Nathan’s appetite has been waning recently. Don’t you worry about my appetite because it is stronger than ever, unfortunately. If I could only pass a little of my appetite to Nathan.
Oh by the way, I use the term waning here because the school year has already begun, without me as a teacher, and I normally would teach my seventh grade students about waxing and waning in relation to the phases of the moon in our astronomy unit. {sigh} You know…new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, yada, yada, yada. Got it? Moving on.
Nathan’s love for spoons began at a very early age. See photographic evidence below.
At six months old, Nathan already began showing his preference for spoons over toys. It appeared that he even knew what spoons were supposed to be used for.
I also learned very quickly that spoons were Nathan’s “all purpose tool”, used for anything from scooping stuff out of the garbage can, poking the cats, shoving it in my mouth to “share”, and sometimes in that order.
At twelve months old, Nathan’s spoon obsession is still quite strong. He continues to use spoons as “all purpose tools” in addition to carrying it around like a stuffed animal, bringing it in the car, to the pharmacy, etc, but on occasion he can be seen feeding himself, junk food mostly.
Feeding himself…
…birthday cake, not vegetables…
…icing, not meat…
…junk food, nothing healthy…
I know that people with Cystic Fibrosis need to consume more calories but I doubt birthday cake will satisfy all of Nathan’s nutritional needs even with several digestive enzymes.
Nathan has reached the point where he no longer wants to drink his formula/milk combination whether it is from a bottle or a sippy cup. I have begun weaning him off of formula by mixing his formula with a few ounces of whole milk and will eventually have him drinking whole milk with a splash of heavy cream for those additional calories. Today he only had maybe a total of two bottles plus a third which my husband is feeding him at this moment. Scratch that, after coughing up a wad of mucous that third bottle is all over the floor now.
So now we need to be creative. How do I get Nathan to eat something other than cookies, ice cream, yogurt, and my cereal which for some some reason Nathan fiends for.
Any suggestions? Please share either by commenting below or by joining the discussion I started in my blogfrog community forum on the left side of your screen.
7 comments
Hey birthday cake works. I say anything they'll eat, let them eat.
Just a side note: I have those EXACT blue bowls…and matching plates and glassware.
Ronnie
Splitting this into 2 posts cause it wont fit! LOL
We've battled this for years with Jophie and have really had to get creative. Now he's perfect but we are constantly keeping one eye open making sure he gets extras in case he would get sick. OK ….Just thinking out loud hear so bear with me if you've already tried all these things. Nestles Strawberry chocolate banana flavors in the milk and or formula? Not all at once of course LOL
He likes your cereal so how bout adding a little something "extra" to your cereal? You don't actually have to eat it ….heaven knows we moms don't need those extra calories LOL
I'm thinking some sweetened cream mixed in with the whole milk. Peanut butter is packed with fat calories. I don't recommend giving it to children under 2 in its raw form I do however have a suggestion we used with Jophie.
Does he like Milkshakes or have you tried them yet? If he would happen to enjoy them you can sneak LOADS of things in there.
Here's just one of the milkshakes we'd whiz up for Jophie…Whole Milk Medical formula in his case. Heavy whipping cream
Peanut butter(Usually just a tablespoon or 2 depending on how much you make)Yogurt(flavored of course)Ice Cream strawberries bananas are yummy in this Splash of OJ and Ice
You can also crush up a vitamin and toss it in
1-2 tablespoons of olive oil if you need lots of extra calories
Whiz this puppy up and try it yourself..You might need to add sugar or even a few spoons of nestle quick any flavor you think he might like
You can sub any fruit you'd for a variety or just to find out what he's going to like.
Mandarin oranges peaches pears pineapple all whiz up really well
Does he like oatmeal? One cup of trix yogurt(Jophies favorite was cotton candy flavor) mixed in with plain yogurt is DELISH and absolutely PACKED with calories. Again you might need to add sugar to taste. If your worried about all the sugar you can sub with Splenda. We use splenda for everything…
Jophie lived on that yogurt oatmeal mix for the first 7 years of his life and we honestly had to back off cause he was gaining too much weight. That and Pintos cheese with sour cream which by the way are also great to pack on calories and are yummy too boot..
