Peadiasure -- is there an "organic" version of this?

[Adamsmama]

My son is very low weight and the dr. is now concerned that he should be gaining quicker.  He has a healthy appetite and does eat -- but has several problems going on.  First -- severe food allergies to several foods (corn, soy, peanut, banana, tomato, any legume).  Second -- he is autistic and has sensitivities to textures, etc.  He recommended pediasure...but I'm fairly sure that it will contain either corn syrup or soy or both.  He can't have *any* of those 2 things.  Is there an organic version of this product?  Can I somehow recreate this using whole foods?  I have trouble getting him to eat most protein foods ... he will eat eggs, milk and cheese ... but not a lot of meat.

[cristeen]

How old is he? What does a day's food look like? Where is his weight/height in the percentiles? Where has it been in the past?

To be soy and corn free, i think you're gonna hafta make it yourself. You can find the WAPF formula recipe on their website. If he's over 18 mos, then i'd use that recipe as a starting point, whether its the milk base or the stock base. Some things really aren't necessary for an older child, IMO, like the lactose. Most of the rest of the ingredients you can find at your HFS.

I will say though that if you're looking at toddler formulas and the like, i've steered clear of them, my guy is still drinking infant formula. The first ingredient and the bulk of most of them seem to be sugar. And thats not a healthy way to help a child gain weight.

[Adamsmama]

He is 8 years old.  He was in the 90-95% for weight as a baby all the way until probably 3 years old and then started to have severe problems (bad chronic diarrhea for years that the drs. couldn't figure out until the food allergies were diagnosed).  He has only gained 4 pounds in the last 3 years.  I expressed concern a few years ago, but at the time the dr. seemed to let it slide.  He used to eat A LOT and was so skinny.  He eats what I consider normal portions now.

He'll eat O's and milk, eggs, or a grilled cheese sandwhich for breakfast.  He eats 2 snacks a day -- usually crackers and cheese sticks, some fruit, graham crackers.  Lunch is either sunbutter sandwhich or grilled cheese, sometimes plain chips, fruit, apple sauce or yogurt.  Juice or water.  Dinner is either quiche, mac/cheese, pizza, hard boiled eggs, meatballs, chicken fajitas.  No candy -- sometimes they get ice cream or 1 cookie on special occasions.  We don't do high sugar stuff at all. 

I'm thinking milkshakes made with yogurt and fruit?  I dont think he needs formula.  What is the deal with pediasure -- is it high in protein? 

He weighs in the 10th percentile for weight and between 10-20 for height.  The dr. feels he just needs extra calories.  He is such a picky eater that I do feel my options are limited, too.  Would it be good to just add extra fat to what he eats (more butter, whole milk instead of 2%, etc.?)

[Ecochique]

Does he live avocados? They really beefed up my DS and he loves them!

[motherhendoula]

Yeah Pediasure is supposed to help with protein.  Avocados are a great thing - what about nuts like cashews?  im not sure if you mentioned a nut allergy - also have you looked into "Spirulina"? I beleive the base of that is algae.   i buy a sugar free version - not certain what the regular version contains but its like an 'adult pediasure'  - i mixed mine with Hemp Milk while i was pregnant and only wanted to eat bread and pasta.  You can get small packets of LOTS of different flavors at HFS.

[SomethingAnonymous]

Originally Posted by Adamsmama 

He is 8 years old.  He was in the 90-95% for weight as a baby all the way until probably 3 years old and then started to have severe problems (bad chronic diarrhea for years that the drs. couldn't figure out until the food allergies were diagnosed).  He has only gained 4 pounds in the last 3 years.  I expressed concern a few years ago, but at the time the dr. seemed to let it slide.  He used to eat A LOT and was so skinny.  He eats what I consider normal portions now.

He'll eat O's and milk, eggs, or a grilled cheese sandwhich for breakfast.  He eats 2 snacks a day -- usually crackers and cheese sticks, some fruit, graham crackers.  Lunch is either sunbutter sandwhich or grilled cheese, sometimes plain chips, fruit, apple sauce or yogurt.  Juice or water.  Dinner is either quiche, mac/cheese, pizza, hard boiled eggs, meatballs, chicken fajitas.  No candy -- sometimes they get ice cream or 1 cookie on special occasions.  We don't do high sugar stuff at all. 

I'm thinking milkshakes made with yogurt and fruit?  I dont think he needs formula.  What is the deal with pediasure -- is it high in protein? 

