How to Get Your Kids to Gain Weight Healthily

Signs of poor eating habits

How do you tell whether your child does, in fact, have poor eating habits? There are many, but here are several signs to watch out for in your child:

1. Takes longer than 30 minutes to complete their meals
2. Underweight, overweight or obese corresponding to their height and age
3. Avoids meals, covers his mouth, sometimes pretends to vomit and is generally fussy during meals
4. Picky and chooses only to eat foods they are familiar with
5. Reduced food intake compared to his peers
6. Constipation or changes in bowel habits
7. Appears pale or lethargic
8. Tooth decay
9. Poor physical growth (smaller compared to their peers)
10. Signs of behavioural problems
11. Sleep issues
12. Problems with emotional and psychological development
13. Poor concentration or difficulties at school

What are the poor eating habits in children? 

It can be baffling when your child suddenly develops the avoidance of food, especially if they used to love mealtimes, but there could also be a variety of reasons why they have poor eating habits. Here are several poor eating habits to look out for:

1. Overconsumption of food and drinks high in sugar, fat and salt.
2. Refusal to eat vegetables or fruits.
3. Eating too fast.
4. Being picky eaters.
5. Eating while watching TV, playing games, etc.
6. Skipping breakfast and eating at irregular hours.

Solutions for poor eating habits

Depending on the cause of your child’s poor eating habits, there are various solutions that can be employed to improve them. Whatever the cause, the aim should be to break these habits and instead, form good eating habits that encourage your child to eat healthily for his proper growth and development. Here are some solutions to how to get your child to gain weight healthily.

1. Visit a paediatrician to get advice on children’s growth and nutrition
2. Let your child be involved in food preparation
3. Consider nutritional supplements if there are certain foods your child will not take

Foods that are good for a healthy digestive system

A nutrient-rich diet is important for healthy growth and development. Generally, most vitamin deficiencies can be managed at home with minor changes to diet. You should take your child to see a professional if you are unsure about how to get your kids to gain weight healthily or diet or if you are concerned they may have an allergy to particular foods. The best foods for your child to consume are:

1. Fibre rich food

Importance: Fibre is essential for maintaining a healthy digestive system in children. It helps prevent constipation by promoting regular bowel movements and maintaining gut health. Additionally, fibre-rich foods can help children feel full for longer, which can be beneficial for weight management¹¹.

Examples of food rich in fibre: Whole grains (oats, whole wheat bread), fruits (apples, pears, berries), vegetables (broccoli, carrots), legumes (beans, lentils), and nuts/seeds (almonds, chia seeds).

2. Proteins

Importance: Proteins are crucial for growth and repair of body tissues, including the cells lining the digestive tract. They also play a role in enzyme production, which aids in the breakdown of food and nutrient absorption¹².

Examples: Lean meats (chicken, turkey), fish (salmon, tuna), eggs, dairy products (Greek yoghourt, cottage cheese), legumes (kidney beans, chickpeas), and tofu.

3. Low sugar fruits

Importance: Consuming fruits that are lower in sugar helps maintain stable blood sugar levels and prevents excessive sugar intake, which can negatively affect digestion and overall health¹³.

Examples: Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries), citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruits), apples, pears, and kiwi.

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Friso® Gold 3

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DHA, AA, Omega 3&6 - To fuel learning growth. DHA is important for optimal visual and cognitive development¹. AA is recognised for its key role for optimal health, cognition and development². Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are important for normal development of the brain, nervous system, sensory organs and intelligence³.

Calcium, Protein, Vitamin & Minerals - Muscle and bone growth. Calcium helps in the normal growth and development of bones and teeth. Protein is essential for your child’s growth, maintenance and repair for the body⁴. Vitamins and minerals are vital for growth and metabolism⁵.

GOS, Nucleotides & Bifido Lactis - Helps absorb key nutrients & build strong immune systems. GOS are prebiotics that can help with constipation and more⁶. Nucleotides can promote healthy gastrointestinal and immunological growth in young children⁷. Bifido Lactis is important for diarrhoea prevention as well as immune and gut maturation⁸.

Friso® Gold 4

Friso® Gold 4 is made for children above the age of 3 and contains the right choice of nutrition support through its milk powder for your toddler to gain weight healthily which are:

DHA, AA, Omega 3&6 - To fuel learning growth. DHA is important for optimal visual and cognitive development¹. AA is recognised for its key role for optimal health, cognition and development². Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are important for normal development of the brain, nervous system, sensory organs and intelligence³.