How bout pancakes waffles in fun shapes? Smother in syrup or fresh fruit cool whip jam chocolate ….whatever it takes to get him to try it. I was just thinking since he liked cake this might be a possiblity. If so you can sneak things into the batter.
Carrots and Zuchini shredded and or chopped very fine can be hid in anything like hamburgers meatloaf muffins cakes pancakes
Continued …sorry it's so long but ideas were flowing
How bout eggs? You ever tried eggs in a basket? Make it fun and tell him a little story about the egg in the basket. In case you don't know about them…All you do is take a piece of bread. Tear a circle out of the center. We always loved eating the centers even
Lie your bread in a skillet. Crack your egg in the center(your basket) flip when ready. The egg cooks right into the toast. Yummo!
Jophie loved eggs scrambled with butter melted on it and topped with ketchup and cheese. Don't forget the salt :0) I know your probably thinking it sounds gross but it really is good.
How bout biscuits? Milk gravy over a biscuit? Jelly and butter on a biscuit?
Pizza? You can LOAD pizza with tons of calories veggies fat…You can also make fruit pizzas which are ALOT of fun for kiddos
If all else fails…Make a cake and load it with shredded veggies apple sauce raisins pineapples juice. Top with a cool whip icing or a home made peanut butter chocolate icing. You might have to sweeten the icing a bit to trick him into thinking its "REAL" cake icing
You mentioned he likes cookies. YOu can go crazy with those things….Load them up with veggies carrots zuchini works best. Apple sauce nuts berries craisins chocolate chips butterscotch chips white choco chips M&M's….Anything to get him to think they are good which will disguise the veggies fruits in them..You can do muffins the same way and stick icing on them if need be
Chicken strips? Cut a chicken breast into four strips. Dip in egg wash and roll in crushed corn flakes. Bake in the oven on a cookie sheet. Make a mustard sour cream dipping sauce or ketchup even.
Baked potato with sour cream? If so use real sour cream butter and melt cheese on top. Sprinkle some ham or bacon bits on the potato before you add sour cream and cheese. Out of sight but can be in each bite.
Grilled Cheese? Cut into strips or fun cookie cutter shapes. Puppies kittens cars ..the skies your limit!
Try putting ice cream on pie. Make healthy mini hobo pies using biscuits or bread filled with sugar free apple or cherry pie filling. Toss a dollup of ice cream right on top and help him eat it making sure to cut small pieces of the pie along with each bite slowly introducing him to the flavor texture.
OK gotta scoot…I've got loads more ideas but thats a good start. Hope this helps some..
Trina and Jophie
Trina,Wow, those are great ideas! I am going to have to try them. But, I am hungry now. LOL
I am new to your blog. Glad I found it. My nephew Dameron has CF. He is 2. I am always looking for info to pass along to my sis.
I just wanted to say how much I LOVE your photos! I think you're just as good or better than MckMama!!
My one year old loves spoons, too. But she prefers to bang stuff with them. At least Nathan knows how to use it
When I try to get her to taste other foods, I usually disguise it behind something she likes. For example, I'll take avocado (a favorite) and coat it in something (e.g., dry baby cereal, yogurt, rice). I've given her lots of different foods to vary texture, juiciness, sweetness, etc. She'll flat out refuse it on a spoon, but if she gets to pick it up, she'll consider it. She's a fan of taking a peach, plum, etc. and chewing it up on her own. I'm always surprised at how much of it she eats. Mangoes are great, and are high in fat, like avocados. She still doesn't like bananas, but I give her a smidge every now and then just in case she changes her mind. She's always encouraged by watching her brother devour a food, and he was always encouraged by watching me eat something. It seems they always want what someone else has.
Good luck!