Hellobee Boards

@Pirouette: not a huge amount of calories, but what about adding hummus to some of the things she already eats? Extra protein at least, and healthy fats from olive oil!

I'd add oils and fats wherever you can.

Can you cook stuff in butter? What about pureeing avocado and using that as a pasta sauce (alongside maybe butter and parmesan).

My LO definitely ate hummus before 12 months; she has always eaten a lot of hummus.

@Pirouette: I've actually never made avocado pasta myself, but I have it pinned to try! I'm guessing leftovers wouldn't work, but you could always just puree up 1/2 an avocado and make like a single-serving at a time for her.

Don't be afraid to experiment with hummus - there are so many flavors out there. My LO likes regular hummus, but LOVES the extra garlic one and the caramelized onion one. Good luck!

ETA: one other thought I had - what about freezing full fat yogurt to make frozen yogurt for her? You could even probably add some protein powder, or do that with something like pediasure.

@Pirouette: I'm not a RD, but my LO is MSPI and I researched a lot about foods for toddlers as she started eating more, since she wouldn't be having cow's milk or breast milk (I stopped pumping when she was 13 months), and those are both good sources of proteins/fats/calories.

I think first, you have to kind of throw out the notions of what a lot of adults have of "healthy eating"--because healthy eating for an adult is so different from healthy eating for a toddler/child. Like, as an adult I try to avoid a lot of butter or fats--but for toddlers, it is absolutely essential. I would never drench vegetables in butter for myself, but I do for my LO (well, in her case, not butter...but I use a LOT of olive oil and earth balance).

Also, I didn't realize before that LOs should always be getting the fattiest cuts of meats. I used to only buy boneless skinless chicken breasts, for example....until a nutritionist at a toddler cooking class I attended said LOs do not need to be eating white meat very often. And now I buy a lot of chicken on the bone (thighs and legs) and give LO only dark meat.

Same for red meat---I give her the fattiest stuff--brisket, roasts, etc. No "extra lean" cuts of anything.

I think my LO eats very healthfully, just because she can't eat any dairy and therefore, she doesn't eat a lot of carbs because they have dairy or soy unless I home make them, and I don't have the time. She eats mostly proteins, vegetables, and fruits. But her weight gain has been really good as we've transitioned into foods from breast milk, and I think it's because of the above--liberal use of butter/olive oil in cooking, fatty cuts of meats, lots of eggs.

Hope that helps!

I know you said no dairy, but we add whole milk powder to whole milk to increase the calories. Also butter on everything. Flax seeds, chia seeds, or even cereals can be added to many foods to increase calories.

Just remember that fats are healthy, especially for growing kids, so add them to all of the healthy stuff.

We buy the Trader Joe's "Just Chicken" and I'll saute it in pesto or pasta sauce and maybe add cheese...

What about sausages?

Side note: YAY outgrowing MSPI

LO always loved to drink so we did a lot of smoothies, but as far as food, I cook her food in butter, olive oil, or coconut oil. Add coconut oil to oatmeal with a bit of cream. She loves toast with butter or bagels with cream cheese. Pasta with butter, garlic and cheese is a favorite. Sometimes I give her tortellini with cheese too. We try to make sure snacks are caloric, not just fruit and veggies, like avocados in wheat germ, apple and peanut butter, pasta with black olives, Greek Yogurt, cottage cheese. Just keep offering.

I can get my kid to eat anything in pasta form (not that he is super picky). Ravioli and tortellini make a quick and fattening dinner but this boy of mine hasn't met a pasta he doesn't like!

I didn't read all the replies, so forgive any repeat suggestions, but we had to fatten up DD1's food and added coconut oil to things, unsalted butter, whole milk yogurt, cheese, nut butters, and try mashing a banana with an avocado- both my babies didn't love avocado plain, but did eat it mashed with banana. You can also add spices to baby food to add to its appeal (just no salt, sugar, or honey obviously). I added cinnamon to things with apple/ oatmeal/ pumpkin, and a little garlic to peas, which made a big difference. Baby food doesn't have to be bland!