Food for underweight teen to keep in bedroom

[Anonymous]

We have a very underweight, very short young teen and are doing what we can to help him gain weight (also working with an endocrinologist and GI specialist). Right now it doesn’t appear that anything is physically wrong with him though he’s getting a little more testing. He just doesn’t gain weight. DH and I were similar at that age, and still are to a degree. But DS needs to gain weight to grow so we are trying to help make that happen. One idea I’ve had is to allow him to keep certain foods in his bedroom, to make snacking easier. But it’s hard to think of basically healthy, high calorie, non-perishable foods that don’t make a mess! Right now I’ve got nuts and dried fruit. Curious about any other ideas. I would also welcome tips for weight gain from those who have been there for years. This has been an ongoing challenge for DS but he is especially discouraged right now. He is a wide-ranging eater and always has been.

[Anonymous]

I'd look for protein bars at Vitamin Shoppe. Or buy Simply Tera whey protein shake in chocolate at WF or Moms, and shake container things.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't keep food in a bedroom in my neck of the woods. Good way to get mice or ants. But I'd allow a smoothie or milkshake to bring in while doing homework or reading.

[Anonymous]

My teen daughter had trouble gaining weight. Her doctors (pediatrician and gastroenterologist) had her drink an Ensure Plus (nutritional shakes specifically designed to cause weight gain) daily while they diagnosed and treated underlying causes. Ensure Plus comes in different flavors and is carried by grocery stores, drugstores, Target, etc.

[Anonymous]

Individually wrapped meat sticks

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t do this because I want to make sure my kid is eating and he might say he is but not eat if food is in his bedroom. From everything I have been told, you want to take more control of his food—add extra calories with butter and ice cream, avocado, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t do this because I want to make sure my kid is eating and he might say he is but not eat if food is in his bedroom. From everything I have been told, you want to take more control of his food—add extra calories with butter and ice cream, avocado, etc.

Sorry-I think we have different issues. But for a kid who needs calories, dried fruit is a waste of time.

[Anonymous]

Justin’s nut butters makes gray flavored ones in individual serving pouches. I was on bed rest and on a high calorie/high protein diet and loved the vanilla ones.

[Anonymous]

Has he been tested for celiac disease? This is an easy blood test. Failure to gain or maintain weight is one characteristic of the disease.

[Anonymous]

Granola bars, meat sticks, jar of peanut butter/Nutella and bread plus plastic knives to make a sandwich, apples, pretzels, fig newtons, pop tarts, shelf stable horizon milk, pouches of tuna, beef jerky, summer sausage, snack pack pudding cups, whisp cheese crisps, crackers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a very underweight, very short young teen and are doing what we can to help him gain weight (also working with an endocrinologist and GI specialist). Right now it doesn’t appear that anything is physically wrong with him though he’s getting a little more testing. He just doesn’t gain weight. DH and I were similar at that age, and still are to a degree. But DS needs to gain weight to grow so we are trying to help make that happen. One idea I’ve had is to allow him to keep certain foods in his bedroom, to make snacking easier. But it’s hard to think of basically healthy, high calorie, non-perishable foods that don’t make a mess! Right now I’ve got nuts and dried fruit. Curious about any other ideas. I would also welcome tips for weight gain from those who have been there for years. This has been an ongoing challenge for DS but he is especially discouraged right now. He is a wide-ranging eater and always has been.

Who told you bedroom eating alone is a good idea??

[Anonymous]

We've never done that, given DS goes into his bedroom to sleep and read, and all snacking is done at the dining room table. He'll occasionally have a second dinner right before going to bed. DS has been under the second percentile, and some years has been under the 1st percentile, for weight. He takes after his father and other thin relatives on both sides of the family. He's also short, like both his parents. For years DS was on a fattening diet, which included putting heavy cream into his milk. He drowns his pasta in olive oil. But the pounds just don't stick.

[Anonymous]

Supplement with Vitamin D milk, milkshakes, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. He needs to get ALOT more calories to gain weight. This is done with five+ meals a day.

[Anonymous]

No food in the bedroom, but regular meals in the kitchen with the family, plus snacks whenever.

My son loves the chocolate and vanilla muscle milks.

I agree that celiacs disease, Chrohns, or some other issue with pituitary or thyroid may be the real issue.

[Anonymous]

How old is he and what does a normal day of food look like?