They skimp on breakfast, skip lunch, and seldom sit through dinner, despite your serving foods that they loved just last week. But say the word "dessert," and their ears perk up. Every parent of a child with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) has been there.
Good news: You can create desserts that deliver calories and nutrition if your child pushes away the main course, or if your child has appetite loss due to a side effect of ADD medication.
For instance, instead of serving a standard dessert like a large bowl of ice cream, kick it up a notch. Try a shake using milk, ice cream or frozen yogurt, and fresh strawberries, for a dessert that's full of protein and calcium.
Tip: Serve lots of fresh fruit, and save cookies and candy for special occasions. “Desserts are still desserts,” says Mindy Hermann, a dietitian in Mt. Kisco, New York. “They’re not meal substitutes.”
These six dishes are delicious and a snap to make (it's likely you'll have most of the ingredients stocked in your pantry already).
Next: Fruit with a Twist
