Weight

food for kids to gain weight: 7 super nutritious foods

| Divya shukla

As commonly as we hear about obesity in children. it will be surprising to know that many have to look for tips on weight gain for kids or food for kids to gain weight. Children who are underweight usually don’t have very good appetite or they fill themselves with snacks or fast-foods. So, the requirement of essential nutrients for a body is never fulfilled. Many parents associate lack of weight gain to lack of eating also. While this can be true, however, there can be many reasons for not gaining weight among kids.

The most common reason to not gain healthy weight is lack of consumption of healthy and nutritious food for children to meet body requirements. By making some small changes in children’s eating habits throughout the day, you can help them to increase (quality) calories they get. If the child is a good eater, then there is less to worry about lack of weight gain. It will eventually happen with age and for as long as it doesn’t, its not detrimental to health.

If the child is a fussy eater, then the challenge is to feed nutrient dense high calorie food. It is important for kids to consume calories which come packed with necessary fats, carbs, proteins, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Reducing drinks at mealtimes is also a quick tip to enable higher consumption of nutritious food for children. As water or drink can fill up the tummy sooner than it is ought to. Other tips include introducing four or five tiny meals instead of offering three big meals and encouraging a few healthy snacks over the day. These are some of the efforts that can really help your child not only gain weight but also get a healthy and active body.

Foods for kids to gain weight

Some nutritious food for kids to gain weight that can be included in your kid’s diet which can help him/her gain healthy weight are mentioned below.

Banana:

Bananas are one of the best foods to increase weight, as they are high on potassium, magnesium, calcium and Vitamin B9. The fruit is also rich in carbohydrates and is a source of instant energy. Bananas are fairly high in natural sugar, which enables a quicker energy supply than other foods. It is also a high calorie food compared to many other fruits. A cup of apple slices has about 55-60 calories, while a cup of banana slices has around 130 calories, however both are nutritious. (Recipe for Banana muffin)

Potato

Each potato packs about 4 grams of fibre and 4 grams of protein, which keeps kids feeling full. Being a simple carb which is easy to digest, Potatoes can also raise instant energy levels. To pack more nutrition to this food, it is preferred to consume them with their skin, which adds fibre and other nutrients to the diet and makes one of the favourite and best foods for kids to gain weight. Consuming sweet potato is also a more nutritious alternative with similar calorie intake. (Recipe for fries)

Eggs:

It is are packed with high quality proteins and healthy fats. Eggs are nutritious food for children to eat when they are trying to gain weight. The egg yolk is imperative to meet the demands of the body for healthy fats. It provides a significant amount of protein as well as Vitamin B2, phosphorus and vitamin D. Adding two eggs to the diet provides 120 calories along with 12g of protein and so much more nutrition for the body.

Milk:

Milk and other dairy products contain protein and calcium, essential for weight gain and muscle building. If the goal is weight gain, whole milk can be the best option since it has a good amount of protein along with some saturated fat. Researchers believe that whey protein can be a dependable source of consuming protein to support muscle repair and development (how to make whey at home?). Additional studies have found that milk or whey and casein combined, can lead to greater mass gain than other protein sources. (Recipe for whey protein buns). Cheese and cottage cheese are other nutritive sources of high calories.

Nuts and Seeds:

Nuts and seeds are among the best foods to increase weight. Nuts and nut butters are absolutely the right choice if you are looking for some foods for your kids to gain weight. Just one small handful of raw almond contains 170 calories, 6 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber and 15 grams of healthy fats. Pistachios, walnuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia and flax seeds too are high in fat and calories and can help to gain weight and provide the essential fat for the brain. (Recipe for nut cookies or cake) or (Recipe for nut chocolate)

Soy:

Soy foods are said to be high in calories, which means they are the most nutritious food for children and can help them to gain weight. 1/2 cup of soy nuggets/ granules will give about 100 calories. Soy protein is a great product to include in the diet to help with weight gain. 

Recipe for Quinoa Poha (Quinoa rice flakes meal)- 6 veggies, 2 grains, 1 sprout and nut

Let’s make every dish tasty and nutritious by ‘hidden’ nutrition of veggies, herbs and nuts.

