For Failure to Thrive we combined tube feedings
and a high fat/high protein diet by mouth. We have slowly
added more carbs to achieve a balanced diet. Ask your doctor
about your child's dietary needs and adjust accordingly. If
you have a diagnosis, seek a clinical metabolic dietician
instead of a nutritionist.
If your children won't eat much, try feeding
them while they watch cartoons or movies. They pay attention
to the TV and not so much to the food you are putting in their
mouth.
We tempted Jude by putting cheese puffs (I'm
not promoting cheese puffs-I know they are not good for us!
I had to find something that would be easy to chew and would
taste good.) on the floor. He wasn't interested in eating
off a plate or at the table. He'd spot one and put it in his
mouth. He would spit it out (sometimes vomit) and make nasty
faces, but after months he finally started eating. Once he
started showing interest, he started eating crushed popcorn
and beef stew (broth only). Even though we gave him our table
food at every meal, for months he only ate cheese puffs, crushed
popcorn, and beef stew broth. I had liberty to experiment
because of his feeding tube.
Here are some ideas to add vegetables and fruits
to a child's diet.
Vegetables-
1. I started with less vegetables and more of the other
ingredients until he got used to the vegetable taste.
As time progresses, reduce the other ingredients to a
more balanced mix.
2. If they won't eat it finely chopped, blend in a food
processor--so small that it can't be picked apart.
3. ALWAYS MAKE A 3-5 day supply at a time or YOU will
not follow through.
4. I freeze servings (if necessary) in freezer-safe glass
bowls like these.
Put contents in a non-plastic bowl to heat. |
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Steamed Broccoli-
Steam 1 bag fresh or frozen broccoli for 12 minutes
or until tender.
Melt three scoops of organic butter.
Add lemon pepper and garlic powder and sea salt to butter.
Put broccoli in large bowl and pour butter mixture over
it
*you can also use melted cheese or just salt
*if child has swallowing problems, blenderize broccoli
and pour into melted cheese and butter
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Celery or Broccoli Mix-
Mix the following:
Shredded cheddar or colby jack cheese
Ken's buttermilk ranch (add a little water, it's thick)
chopped celery or broccoli (in food processor or by
hand)
Add sea salt and pepper if they still won't eat it.
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Shell-less taco mix-
Prepare taco meat as usual.
Add shredded cheese, finely chopped lettuce, finely
chopped grape tomatoes (blend in processor or use canned
petite diced).
Mix in guacamole and sour cream.
Serve with spoon.
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Spaghetti-
1 can of sliced carrots
1 can of petite diced tomatoes
(I use organic whole wheat spaghetti)
Prepare beef and sauce as usual. Add can of sliced
carrots and tomatoes. If your children won't eat the
sliced carrots, chop them up smaller and they will.
Serve with spoon.
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Won't eat salad?
Try Ken's buttermilk ranch or Caesar.
Instead of croutons, add Sunkist Almond Accents.
Add a little sea salt and pepper too.
Cut up into smaller bites and mix ingredients well--so
they can't be picked apart.
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Green Beans (low fat)-
Pour out liquid content.
Put beans in a small pot and fill halfway with water
(cover beans)
Add beef bouillon cube or two.
Season.
Bring to boil, then simmer for 30 minutes.
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Bean wraps-
Organic refried beans
Shredded cheese of choice
Wheat or Spinach tortillas
Salsa or taco sauce
Sour cream (tofu sour cream is really good)
Avocado
Blenderized tomatoes
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Green Beans (high fat)-
Pour out liquid content.
Put beans in a small skillet with oil or grease and
stir-fry for 5 minutes.
Add salt and pepper.
Remove from skillet and put in small pot with water.
Bring to boil, then simmer for 10 minutes or longer.
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Steamed Asparagus wrapped in ham-
Steam asparagus for 15 minutes or until tender.
In skillet, add a little olive oil, lemon pepper, and
salt.
Place slices of Swiss cheese on top of sliced ham (from
the deli).
Place asparagus on top and roll. (or blenderize)
Place rolls in skillet. With fire on Medium High, cook
for about 5 minutes or until cheese melts.
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Jodi's salad dressing for Spinach salad-
1 cup oil
2/3 cup raw sugar (I use a lot less sugar than this)
1/2 tablespoon mustard
tad of minced garlic
bacon
1 tsp salt/pepper
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
Pour on spinach leaves mixed with sliced strawberries,
mandarin oranges, and/or pecans. One tablespoon is enough
for Jude's salad.
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| Meats-easily blenderized
or smashed |
| I know these are not really
meats, but my kids love vegetarian chicken nuggets and
corn dogs. |
Chicken salad-mix with
cream cheese and Tony's seasoning, add blenderized carrots
or broccoli. |
|
Lisa's Orange Roughy-(Kroger fish is really
good-I love this recipe with cod)
Orange roughy
Finely chopped tomato and onion (processor)
Lemon pepper (or just lemon)
Butter or Pam
Cheddar cheese
Cover fish with lemon pepper seasoning and add butter
in oven-safe dish.
Spoon tomato/onion mixture onto fish.
Cook fish according to instructions or until white and
flaky.
Add cheddar and cook a few minutes more (until melted).
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Fajitas with low carb tortillas-
Fajita seasoning packet(s) without MSG
Chicken
Wheat or spinach tortillas
Onion/Bell pepper
Cook meat and onion/bell mixture together. Put in blender
when done for just a few seconds.
Put meat mixture back in skillet and add packet(s).
Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole,
and tortillas.
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| Fruits-I was told that
seeded fruits are better because they have less sugar.
(Fresh not canned) |
| If you have to used canned
fruit, there are canned fruits stored in water with no
sugar or Splenda added. |
|
Fruit Dip-
Mix Coolwhip (or whipping cream) and Yogurt (5 per Coolwhip
container) |
Fruit Dip-
Mix whipping cream and cream cheese. (The best is
marshmallow cream and cream cheese, but that is not low-sugar.) |
| Alternate snack ideas |
| nuts (sesame seeds for little
ones, mixed nuts for older kids) |
multigrain crackers and cheese
slices |
| edamame |
fruit with whipping cream on
top, plain yogurt with blenderized fruit |
