What are some ways to get my 2 year old to eat more? Or what can I do to add more calories to what she eats?

Question

My toddler is very picky. I swear she only eats maybe 2 bites of food all day! But she will eat bananas like crazy but I don't want her eating bananas all day because then she gets a bad stomach ache. She doesn't want to eat meals. And all she wants is cookies which I dont like to keep in the house anyway. But she will not eat real food. How can I get her to eat? And how can I add good stuff like vegetables to what she does eat? She is in the lower 5th percentile for her weight. Her doctor told me she needs to eat more. But other than that she is healthy so the doc told me to not worry too much but do try to get her to eat more. But she will not eat vegetables or meat or bread or anything like that. Her grandparents spoiled her so much (they babysit while I work) with cookies and candy and now she won't eat unless it is something sweet!! I ended that real quick though once I found out about it.

I can't afford Pediasure. It is over 10 dollars for a 6 pack and it says they should have at least 3 a day!

Answer 1

Some kids with a poor appetite who aren't gaining weight well, might benefit from eating high calorie, nutrient dense foods, as long as they are healthy foods and not just high calorie junk foods.

High Calorie Foods
It won't surprise most parents to see a lot of fast food items on this list of high calorie foods. Other foods, like trail mix, potato salad, and dates, might be more of a surprise.
Condensed Milk (Sweetened)
Trail Mix (with chocolate chips, nuts, and seeds)
Fast Food - Hamburgers, Sandwiches, Tacos, etc.
Fast Food - French Fries
Dates
Fast Food - Milk Shake
Chicken Pot Pie
Cheese Sauce
Bread Crumbs
Pecan Pie
Ricotta Cheese
Baked Beans with Franks
Potato Salad
Eggnog
Other items that can be high in calories include salad dressings and other toppings.
Be sure to read the nutrition label of whatever foods you are buying for your family to try and find those that are high in calories.

If your child is underweight and you are actually trying to give her high calorie foods, some things that might help include offering your child more snacks and things like:
Peanut Butter, Nuts, Trail Mix, etc.
Adding cheese to more foods and other 'extras,' like sour cream on baked potatoes, gravy on meats, butter on vegetables, mayonnaise on sandwiches, cream cheese on fruits, etc.
make a breading for more foods you prepare using bread crumbs
make a high calorie smoothie with NESTLÉ CARNATION Instant Nonfat Dry Milk milk, bananas, orange juice, ice cream and some water
add 1/3 cup of NESTLÉ Carnation Instant Nonfat Dry Milk to 1 cup of whole milk (adds 80 calories)
add a packet of NESTLÉ Carnation Instant Breakfast Mix to 1 cup of whole milk (adds 130 calories)
Most importantly, remember that even though you are trying to give your child extra calories in this case, that doesn't mean giving your child a lot of junk food, such as candy, soda, or juice.

If your toddler isn't fond of "too sweet," you might try these things my toddler likes: Hummus (on whole wheat pita) Whole wheat pasta with plenty of pesto Full fat cream cheese (on an egg bagel)- they come in plenty of flavors at Noah's Almond, cashew, or peanut butter (My guys will eat these with a spoon out of the jar if you let him!), Homemade oven fries, Cheese cubes- my guy likes cheddar best- string cheese is actually lower in fat and calories.

The use of Extra Virgin Olive Oil is high in calories and is full of the good fats. This is a great and healthy way to add more calories and fats.

Just let her snack...all day if necessary. Don't worry about meals right now. As long as you can get her to eat, just let her. My youngest can eat ALL day long, and in fact wakes in the middle of the night to go snack before he crawls in bed with me. He has a VERY high metabolism and is "underweight" as well. He is about 2 inches shorter than his 4 year old brother, yet he barely weighs 29 pounds. I TRY to get him to eat at meal times, but his body needs to eat all the time. Have fun eating. Let her see you and the grandparents eat all this healthy food and she will be more likely to eat it.

Answer 2

Has she always been in the lower percentiles? Have her weight and height percentiles been consistent? If so, then she may just be destined to be thin. My daughter is that way (she’s now up to the 15%).

Don't give her pedisure - it's the same as giving her a milkshake with a vitamin.

Please note that a toddler portion is usually only a Tablespoon. That is not much. This is also a power struggle between you and her and she is wining. You are doing well with no cookies and sweets during the day.

Try having her sit with you (and the family) for meals. Give her what you are having for dinner, but only a tablespoon of each item on her plate. Do not force her to eat - the more you try to get her to eat the more she will push back. Have her sit at least 5 minutes at the table before she can leave (if she says she's done eating). Try setting regular snack times like 1 1/2 hours after meals with only 2 choices – such as sliced apples or yogurt. If she likes bananas, try banana bread (have her help make it). If she eats it, next time put some grated carrots in it. Keep bananas as a treat or prize - if she eats all of her dinner (the tablespoon portions) she can have 1/2 a banana for desert.

Also, keep a log. She maybe snacking on more than you realize.

With our eldest we did not require him to try everything on his plate until he was 4. If he ate all we gave him he could have desert, which was a small ice cream cup. Little sister sees this so starting at 3 she was required to taste everything on her plate to get dessert. Our youngest has NO trouble eating, so no worries there.

Toddlers are tough and make it tough on parents, but you'll do great. Take care.