He weighs in the 10th percentile for weight and between 10-20 for height.  The dr. feels he just needs extra calories.  He is such a picky eater that I do feel my options are limited, too.  Would it be good to just add extra fat to what he eats (more butter, whole milk instead of 2%, etc.?)

I don't mean to be harsh at all.. I understand the texture sensitivities.. but where are the vegetables?  I saw mostly dairy, grains, meat and a little fruit in that list.  What about getting a juicer and making him smoothies with lots of veggies and some fruit and yogurt or something? He really needs more veggies!

And yeah I think whole raw grass fed milk is much better than 2% because of the processing, it kills so many of the nutrients and you aren't getting the good fat.

http://www.nourishingourchildren.org/Pyramid.html

The deal with pediasure is also the vitamins and minerals.. but I would never give it one of my kids.  I'd get him on a lot more raw veggies and raw milk, avocados like someone else said are great. Coconut oil, grass fed butter... good fats, not processed bad fats.

[ammiga]

What about organic kefir? Or homemade smoothies? Those are a great way to get in fruits and veggies. I use whole yogurt, carrot juice, a handful of spinach, and a large variety of frozen fruits. I also might add some honey.

[craft_media_hero]

oh, oh!

Dad's Sneaky Pudding 

This recipe was created by Earthsave International's Chair of the Board of Directors, Louisville Lawyer and amazing chef, John Borders.

• 1.5 cups frozen strawberries
• 1 banana
• 1-2 tsp. carob or cocoa powder
• 2 tsp. flaxseed oil
• 3-5 Tbsp. nut butter (cashew or almond)
• 2-3 Tbsp. orange juice or other healthy juice such as carrot juice
• 2 Tbsp. fortified soymilk
• 1/8-1/4 avocado

Set your little companion up on a stool beside you, ready to toss in the ingredients and push the button. Place all the ingredients in a food processor or blender. This works best in a food processor; you might add a bit more juice or soymilk if you use a blender. Blend until smooth. 

Makes 2 servings. 

Per serving: 336 calories, 7 g protein, 40 g carbohydrate, 19 g fat. 

For a toddler aged 1-3 years, using 3 Tbsp. cashew butter for the whole recipe, a serving of this pudding provides approximately:

• 100% of the requirement for magnesium, folate, vitamin C and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Over 66% of the requirement for copper and potassium
• Over 50% the requirement for pyridoxine and zinc
• 42% of the protein requirements
• 25% of the needs for calories and selenium
• 20% of the needs for iron

Adapted From: Becoming Vegan (Davis and Melina, The Book Publishing Co. Summertown Tennessee, 2000)

-you can swap out fruits, and I would add coconut oil or maybe use heavy cream instead of juice. That's a lot of calories in a little yummy "pudding"! Oh, and you would not have to use soymilk, either--it's originally a vegan recipe but you could adapt to whatever milk your family has on hand. Also, I think this would freeze great as popsicles--what kid would say no to popsicles?

ITA w pp who said switch from 2% milk, too. I'd be drenching everything in butter and coconut oil and serving lotsa guacamole. Also, at one point when I was dropping weight drastically, I made sure to profusely use olives and olive oil, like on pizza, etc-- you can make olive oil bread/pizza dough. More nut butter, like cooked into oatmeal or in the center of muffins. Cook rice/other grains in coconut milk instead or in place of part of the water. 

Croutons sauteed in olive oil on salad (will he eat salad?), milk/cream based soups. Cheese it all up hard, too. Cheesy biscuits, etc. Also, make sure the mac n cheese is real cheese, extra cheese, and use butter and cream in the recipe  Pesto on pasta and pizzas and crackers, as dip. Cashews in stir fries. Gravy on vegetables (yeast gravy is pretty healthy). How 'bout home-made (or store-bought, too) sour cream and onion dip using either whole greek yogurt and green onions/chives or creme fraiche? Let him have chips or home fries with it if that's the only way.

Oh, when I was pregnant, I made peanut butter banana smoothie using half and half that had about 500 calories at a pop, lol. Basically just lotsa peanut butter, half and half, a banana, and optional silken tofu. You could also add in malt/whey/hemp seed/flax oil etc. for even more calories. It was delish! Also any smoothies can be frozen as popsicles.

I'm one of those with a crazy fast metabolism, so I've had a lot of experience in bulking up calories in my food intake! 

eta Idk what's up w/ the weird link box!