Calcium, Protein, Iron, Copper, Vitamin A and K1 - These nutrients give rapid growth of muscle and bone, as well as healthy vision to prepare the body for study as children of 4 years old begin their preschool education. Calcium helps in the normal growth and development of bones and teeth. Protein is essential for your child’s growth, maintenance and repair for the body⁴. When copper is combined with iron, it allows the body to build red blood cells as well as maintain healthy bones, blood vessels, nerves, and immune system⁹. Vitamin A enhances vision and immune functions¹⁰. Vitamin K1 helps make other proteins in the body that are important for blood, bone and kidney health and can be found in dark, leafy green vegetables¹¹.

GOS, Nucleotides & Bifido Lactis - Helps absorb key nutrients & build strong immune systems. GOS are prebiotics that can help with constipation and more⁶. Nucleotides can promote healthy gastrointestinal and immunological growth in young children⁷. Bifido Lactis is important for diarrhoea prevention as well as immune and gut maturation⁸.

References

1. Kuratko, C. N., Barrett, E. C., Nelson, E. B., & Salem, N., Jr (2013). The relationship of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with learning and behavior in healthy children: a review. Nutrients, 5(7), 2777–2810. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu5072777 
2. Salas Lorenzo, I., Chisaguano Tonato, A. M., de la Garza Puentes, A., Nieto, A., Herrmann, F., Dieguez, E., Castellote, A. I., López-Sabater, M. C., Rodríguez-Palmero, M., & Campoy, C. (2019). The Effect of an Infant Formula Supplemented with AA and DHA on Fatty Acid Levels of Infants with Different FADS Genotypes: The COGNIS Study. Nutrients, 11(3), 602. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11030602 
3. Organic's Best. (2020, July 24). Why is omega 3 and omega 6 so important for babies? Organic's Best. Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://organicsbestshop.com/blogs/organicsbestclub/why-omega-3-omega-6-is-important-for-babies#:~:text=Omega%203%20and%206%20fatty,the%20first%20months%20after%20birth.
4. The importance of protein for children's growth - baby & child nutritionist. SR Nutrition. (2022, February 28). Retrieved October 10, 2022, from https://www.srnutrition.co.uk/2020/07/the-importance-of-protein-for-childrens-growth/#:~:text=Protein%20is%20essential%20for%20your,vitamin%20D%2C%20calcium%20and%20selenium.
5. Singh, Harinder & Marjina, & Singh, Amandeep & Sharma, Deepak & Singh, Gurmeet. (2020). Role of Mineral and Vitamin for Infant, Toddler and Pregnant Women. 19. 107-115.
6. Fanaro S, Boehm G, Garssen J, Knol J, Mosca F, Stahl B, Vigi V. Galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides as prebiotics in infant formulas: a review. Acta Paediatr Suppl. 2005 Oct;94(449):22-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2005.tb02150.x. PMID: 16214761.
7. Benefits of nucleotides for babies and toddlers. Einmik. (2018, November 9). Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.einmilk.com/benefits-of-nucleotides-for-babies-and-toddlers/ 
8. Baglatzi, L., Gavrili, S., Stamouli, K., Zachaki, S., Favre, L., Pecquet, S., Benyacoub, J., & Costalos, C. (2016). Effect of Infant Formula Containing a Low Dose of the Probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis CNCM I-3446 on Immune and Gut Functions in C-Section Delivered Babies: A Pilot Study. Clinical medicine insights. Pediatrics, 10, 11–19. https://doi.org/10.4137/CMPed.S33096
9. Patwal, S. (2022, September 14). Vitamin A for kids: Right dosage, benefits & side effects. MomJunction. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://www.momjunction.com/articles/health-benefits-of-vitamin-a-for-children_0092460/#:~:text=Vitamin%20A%20supplements%20reduce%20the,%2Dspecific%20dose%20(9)
10. Castle, J. (2020, October 2). All about vitamin K for kids. The Nourished Child. Retrieved October 11, 2022, from https://thenourishedchild.com/vitamin-k-kids/ 
11. https://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/fact_sheets/Nutrition_older_children/
12. https://mypositiveparenting.org/2015/02/15/bad-vs-good-eating-habits-among-children/ 
13. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=5-ways-to-boost-your-childs-gut-health-197-29161#:~:text=Fiber%20in%20grains%2C%20fruits%2C%20and,)%2C%20bananas%2C%20and%20berries