Check the Recipe made with Iyurved’s secret health ingredient- DAILY NUTRITION spread.

Check more healthy recipes loved by kids.

Products

We are happy to introduce our range of nutritious & tasty products for kids!!

We know that preparing and feeding healthy foods everyday is a huge task. Even more tough when kids are picky eaters. Kids prefer certain foods and formats. It is not easy to feed kids bitter Ayurvedic herbs, variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds everyday.
Mixed with Ayurvedic herbs, this unique product is an easy solution to feed daily nutrition for Immunity, Brain development, Bone strength and overall-growth to kids without any fuss.

Let’s try to make every food a child wants to eat more tasty and nutritious with herbs and nuts.

India’s First Tasty Kids Nutrition fortified with Ayurvedic herbs.

If your child is a picky eater or does not take enough nutrition for the day, you can give ‘5 Ayurvedic herbs and 7 Nuts’ chocolate or savoury spreads to meet daily Nutrition ORDER | 0% preservative

Daily Nutrition for: Immunity, Brain development, Bones and Overall growth

(shipping in India only)

Check what our Satisfied Parents have to say!

Join Fast-Growing KIDS NUTRITION & SKINCARE Community for Parents of small Kids & Teens.

Foods and Remedies recommended by a Nutritionist expert.

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Why is it important for children to eat balanced diet ?

| Shilpi

Healthy body is key to a better future. As a parent, the most important thing you can do to give your children a healthy life is to make them learn healthy eating habits. Children need a balanced diet with food from all 3 food groups: vegetables & fruits, whole grains & protein, fats. And they also need complete meals and snacks during the day. Healthy snacks are just as important as the food you serve at meals. For body to work effectively, it has to be fed the balanced nutrition for the day. (Nutrition for kids)

Children who don’t get enough healthy foods may face delayed growth and development, compromised cognition and reduced immunity. Usually children love processed or packaged foods because they enjoy the taste and experience of digging into a packet. Surprisingly, these happy emotions are further charged up by the development of dopamine from these processed foods. This tricks the brain into consuming more and more of these empty, nutrition-less calories (what harm does this cause?).

Why is nutrition so important?

Most commonly we hear parents say that their child is active and looks healthy too, so, nutrition is not their worry (Do healthy kids need supplements?). Some parents also add that ‘they also turned out fine without their parents worrying so much about nutrition when they were young’. Compared to today’s time, food earlier was less contaminated, primarily local, fresh and seasonal. Sadly, kids nowadays consume at least two servings of processed food in a day. This only worsens their chances of consuming a balanced diet.

While it is not apparent to a parent everyday, but the child is in utmost need of balanced nutrient rich diet, especially in the growing and foundation years. Every living moment, the child’s body cells are oxidising (like ours) and aging. Which means, the cells are deteriorating in quality and performance. It is not evident so easily, however, lower immunity, early greying of hair, weak muscles, disturbed digestion, lowered vision, hormonal imbalance are all examples of this. To make sure that the quality of body cells remain for as long as possible, the cells have to be fed the necessary nutrition everyday. What we feed our kids today will only show many years later.

WHAT IS A BALANCED DIET?

Balanced diet contains different kind of foods in certain quantities and proportion, so that the requirement for all the macronutrients (Carbs, Protein, Fats, ) and micro nutrients (Vitamins and minerals, Fiber) along with water can be fulfilled. Eating a balanced diet helps children maintain good health, reduce their risk of disease, build up strong immune system and help them in growth and development of a healthy mind and body.

CARBOHYDRATES: Carbohydrates are the biggest source of energy for kids. Almost 60% of energy (calories) for the day must come from carbohydrate foods. They provide instant energy and keep the kids on their toes. Every gram of carb consumed gives 4 calories to the body. So if a child has to consume 2000 calories in a day (as per height weight), then 1200 calories should come from carbs (this means 300g carbs in a day), preferably whole grains and not processed carbs like sugar (why is sugar harmful?).

