Extra calories for a girlie on a DF diet?

[bid]

Hi all,

 

Any ideas for getting extra calories into Meg who is on a DF diet (due to severe dairy allergy)?

 

She has lost so much weight since her accident that I'm worried.

 

Because she is DF I can't give her calorie-rich food like butter, cheese, chocklitt, etc.

 

Any top tips from those with children who are DF??

 

Many thanks.

 

Boho

Edited May 20, 2009 by bid

[Karen A]

Hi.I think avocados are supposed to be useful.I have read that they are recommmended for adding calories for those on a vegan diet.Nutritious too.Karen.

[call me jaded]

Can only think of peanut butter right now.

[baddad]

No nuts!

 

Lots of puddings and cakes made with pure and soya milk...

Other than that, I can only think lots of 'treats' that just add calories offered around her usually healthy but not particularly calorific diet...

Having said that, better a 'skinny puppy' than a fat cat, so as long as she's eating the goodstuff try not to worry too much. There's many a gal made a career from skinny - and they DON'T eat the goodstuff to keep it that way...

One other quickie - I know she's seen losts of specialists about the allergies etc, but have you consulted a nutritionist specifically about the restricted diet and weight issues? They might be able to point you towards some specific build-em-up products?

 

L&P

 

BD

[Tally]

I knew my human nutrition course would come in handy!

 

Alcohol contains a lot of calories

 

If her appetite is poor due to not being able to exercise much, you need to make sure that what she is eating contains a good range of nutrients, plenty of fruit and veg. Making her food appetising and varied will encourage her to eat more, as something that looks/smells/tastes good encourages you to eat more. Fruits also contain sugars which can be a source of energy. Finding ways she can exercise will also stimulate her appetite (and speed her recovery).

 

Non-dairy fats also provide calories - and they are normally more healthy than dairy/animal fats as well. Cooking with vegetable oils and even adding a little extra to foods could be a good way to get some fat into her. A lot of tinned fish comes in oil. Tuna or mackerel have a strong flavour which also goes well with pesto sauce (which also contains olive oil) or a little tomato puree.

 

If she cannot manage large meals, snacks between meals might help, though this will only benefit if it increases her overall food intake - if it leaves her unable to manage meals as well, it won't help. Snacks do not just have to include 'unhealthy' things like cakes, they can include fruit or a small bread roll.

 

The body finds it easier to get energy from carbohydrates and will only use energy from fat if it needs to. Eating plenty of carbohydrates will provide a ready source of energy and prevent fat stores being used up. Sugars and white, processed carbs provide a rapid source of energy, but wholegrain carbs provide a more sustained release which might be more helpful.

[Karen A]

I knew my human nutrition course would come in handy!

 

Alcohol contains a lot of calories

 

That would explain why I continue to gain weight despite a healthy diet.....and a few glasses of red wine in the evening.

 

[bid]

Should have explained: she has severe multiple food allergies, so no avocados or olive oil as she has oral allergy syndrome to all stoned fruit too!

 

Nuts: massive allergy.

 

Fish: can actually eat tuna, but allergic to white fish and salmon.

 

We do have access to a dietician when she has her annual check at the specialist allergy clinic in London, which reminded me to look and it's coming up in July (so thanks for that ). We haven't seen one for years because although she's always been slim, she has always been very healthy and eaten a good balanced diet within her restrictions.

 

I cook with sunflower oil...would that add calories if I stirred some through say pasta or into mashed potato? Would the same go for lashings of Pure added where possible? All the build-you-up shakes and so on seem to be based around milk, so I can't use them.

 

She ate very little during the week she was in hospital which was understandable, but has eaten well since coming home. I'm a bit at a loss as to understand why she has lost so much weight, unless the fact that she's always been very slender meant she didn't have many reserves? Would that make sense?

 

I was looking at some pics taken over the last couple of weeks and could have cried when I saw just how THIN her poor little arms and legs actually are

 

Thank you so much everyone...you've given me some good starters, and I'll follow up with the dietician come July.