Answer 3

This is a really picky age. You might try some sweet but nutritious things, like peaches or pears with cottage cheese, banana slices on peanut butter toast or crackers, and I still use that V8 fusion juice that has both fruit and veggie juice in it (my toddler has been better about vegetables lately but I still like the thought of him getting extra). Yogurt is another idea, maybe mix in a little Grape Nuts or granola for crunch.

Spaghetti has also been a lifesaver for me, because I can use the garden combo sauces and get veggies in that way. My little guy eats more hot dogs than I would prefer, but at least it's protein. French fries are another handy kid food, especially when they discover the joys of ketchup.

Good luck! Hope she comes around soon.

Answer 4

I know you said you can't afford Pediasure but you don't have you give her 3 of them a day. When my son was little I would often supplement his diet with an Ensure(before they had peidasure) once a day. With just one a day you can be comfortable knowing she got all the nutrients she needed for at least one meal.
Other than that, you will have to make sure you have nothing improper for her to eat on hand. No cookies or sweets. Ofter her the food you wish her to eat. If she does not eat it fine, at the next snack or meal time offer her something you wish her to eat. Eventually if you only allow proper food she will take it because she will get hungry enough. I know it's hard seeing her not eat.
As for vegetables, depending on what things she will eat you can always grind and grate them up and put them in nourishing foods she likes. Hope that helps.

Answer 5

I understand that you can't afford Pediasure for her everyday but try just one can a day. tell her grandparents what the doc said about her wight and tell them to cut back on the sweets. Try to give her vitamins, tell he there candy! Also try telling her if she eats dinner then she can have candy or cake or what evers sweet. Bananas are good but try given her cereal then the banana. Only give her the sweets after she eats something good! Tell the grandparents that too. If they care about her they will cut back on the sweets and start the good food. Good Luck!

Answer 6

I was somewhat picky when I was little too. My parents would either do two things: make me sit there till I ate all of my food OR they would reward me with dessert if I ate all of my food. Instead of 3 big meals a day try little meals through out the day. You may have to punish her if she doesn't eat her food. About the grandparents: send her meals over there with her. They don't need to feed her if you send the food with her. And make sure that they understand no sweets unless she eats all of her food (try letting her have her dessert at the end of the day so she has something to work towards). It'll be tough but you can do it.

Answer 7

Have you tried offering her children's ensure? You can get the store brands pretty cheap, and you don't have to offer them to her as many times a day as the package states, that's just a recomendation. They come in many flavors that appeal to children, and are high in vitamins and minerals, so they are very good for her. In addition to the drinks, I believe they now offer granola bars, so that's another healthy alternative.

Other than that you just need to stick to your no junk food policy with her. Offer her only healthy meals and snacks and don't allow anyone else to offer her sweets or other junk foods. Once she realizes that you aren't going to give in, she will start eating more, especially if you offer her a great variety of healthy foods to choose from.

Answer 8

How about fairy bread - thats wholemeal bread, with butter, and sprinkled with (a TINY bit of) sugar? Cinnamon Toast (same bread, butter, little sugar, little powedered cinnamon)My twins went thru a stage like this, doc said to add butter to everything you can, like, mash, veg, etc., grate veg up ( I mixed grated veg into anything I could, meatballs, spag bol etc) try weetabix for brekkie, or porridge made with milk and a little sugar etc. Am not advocating huge amounts of sugar, but calorie intake is important for a small child with a low weight, and any way you can add a few calories is important. Good luck. Mine are 8 now and still fussy eaters, but are gradually eating new and different foods.
If you keep a food diary of every mouthful she eats, you might be surprised as to the variety of what she has. Have hope!!
Good luck
Jx

Answer 9

hmmm, she only eats bananas eh? Well, it's not the unhealthiest of foods, but too much of one thing could still stunt her growth. You could always try bribing her with a banana to eat the other stuff, but you have to be VERY consistant and not give her any until she at least eats a serving of the other food. Make bananas her dessert and explain to her that she doesn't get any until she eats the other stuff. She'll certainly tantrum, but on't give into it, else she'll learn that tantrums = banana.

You can also try getting her to eat things with bananas in them, like that "Nature's Own" brand of granola cereal & banana muffins for grains, banana flavored milk for dairy, banana & peanutbutter sandwiches for protien, etc.. Try wening her off the bananas.

It could also be that this is a phase not just due to taste preference, but that she thinks she will turn into a monkey if she eats ONLY bananas. Kids LOVE monkeys.

Answer 10

my son is 2 and getting over his pickiness *thank god* you have to realize that the mojority of it is her thinking (or knowing) she can control you or your decisions. only feed her breakfast snack lunch snack dinner. or loose a snack to suit your schedule better. do what you normally do for breakfast, and if she doesnt eat, then she should want to eat snack, some peeled apples and crackers or something sweet for her sweet tooth but also healthy. if you dont give in to her she'll realize your not playing anymore. and she'll eat. but every now and then i tell my son, if he eats his dinner he can hae ice cream with sprinkles (loves sprinkles), so bribing works too. oh, and as long as she's taking vitamins she should be okay, i use the gummy flinstones. **Good Luck**

Answer 11

Well I suggest you try different foods that a are a little sweeter but still have the necessary nutrition, as for her not eating meat, she does need her protein and vitamins so I suggest giving her a Flintstones vitamin as part of her daily diet.