PROTEIN: Proteins are essential nutrients for children and third highest provider of energy for the day. Along with being the building blocks of the body, they also give 10-15% of energy (calories) to kids. A child must consume almost 1g protein per kg of weight. So if a child weighs 40kg, then he/she must consume 35-40g of protein everyday. Every gram of protein consumed gives 4 calories to the body. Food rich in protein is a must for kids since it digests slowly, support hunger for long, and is great for skin, hair, muscle of the body. A child roughly gets 150 calories a day from protein food like lentils, beans, cottage cheese, moringa (what is it?) etc.

FATS: Body needs fat (what are saturated and unsaturated fat?) from natural sources. They help to fix hormones that can otherwise cause the body to go haywire impacting weight, mood, acne, bloating, PCOS, thyroid, sleep and the list goes on. Our brain, that is just 2% of our body mass but consumes 25% energy of the body, needs fat to perform efficiently for life. Saturated fat also stays inside the body cells to build a defence system and attack viruses and bacterias. 25-30% of the body energy comes from fat sources like nuts, coconut, avocado, dairy etc. Every gram of fat gives 9 calories to the body and hence should be consumed in limited quantity not exceeding 60g.

VITAMINS: Vitamins helps the body grow and work the way it should be. There are 13 essential vitamins A, C, D, E, K and vitamin Bs. Some helps in eyesight and energy production, while others support healthy nerves and cell and in fighting infections. A balanced diet and help meet the requirements of these on a daily basis (do healthy kids need supplements?)

MINERALS: Just like vitamins, minerals also help kids grow, develop and stay healthy. Minerals support stronger bones and teeth, healthy nerve function, absorption of important vitamins, protection against current lifestyle and process food damage. Essential mineral includes Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and Potassium.

FIBER: Not exactly a nutrient but extremely critical to the body, fibre is the roughage of plant based food (grains , fruits, vegetables, nuts, and beans ) that body can’t break down. It helps kids with digestion by providing food for the bacteria (what is a gut bacteria?) in the gut and also support transfer of important vitamins to the stomach.

WATER: Water plays an important role in all the body functions including digestion. It carries nutrients to all cells in the body including the brain.

While it is usually preferred to get the nutrients a child needs from food rather than a pills or syrup or gummy supplements, its not always possible . That’s because some kids are picky eaters and their intake of food is limited to a chosen few. Or despite consuming healthy complete meals, a child may have a severe deficiency of a particular vitamin due to a prevalent health concern. This may result in a deficiency of any key vitamin in their body. The next best solution in such situation is to consume supplements made of real foods and fortified with the necessary vitamins. For example, some cereals are fortified with vitamin B12 as its found deficient in many vegetarian kids. Oils can be fortified with vitamin D for kids who are off dairy.

  • Recipe of Oats Chocolate bar:
  • Equal parts of whole oats and rice flour (3/4th cup)
  • Honey (as per sweetness desired)
  • A pinch of salt
  • Add handful of melon seeds (or any other seed or broken nuts)
  • 2 tbsp heap of peanut butter (or any other nut butter)
  • Add a pinch baking soda (½ tsp)
  • 1 handful of dark chocolate (melted)
  • Add milk just as little to make this mixture stick together.
  • Check sweetness. Transfer to a lined baking pan. Pat hard to make it settle in the pan.
  • Preheat oven for 5 min at 200 Celsius. Bake for 18-20 min in the middle rack.
  • Take out and leave to cool.
  • Cut in any shape and store in the refrigerator.

Feel free to add any nut or berries to the mix. My boys like it this way only

India’s First Tasty Kids Nutrition fortified with Ayurvedic herbs.

If your child is a picky eater or does not take enough nutrition for the day, you can give ‘5 Ayurvedic herbs and 7 Nuts’ chocolate or savoury spreads to meet daily Nutrition ORDER | 0% preservative

Daily Nutrition for: Immunity, Brain development, Bones and Overall growth

(shipping in India only)

Join Fast-Growing KIDS NUTRITION & SKINCARE Community for Parents of small Kids & Teens.

Foods and Remedies recommended by a Nutritionist expert.

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Pistachios: 7 reasons to feed your child everyday

| Shilpi

Survey of 150 parents reflected on the top concerns they had for their kids. Some of the concerns, mentioned below, can be improved with the consumption of just a single nut- Pistachio! Consuming 15-40 pista for kids aged 3 to 15 years is enough to aid daily nutrition and this is one of the reasons to feed your child Pistachios everyday.

