Children usually gain weight as they get older. However, some kids do not gain enough weight, and there are several reasons for this. One of the most common reasons is that they don’t eat enough food. Whether they don’t like the color or smell, this is a major problem for those parents with picky eaters.

Not consuming enough healthy food can be detrimental to a child’s health. If you are concerned about your child being underweight and are facing difficulty finding ways to help them eat more healthily, we’ve got you covered. From a variety of food ideas to tips on motivating them, we will try and help those struggling with underweight children.

Ways to make your child gain weight

There are a few reasons why a child is not gaining enough weight. They are either not eating enough or having some health issues. After checking with a doctor if everything is okay, you can start making a plan to help them eat more to gain weight. Making small changes to your child’s eating habits might just be the thing you were looking for. But, remember to increase your child’s weight without pressuring them.

1. Add healthy shakes to their diet

Usually, children who have trouble eating may struggle with some medical condition, food allergies, or digestive problems. Instead of using medication to treat these issues, you can try implementing delicious and nutritious weight gaining shakes for kids that help them gradually increase their weight in a healthy manner. 

Many children are picky eaters that either don’t like how the food looks or how it smells, and some don’t even like the texture. So, instead of tormenting yourself with what to prepare next, you can try weight-gaining shakes since they will provide the right amount of nutrients to help them move toward a healthier body weight.

An important thing to know is that these are considered food supplements, and as such, they need to be given between meals instead of replacing meals. Liquids go down easier than solid foods, so it will be much easier for picky eaters to gain weight successfully.

2. Schedule meals

This may be one of the best ways to help your child eat more. Try to make a good schedule that works best for them, and include healthy food and snacks. Pay attention not to skip any meal, even the snacks. Maybe you can consider giving them smaller meals four or five times a day, instead of giving three big ones.

Encourage healthy snacks two or three times a day. Kids love snacks, so this is a great trick to make them eat more but healthy! Avoid low-nutrient food like junk food. Instead, give them high-nutrient food like milk, peanut butter, and yogurt that are high in calories and have plenty of vitamins and minerals.

Limit their fluid intake at mealtimes, and avoid low-energy drinks such as fruit drinks. But, most importantly, make a healthy pattern for eating at a designated time. This will make a routine and will help them maintain a healthy diet even when they get older.

3. Balanced plate

If you make small changes to your child’s diet during the day, you can increase the calories they get. Add a variety of food to make a balanced meal plan over three meals or more per day. Choose high-fat cuts of meat such as ground beef and fatty fish like salmon. Also, don’t forget to use cheese, yogurt, and milk.

If you feel that you need to introduce high-calorie drinks and fruit smoothies, remember to wait until the end of the meal because fluids can easily fill up small stomachs. But, if you plan to avoid them altogether, you can make food that is almost everyone’s favorites like mac and cheese, casseroles, puddings, and the list goes on.

You can easily add peanut butter or margarine for breakfast, so don’t be afraid to add fats and oils to your child’s regular meals. And as for snacks, there are protein and fat-rich snacks you can give them like muffins, raw vegetables, or nuts and seeds with dried fruit.

4. Maximize the food

More than adding more calories and fat, you can work on some fun recipes and mix up a variety of foods. For example, if you are making potatoes, try adding cheese on top or make a finger-licking cheesy potato casserole. Focus on a few recipes and see if your kid likes them.

You can make a variety of different and interesting weight-gaining foods instead of always consisting of the same ingredients. Homemade banana bread with pumpkin seeds or a chocolate peanut butter milkshake may be just what you were searching for.

Another but more extreme way is to try and increase the quantity of food for every meal. For example, instead of giving your child one sandwich in the morning, why not give them two? Try to find the ways that best work with your child because every kid is different.    

5. Motivational techniques

As much as it is important to feed them right, another crucial thing is to motivate your children to eat. Every child needs motivation either for eating or studying. They sometimes cannot motivate themselves, so they need their parents to help them. Don’t pressure them, but encourage them.

Allow them to express themselves and monitor their eating habits, so you can learn more about how to help them. Give a good example and always try to eat with them. Also, don’t forget to eliminate anything that distracts them while eating, such as tablets, smartphones, or the TV.

Teach them about appetite, but approach it as something educational and do not stress them. You can provide them with kid’s books about digestion and appetite, including some fun illustrations to pique their curiosity. 

Final thoughts

Although your main focus should be implementing different types of food and sometimes questioning if they are healthy or not, don’t forget to keep your child physically active. It’s all about being healthy and maintaining a nutritious diet. Provide them with the best food to help them gain weight healthily. Get creative and look for suggestions to further enrich their already colorful and healthy plate.    

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