MIB had a dietician appointment earlier this month. It’s a regular appointment that we’ve had over the last 2½ years*. Each visit reveals some further information or leads to a referral to the allergy clinic and we are always grateful to the NHS for their help and guidance.
This time the conversation was around his calorie intake. MIB has always been a skinny minny. He eats tons but doesn’t seem to put a lot of weight on. However, they’ve always been happy with his growth chart.
The explanation for why he snacks so much was a bit of a light bulb moment for me. Most toddlers need regular topping up, of course, because they rarely stop still for longer than an episode of Numberjacks. However, because most of what I can give MIB is inevitably unprocessed and ‘healthy’ he doesn’t get many calories. Breadsticks and grapes don’t really give him the energy that he needs to run around between meals. The Oatly milk he has is low in calories compared to the full-fat cow’s milk he’d otherwise be on, he doesn’t chew on cheese, and the most exciting biscuits I can buy for him in a packet are rich tea fingers or fig rolls. I had been a bit concerned about the amount of snacks he demands and how regularly but hadn’t really thought about it. It makes sense now.
She did make me feel terribly guilty about not baking more for MIB. Not her fault, of course but since I can’t buy stuff off the shelf for him it’s the only way he can actually eat cakes and muffins, etc. More calorific snacks means I have to open the baking cupboard and get busy.
We also discussed sandwiches. I struggle to find interesting fillings for MIB for lunches and, more importantly, picnics. The media is always telling me that processed meat is not good to eat, so I worry about too much ham. Marmite is our only real other option as we are still waiting for the fish allergy investigation. Besides, MIB has never been keen on tinned fish and quite frankly, I’m not that organised when we plan days out to buy and cook stuff in advance. Surprisingly, jam was the recommendation. Well, fruit spread, which is what we use in the house already for toast (it doesn’t have any sugar added and you can see the fruit in it). I was surprised though and wondered what the reaction would be of judgy mothers when my son turned up somewhere with a jam sandwich with lashings of Pure spread (yes, she recommended slathering the stuff on).
So, it was all good and I felt I learned a lot. I have been avidly applying the Pure spread on all bread-like surfaces that go near his mouth and relaxed my views on jam. I have also been trying my best to ensure there are baked goodies in the kitchen at all times. I have even managed to rope husband into this task – for that alone I thank the dietician as he never bothered before. I am not sure I have noticed a difference so far in MIB, but it has only been a couple of weeks. I certainly put more effort now into matching his snacks to the level of activity and have been finding more recipes that I can convert.
All suggestions welcome!
*MIB’s diet is varied and he loves food. However, there are things he can’t eat. He has problems with dairy proteins so all cow’s, goat’s and other animal’s milk products are out as well as eggs and peanut butter.
Please note:
This is a post about the NHS dietician appointment I attended with my son. It is not a guide for you to use with yourself or your children. I have included some of the details for interest only and so it may help you to ask questions and open discussions at your own appointments or to encourage you to find out more. Am also ready to accept that I am a twit and should’ve been able to work all of the above out myself.
Suzy says
Hi, Just found your website and think it is great, my daughter is only 9 months and has been diagnosed with dairy, egg and nut allergy, so just starting on the road of learning all about all the foods she can and can’t have. Think I am going to have to start baking for the first time in my life !! which should be a challenge. Great comments on the avocado, will try that again with her, as she to is on the small side
Libby says
Oops, just read your comment about the avocado above!
Libby says
My son is also violently allergic to dairy, egg and peanuts (among other things). For his savory sandwiches I sometimes mash up some avocado and spread a nice thick layer for both nutrition and calories. If it needs to be packed for a few hours, I’ll mix in a little lemon juice first, so that it doesn’t brown.
I have the same concerns about processed meat. Occasionally I roast a chicken on the weekends. When I do, I’ll get a second bird to roast at the same time (no extra work for me) and have sandwich meat for the whole family for the week.
Good luck!
MyItchyBoy says
Ooh, never thought of that….though not sure my oven is big enough…..will investigate as that’s a good idea. Yes, avocados are a pain!
The lovely http://www.ibakewithout.com pointed me to this: http://www.theintolerantgourmet.com/journal/2010/11/12/hot-smoked-salmon-pate.html which I will have a go soon.
MyItchyBoy says
Oh dear, you poor thing. It’s so hard isn’t it? I am hopeful that MyItchyBoy will grow out of egg soon but allergy consultant this morning told me to keep clear still 🙁
Unfortunately his eczema has always reacted to stone fruits, so avocado has been on the bad list for a while. Lately though, he has been fine with smoothies that have a small amount of stone fruits in, so think will try some soon. At least, despit a peanut allergy, he is always eating pletny of fatty hummous.
If I find out any great tips on the calorie building, will post on here.
Good luck and thanks for commentin. It’s always good to know we’re not alone.
Bridget says
Oh, so much to say!
I have an extremely skinny 5 year old who has allergies to dairy, sesame and hazelnut, and who can’t eat peanuts as she’s on the avoidance side of the LEAP study into peanut allergy. Traditional calorie dense foods like hummous and cheese are obviously out so we too have to think outside the box. So at times do health professionals. We were sent a letter informing us that she had a BMI on the zero percentile that was accompanied by the usual healthy eating leaflet containing useful advice on replacing cakes with healthy fruit based snacks and never frying anything.
I’ve found it quite a struggle to get over my in-built notions of what is a healthy diet. I’m afraid I don’t fry the fish fingers like the dietician recommended, because there are other people in the family who wouldn’t benefit from that much fat. And she doesn’t have the daily hot chocolate to drink, because she never drinks more than a sip or two. I do bake. A lot. And am extremely thankful that she outgrew her egg allergy, which makes cakes so much easier.
She adores ‘fatty pork'(slow roasted belly pork) and I will always trim the fat of her Jack Spratt sister’s piece of ham and pile it on her plate instead. She also begs me to buy pork scratchings whenever we go to the butcher.
She loves avocado (which has the added benefit of being good for the skin, although it has had no noticable effect on her eczema) so we use that as a sandwich filling. If your son is ok with sesame then I can recomend avocado and hummous sandwiches as a healthy but calorie dense snack. And less healthily, there’s a lovely dairy and nut free chocolate spread that is perfect on white toast. Mmmmm. Shame I can’t remember the brand.