A common snack today and used in multiple cuisines, Pistachio became popular only after WWII. It had been growing in the Middle East for several thousand years before its introduction to wider Europe and Asia. It is not a nut originally but a seed of the Pistachio tree.

  • Strong Muscles: This nut has 7g protein in just a handful. It is one of the best nuts to consume in a large quantity since its low in calories yet loaded with good fat. Protein accounts for approximately 21 percent of the total weight of the nut, making it a good source for vegetarians and vegans and this is another reason to feed your child Pistachios everyday.

Healthy Weight: Pistachios are very low in sugar which will help to keep the tab on child’s sugar consumption. Due to high fibre content it digests slowly and helps in keeping the child full for longer duration. In a study people who ate 1.87 ounces of pistachios over a 12-week period experienced twice the reduction in their body mass index as people who ate pretzels (Junk) instead of pistachios. Both groups consumed roughly the same amount of calories.

Brain: This nut is rich in vitamin E, B6 and healthy fats which are useful for cognitive development of the brain. A research conducted across multiple nuts showed that pistachio consumption produced the greatest gamma wave response which is necessary for learning, memory and cognition in the brain.

  • Immunity: Antioxidants are substances that play a critical role in health. They reduce the risk of diseases by preventing damage to the body’s cells by safeguarding against the free radicals. Pistachios are high in antioxidants compared to other nuts and seeds and this is one of the important reasons to feed your child Pistachios everyday.
  • Strong Muscles: This nut has 7g protein in just a handful. It is one of the best nuts to consume in a large quantity since its low in calories yet loaded with good fat. Protein accounts for approximately 21 percent of the total weight of the nut, making it a good source for vegetarians and vegans and this is another reason to feed your child pistachios everyday.
  • Eyesight: Pistachios are a rich source of both antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin which support healthy vision and protect against weak eyesight in future.
  • Digestion: Pistachios are a great source of fibre which support the rise in good bacterias in the gut. This encourages healthy digestion and prevents constipation in kids

Sleep: Packed with protein, vitamin B6, and magnesium, this nut has all that contributes to better sleep. It is a natural source of melatonin which induces sleep. Just a few pistachios an hour before bedtime can do the trick for kids as well as adults.

Recipe for Banana Pista Chocolate Mousse

We are happy to introduce our range of nutritious & tasty products for kids!!

We know that preparing and feeding healthy foods everyday is a huge task. Even more tough when kids are picky eaters. Kids prefer certain foods and formats. It is not easy to feed kids bitter Ayurvedic herbs, variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds everyday.
Mixed with Ayurvedic herbs, this unique product is an easy solution to feed daily nutrition for Immunity, Brain development, Bone strength and overall-growth to kids without any fuss.

Let’s try to make every food a child wants to eat more tasty and nutritious with (hidden) veggies, herbs and nuts.

Banana Pista Chocolate Mousse

  • 1 ripe banana pieces (frozen for a few hours)
  • ½ avocado
  • ½ cup soft tofu or less than ½ cup nut milk (almond or coconut)
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • 3 tbsp roasted pistachio powder
  • Iyurved’s 5 herbs and 7 nuts choco spread (order here)
  • Honey/ jaggery as per sweetness or other sweetener
  • vanilla essence (optional)
  • ½ tsp cinnamon powder

Mix all in a blender. Keep refrigerated in a bowl for some time. Serve.

My younger one LOVES this!

Iyurved’s Daily Nutrition Spreads

India’s First Tasty Kids Nutrition fortified with Ayurvedic herbs.

If your child is a picky eater or does not take enough nutrition for the day, you can give ‘5 Ayurvedic herbs and 7 Nuts’ chocolate or savoury spreads to meet daily Nutrition ORDER | 0% preservative

Daily Nutrition for: Immunity, Brain development, Bones and Overall growth

(shipping in India only)

Join Fast-Growing KIDS NUTRITION & SKINCARE Community for Parents of small Kids & Teens.

Foods and Remedies recommended by a Nutritionist expert.