 

Boho

Edited May 20, 2009 by bid

[bid]

The body finds it easier to get energy from carbohydrates and will only use energy from fat if it needs to. Eating plenty of carbohydrates will provide a ready source of energy and prevent fat stores being used up.

 

Thanks Tally...I didn't realise that

 

Boho

 

[Karen A]

Should have explained: she has severe multiple food allergies, so no avocados or olive oil as she has oral allergy syndrome to all stoned fruit too!

 

Nuts: massive allergy.

 

Fish: can actually eat tuna, but allergic to white fish and salmon.

 

We do have access to a dietician when she has her annual check at the specialist allergy clinic in London, which reminded me to look and it's coming up in July (so thanks for that ). We haven't seen one for years because although she's always been slim, she has always been very healthy and eaten a good balanced diet within her restrictions.

 

I cook with sunflower oil...would that add calories if I stirred some through say pasta or into mashed potato? Would the same go for lashings of Pure added where possible? All the build-you-up shakes and so on seem to be based around milk, so I can't use them.

 

She ate very little during the week she was in hospital which was understadnable, but has eaten well since coming home. I'm a bit at a loss as to understand why she has lost so much weight, unless the fact that she's always been very slender meant she didn't have many reserves? Would that make sense?

 

I was looking at some pics taken over the last couple of weeks and could have cried when I saw just how THIN her poor little arms and legs actually are

 

Thank you so much everyone...you've given me some good starters, and I'll follow up with the dietician come July.

 

Boho

 

Hi bid.In my previous life as a district nurse I did offer some advice on strategies for regaining weight .However it sounds as though your daughter may be allergic to so many of the usual foods that would be reccomended that it may well be a case for a specialist dietician. Karen.

 

[Tally]

Sunflower oil would do the trick, yes. Vegetable oil from any kind of plants contains much healthier fats than animal/dairy fats, though lashings of lard might actually be a good thing at the moment! There is a new oil on the market called carotino, which is red palm and canola oil. I don't know whether she could eat this because I don't even know what red palm or canola are. It has a mild flavour, but looks quite interesting as it is bright red!

 

If you have one of those mini food processors, you could try mixing up your own pesto using basil and whichever kind of oil you choose (it normally contains pine nuts and parmesan cheese as well). It goes nice with all kinds of things including fish, ham and meat. Adding herbs can add flavour and make bland foods more appetising.

 

It might be worth asking your pharmacist if there are any DF build-up shakes. They may only be available on prescription and not advertised, but the pharmacist may know about them.

 

It could also be worth trying to bring the dietician appointment forward.

[bid]

Thanks Tally...good point about asking the pharmacist about the shake thingys

 

As ever, bowled over by all the support and advice <'>

 

Bid

[baddad]

Oh - one other thing that occurred... she's always been a bit 'Mowgli' anyway, so if she lost a bit it would be more noticable... Half a stone from a reet ol' Phatknacker wouldn't show up at all, but shave half a stone from a beanpole...

AND the fact that she wasn't eating drew your attention to it. Chances are the 'fresh eyes' noticed more than the pre-accident ones, IYKWIM

 

[Mum of 3]

Pesto made with pine nuts is a good idea (very fattening, they are...I can attest to that!). What about other seeds, sunflower, pumpkin, flax, sesame (although she might be allergic to that as well...). Can she tollerate any nuts at all? If so, cashew nut butter and hazelnut butter are both delish . They are especially delish spread on bread with chocolit spread (or a carob spread???)....Rice puddin, semolina (or, 'smells of Nina', as it's known in our house!) and porridge are all fabby made with soya milk (with lashings of honey on top)...I'll keep thinking about other high calory treats I like and get back to you! Oh, by the way, give her plenty of marmite for the B vits... very good for all kinds of things!

 

[dooday24]

hi wen shan came out of hospital she had lost alot of weight they gace her maxijul (its a sugar substitute))

 

which we put in all her drinks as its very high in calories worked very well

 

hope this helps we got it through the dietician at the hosp

 

love donnaxxxxxx