Hellobee Boards

I don't give it to my toddler, but I use mrm veggie elite. No added junk. It pea protein. I give my toddler the Happy Baby Organics protein and fiber pouches, but those use whey protein from milk, not a vegetable source.

For DS I use yogurt in his smoothies. If I think he needs more protein I use Greek, otherwise just whole milk plain. You can add a spoon of coconut oil for calories and you can't taste it. You can also make PBJ smoothies using peanut butter or PB2 powdered peanuts with frozen berries and banana and milk - that has a lot of protein. I also add frozen spinach to mine for veggies.

If the concern is protein, I'd stick to full fat dairy. I'm a vegetarian and that's what my OB told me to do during pregnancy (well, I did 2%, but for LO the guideline is full fat)

If the concern is nutrients, I'd describe LO's diet to the pediatrician, see if there is something they think is lacking, then maybe some bloodwork to determine a specific supplement or multivitamin.

Honestly protein powders kind of weird me out.

I'm a vegetarian with a vegetarian toddler who is skinny at 15 months and struggles to put on weight. I haven't added protein powder because I have been told by others that its advised to not give it to young kids (it wasn't a doctor who told me that though). I did recently buy pediasure to try but she wouldn't drink it-not for protein obviously.

To bulk up two foods she does eat (smoothies and oatmeal) I add hemp hearts and ground almond.

Her smoothie will have full fat milk, hemp hearts, and plain5% fat Greek yoghurt for the added protein. I was initially using a plain 10% fat yoghurt (I add a bit of maple syrup if she's eating it by itself) until I found this one with more protein. Hemp seeds have omegas, fats, and protein in them. I have also sprinkled them onto buttered pasta for her before.

My brother and my BIL both had kidney stones in their 20s which their doctors attributed to daily use of protein powder. My brother used a really high quality one (I want to say it was hemp???) while BIL was using whatever was cheap. Obviously tons of people use protein powder but I thought it was weird.

You could try adding coconut oil, avocados, chia seeds, powdered peanuts, or full-fat greek yogurt to smoothies. Chia seed pudding can be super delicious!

@newlypregnantlady: love me some chia seed pudding - I can get DD to eat it too with berries!

@Mrs D: I actually had to stop eating it because I was eating too much fiber! Too good!