Instructions
1. *Focus on breakfast and dinner. Help ADHD/ADD children gain weight by serving a large breakfast, preferably one that includes protein-rich foods, such as milk, cheese, lean meats, yogurt, or cottage cheese. Delay giving your child his or her ADHD/ADD medication until after he or she has eaten a hearty breakfast - these medications can make it difficult to eat and cause some children to complain of abdominal pain when they try to eat. Appetites in ADHD/ADD children tend to pick up by dinnertime, so be sure to serve an extra-large portion - and a bedtime snack, too.
2. *Serve small snacks. My son with ADHD/ADD could forego food from breakfast until mid-afternoon, but he'll tolerate small protein- and carb-rich snack combos, such as cheese and crackers or lean deli meats and an apple. If possible, ask your child's teacher if he or she can carry a small snack to munch between breakfast and lunch. If your child is hungrier in the afternoon, offer a denser snack then.
3. *Keep lunch in perspective. Pediatricians say that lunch is the hardest meal for kids with ADHD/ADD who take medications - they just don't feel hungry. If the cafeteria meal is going untouched, pack your child a small sandwich, pudding, crackers, or other easy-on-the-stomach foods - and encourage your ADHD/ADD children to gain weight by at least trying to eat something at the noon hour.
4. *Swap low-fat for full-fat. To help ADHD/ADD children gain weight, doctors often suggest switching to full-fat dairy products for the extra calories. Even if your family is accustomed to low-fat products, keep a quart or so of full-fat products in the fridge for your ADHD/ADD child.
5. *Don't overlook supplements. Pediatric nutrition supplements, such as Boost Kid Essentials, may help ADHD/ADD children gain weight by adding an extra dose of calories to their diets. Before using these types of supplements, check with your child's doctor.
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