFF, along with probably the food mill (bc of his texture issues). Try blending lotsa different stuff.
4. Tofu is blender-friendly, too.
5. Healthy cake - like with pinto beans, disguised as homemade zebra cakes.
6. You can do it! You've got skill, determination, and creativity. No problem.
JillB I'm pretty sure that crap on a stick is definitly out :-)
ReplyDeleteLeah is starting to feed herself more and more, but it's hard to do without makeing a total mess. I add baby cereal (the powder that comes in a box) to applesauce, yogurt, smashed bannana's etc. maybe you could add the protein powder instead of baby cereal and sneak it in??
I bought protein powder. I am just worried on how to do it so it isn't gross. It just sounds terrible tasting. I also got powdered milk. The dietitian suggest putting it in mashed potatoes and stuff to give him more calories.
ReplyDelete