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Reasons and Benefits for Including Dark Chocolate in Diet

| Vandita

Kid’s favorite dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids and flavanols that results in glowing and healthy skin. The antioxidants in dark chocolate can help reduce roughness in your skin and protect it against sun damage. Loaded with zinc, iron, copper, and vitamins like A, B12 and K as dark chocolate has cocoa . It also relaxes arteries and increases blood circulation that leads to healthier skin. Good dark chocolate which contain almost 70 % of cocoa is very beneficial for health. It contains flavonoid a naturally occurring compound found in plants which act as antioxidant and help in counteract free radicals in body. (Recipe of a quick sugar free dark chocolate treat). There are more reasons and benefits for including dark chocolate in your diet.

Dark chocolate is great source of prebiotics also. It is high in minerals such as magnesium, iron and zinc. Dark chocolate and cocoa are richest source of gut healthy flavanols. It contains fiber which remains undigested and goes into your intestine and used by probiotic to flourish good bacteria. It helps to maintain gut health which impact on over all health. There are numerous other reasons and benefits for including dark chocolate in your kids diet such as it can also help in cognition and memory.

It’s tough to feed Kids (and ourselves too!) the required nutrition for the day. However, when it comes packed in goodness, it simply fits in the routine.

Hazelnut Dark Chocolate
  • Dry roast hazelnuts
  • Melt sugar-free dark chocolate chips
  • Mix dark chocolate chips with coconut oil (MCT coconut oil is best)
  • Add Honey to the mixture as much required
  • Dip hazelnuts in the mixture
  • Place on a plate and let them harden in the fridge

Hazelnut has selenium which a powerful antioxidant.

MCT Oil Is a great source of energy for the body and brain (should be taken in small quantity only). Most fat from our food gets broken down into triglycerides- Long, Medium, Small chain triglycerides. MCT is basically medium chain triglycerides which are easily absorbed and digested by the body because of their shorter length and hence preferred to be consumed.

Product

We are happy to introduce our range of nutritious & tasty products for kids!!
We know that preparing and feeding healthy foods everyday is a huge task. Even more tough when kids are picky eaters. Kids prefer certain foods and formats. It is not easy to feed kids bitter Ayurvedic herbs, variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds everyday.
Mixed with Ayurvedic herbs, this unique product is an easy solution to feed daily nutrition for Immunity, Brain development, Bone strength and overall-growth to kids without any fuss.

India’s First Tasty Kids Nutrition fortified with Ayurvedic herbs.

If your child is a picky eater or does not take enough nutrition for the day, you can give ‘5 Ayurvedic herbs and 7 Nuts’ chocolate or savoury spreads to meet daily Nutrition ORDER | 0% preservative

Daily Nutrition for: Immunity, Brain development, Bones and Overall growth

(shipping in India only)

Check what our Satisfied Parents have to say!

Join 9000+ KIDS NUTRITION Community for Parents of small Kids & Teens.

Foods and Remedies recommended by a Nutrition expert.

How to add 9g protein to your diet easily to rebuild your Body cells?

| Shilpi

Why is Protein rich diet important?

Proteins are the primary structural components of cells and perform a few different duties. It is considered the body’s building block and repair agent. The primary function of the protein consumed in the diet is to build and repair cells, including the muscle cells damaged when exercising to the point of momentary fatigue. Protein is also integral in forming enzymes and hormones in the body. From digestion to immunity, from hair to nails, everything requires protein. The suggested intake of protein is decided at 0.8 gm per kg of body weight. For athletes or kids in active sports, few studies state that it is best to eat protein within 30 minutes of exercise. This is the period when most muscle formation or muscle repair happens, and timely protein consumption of foods with protein for kids enables that. (Easy ways to add protein to kid’s diet )

Protein rich diet helps in:

  • Higher energy
  • Weight loss
  • Building muscles
  • Sharper brain and focus

Daily recommended intake of protein is 50g on an average.

Protein intake can be calculated individually by multiplying 0.8 * body weight in kg

How to get 9g of instant Protein?

Just grab a handful of roasted or soaked nuts to get 9g of instant protein.

