You aren't the only parent worrying about how ADHD medication affects your child's nutrition and weight. It is important to consult an expert who can insure that your child is on a balanced diet. Check the ADDitude Directory for experts in diet and nutrition.

There are also a few articles posted by ADHD experts that may help you get started:

When ADHD Meds Suppress Appetite

A Healthy Appetite for ADHD Children

Best, Dena

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thank you. I guess the good thing is, is that he has not lost any weight either. I will definitely look. I have also consulted his dr. They said to put him on a high calorie diet. and then they want to check on him again in 2 weeks. lots of protein, meats and carbs. but getting him to eat is the hard thing... I will not give up! I have a will so there must be a way right.

thanks again,

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Hi there:

ADDitude blogger Kay Marner just wrote a great series of article about trying to get her skinny daughter to keep gaining weight while taking ADHD meds. I would recommend reading Catering to an ADHD Appetite and the user comments that follow the blog for some ideas.

I particularly like the idea of ice cream for breakfast to help your ADHD child load up on fat and calories!

Good luck!

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Before my sons meds totally kick in I make him drink a protien smoothie/shake. I make it with 2 scoops of protien powder and whole milk. I add fruit and other things too. Its fast and easy and loaded with calories. My son also gets up in the middle of the night and is hungrey. I let him get an Ensure drink and cookies etc. He is 12 years old, is 5 ft. tall and has gone from 72 lbs to 77 lbs. any progress is good progress.

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Yep! I let my 8 yr. old eat whenever, wherever she is hungry. I keep an assortment of nuts & granola bars in the car. We also keep snacks in her coat pockets. Full-fat ice cream is a staple in our house! I love the ice cream for breakfast idea - lol! She also drinks full fat milk - we use Horizon vitamin D with DHA. Barilla makes a great high protein pasta that we use for soups, red sauces, and pasta salads. Kashi brand makes awesome high protein cereals, snack bars, breakfast bars, cookies, etc.

Hope that helps!

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A lot of protein helps! I do bacon almost every morning and peanut butter. But try ENSURE mixed in a milkshake. Good Luck.

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Keep looking online and checking in w/ docs. My daughter was a failure to thrive. Ask the doctor about products like Duocal. And remember they are there to help you, make sure everyone is being realistic - tell them if the protein bars are gross & it is not an option what is the next suggestion. My daughter is a picky toddler now, I try to keep it healthy, fatting, and tastes good. Keep in mind also, high fats cause constipation (they did not tell me that - I personally kept away from fats and did not keep chips in the house before this) Miralax is amazing.

Good luck.

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My son is the same way, tall for his age and super skinny. He drinks Vitamin D milk, eats a lot of breaded foods or whole wheat crackers, and we buy ensure by the case. He also really enjoys the yogurt bottled smoothies. He also loves fresh fruit and veggies like bananas, apples, and cucumber.

We have a cabinet that is full of carb snack (like above) and a shelf in the fridge and he is welcome and encouraged to help himself whenever he wants throughout the day, it empowers him and keeps him eating since he doesnt have to wait on someone to get him something. He doesnt overindulge so we don't have to worry about him eating at meals. Sometimes we will have to remind him to get a snack, but he is pretty good about eating something every hour or two.

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I've been doing this for 7 years now! My son was(mis)diagnosed with ADD at age 5(he's actually Asperger's). Since he was a baby I have always been pretty strict about eating so it came naturally to me when he was on meds. We had rules. He had to eat what I made, and he had to eat enough to my satisfaction, even if we sat at the dinner table for an hour. I know in the neurotypical world you should never force a kid to eat but when he's on a medication that can suppress appetite you have to. Make sure you focus on good nutrition and use whole grains and good fats like olive oil, lean protien, avocado, fish is great, nuts, etc... For picky kids, make sure you be carefull not to overload them with new tastes too fast, some kids with Learning disabilities or developmental disabilities also have sensory issues. I also suggest vitamins and homemade smoothies, and anything else your kid can help you make too! Also, if your child has trouble finishing his food at school then ask the school for help. Maybe they can give him an extra 5 minutes at lunch or make sure he eats a snack.

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We had similar experiences with Concerta. Our pediatrician suggested slipping in calories wherever we could. I bought whole milk, and used carnation instant breakfast to make chocolate milk. I fed him a normal diet, and gave him icecream for desert. Eventually, we changed to FocalinXR because some kids have experienced less impact on appetite. Our son started eating with a huge appetite, gaining weight and growing like a weed! FocalinXR might be something to try if your current med is impacting appetite negatively. At 10, he took 1 focalinXR20 at 6 am and another at lunchtime. We sometimes supplemented with a short-acting 10 mg in the evenings if there was a structured activity he needed to participate in.

We're now using vyvanse and it really makes him not hungry, but his grades (1 or 2 As, 2 Bs, mostly Cs, occasional D) have changed to mainly As. We use FocalinXR on weekends and non-school days and he eats non-stop on those days. Using this strategy, he is on track with height and weight and is growing like a weed!

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Hey Livvy,

Try giving him an Ensure shake nightly after the meds wear off. They come in chocolate, strawberry and vanilla. You can get them at pharmacy and grocery store. My son loves them and he put on 15# in the last 6 months.

Good luck,

Scott

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