How to fine-tune meal schedules to minimize weight loss in children taking ADHD medication.
by
Gwen Morrison
Medications for attention deficit disorder (ADD ADHD) can often suppress appetite. Here are tips to ensure your children eat regularly and stay healthy.
Feed your child nutrient-dense foods. Pack a lot of nutritional value into a single serving with foods like avocado, yogurt, cottage cheese, peanut butter, brown rice, turkey, and granola.
Fill up on breakfast. Offer your child a high-protein, high-calorie breakfast before the medication takes effect - food first, pill second.
Offer liquid meals. High-protein drinks, shakes, and smoothies are fun ways to ensure that your child gets his share of daily nutrients. Switch flavors to add interest.
Encourage grazing. Eating four to five small meals a day is a good way to stay well-fed. Snacks should be healthy - avoid soft drinks and overly refined foods with empty calories.
Give vites. A daily multivitamin will help protect against nutrient deficiencies.
Limit juice intake. Discourage your child from drinking more than eight ounces of juice each day, especially with meals, or she may feel too full to eat.
Schedule outdoor play before meals. Fresh air and physical activity spark your child's metabolism, prompting him to feel hungry.
Try new foods. Engage your child in the choice and preparation of new recipes to raise her interest in eating.
Buy fortified foods. Milk's not the only fortified item on the market anymore. Look around your grocery store for enriched breads, calcium-infused juices, or snack bars with a full day's dose of several vitamins and minerals.