Peanuts: Technically a legume, this nut is widely and easily available and affordable too. It is one of the most dense foods with protein for kids. Just a handful of peanuts can give 9 g of protein to the body. In addition, it is full of over 30 nutrients and hence one of the best foods for children’s growth. (What are the other benefits of peanuts?)

Almonds: The second best contender in the category with 8g of protein in just a handful of nuts is also one of the best foods for children’s growth. An expensive yet easily available source of high nutrition carries highest fiber in this nut category. (What are the other benefits of almonds?)

Pistachios: A seed of a pistachio tree, this perceived nut offers 7g protein in just a handful and best to use as foods with protein for kids. Protein accounts for approximately 21 percent of the total weight of the nut, making it a good source for vegetarians and vegans. It is one of the best nuts to consume in a large quantity since its low in calories yet loaded with good fat. (What are the other benefits of pistachios?)

Cashew: It is also among the best foods for children’s growth. A favorite of many, this nut has 6g of protein in just a handful. It is a quick source of high quality carbohydrates for kids with a variety of health benefits. (What are the other benefits of cashews?)

Walnut: Despite being a little less in protein at 5g per handful, this wonder nut is loaded with good fats which are vital for the brain. (What are the other benefits of walnuts?)

Hazelnut: Similar to walnut in its nutrition profile, this nut also has 5g of protein per handful. Preferred by kids in chocolates and spreads, this nut is a nutritious snack with lots of essential fat.

Recipe of Nuts and Seeds Sweet with dates and hidden herbs

We are happy to introduce our range of nutritious & tasty products for kids!!
We know that preparing and feeding healthy foods everyday is a huge task. Even more tough when kids are picky eaters. Kids prefer certain foods and formats. It is not easy to feed kids bitter Ayurvedic herbs, variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds everyday.
Mixed with Ayurvedic herbs, this unique product is an easy solution to feed daily nutrition for Immunity, Brain development, Bone strength and overall-growth to kids without any fuss.

Let’s make every dish tasty and nutritious by ‘hidden’ nutrition of veggies, herbs and nuts.

Ingredients:

  • ¾ cup water 
  • 6 dates or fig or mix
  • 2 tbsp jaggery (add more for sweetness)
  • 2 fresh cardamom powder 
  • 1 handful cashews
  • 1 handful almonds
  • 1 handful hazelnut
  • 1 handful walnuts
  • 1 handful sunflower seeds
  • 1 handful pumpkin seeds
  • 4 tbsp Iyurved’s 5 herbs and 7 nuts savoury spread (order here)
  • 1/2 cup Milk or nut milk
  • 2 tbsp ghee or unsalted butter

Roast nuts and seeds slightly. Let them cool before making powder in grinder. Soak dates in hot water for 5 minutes and purée it.  Now cook dates puree and remaining water along with jaggery in NON STICK pan. Once the syrup becomes thick and starts becoming a darker colour (in 5-7 minutes), add Iyurved’s 5 herbs and 7 nuts savoury spread (order here) and the powder of all the nuts and seeds to the pan. Add milk. Add ghee. Now keep stirring till the mixture starts to come together and becomes like a dough (5-7 minutes). It will start coming off the edge of the pan and become like a big ball. Switch off gas. Add cardamom powder to the mixture and mix. 

You can add any nut or seed you like. Add more milk if required to cook the whole mixture. 

Take butter paper and apply some ghee to it and spread the mixture on it. Let it cool outside or refrigerate once sightly cool. Cut in any shape. Serve!

Sorry for the quick, partly eaten photo. My elder one couldn’t wait.

India’s First Tasty Kids Nutrition fortified with Ayurvedic herbs.

If your child is a picky eater or does not take enough nutrition for the day, you can give ‘5 Ayurvedic herbs and 7 Nuts’ chocolate or savoury spreads to meet daily Nutrition ORDER | 0% preservative

Daily Nutrition for: Immunity, Brain development, Bones and Overall growth

(shipping in India only)

Join Fast-Growing KIDS NUTRITION & SKINCARE Community for Parents of small Kids & Teens.

Foods and Remedies recommended by a Nutritionist expert.

Read more blogs: