How do your children get protein?

[McKenna]

I am very worried about my oldest DD. She has many sensory issues and just refuses to eat most meats. She's been back in school since Aug. 5th. Every day I ask her about what she ate for lunch. She usually eats only bread and the fruit or other dessert they serve. Whatever the meat is, she won't touch it. This week, they had chuckwagon patties (she ate some of the bun), bologna sandwiches (she ate only the bread), spaghetti with meat sauce (she picked out a few noodles but wouldn't eat any of the meat), fish sandwiches (she ate the bun), and I don't remember what they had on the other day. You get the idea.

She WILL eat chicken nuggets and baked chicken breast at home, but only if it is freshly cooked and dipped in ranch dressing. And even then, she only takes a couple of bites.

She IS allowed to take her lunch to school, and sometimes we pack one for her. She really likes peanut butter but isn't allowed to take it to school since someone in the school has a peanut allergy. She won't eat any beans other than green beans. She won't eat cottage cheese. She won't eat eggs. She won't eat string cheese or slices of cheese. HOW can I get protein in her? She's always been thin, but I am worried that she's not gaining weight. She's almost 6 and weighs 38 lbs. She's 46 inches tall.

Any suggestions?

[Magpie]

Does she like milK? Other nuts besides peanuts? Soy/tofu? Fish sticks? Garbanzo beans? Sunflower seeds? yogurt?

[ravenly]

Does she eat mashed potatoes? I load up my mashed potatoes with TONS of cheese.

[Emmi]

My kids are NOT very good eaters and my 9 y/o is a gymnast so she really needs the protein. They eat Special K protein bars everyday.

[spring]

if she likes peanut butter you could try sunbutter - it's made from sunflower seeds and tastes as close to peanut butter as any of the alternative butters I've ever tried, plus it's the consistency of peanut butter. We sub it for peanut butter in sandwiches, snacks, baking, just about anything you can think of you'd use peanut butter in. Where we're at all the kids with peanut allergies know about it, so it's ok to send to school.

spring

[SamsMom]

i'd send her in with chicken every day.

[kary]

i thank goodness that jake loves peanut butter. but he also likes chocolate milk so i sometimes add soy protein to it. since she cannot have peanut butter at school, how about with toast with breakfast or an afternoon snack?

btw, jake will be 7 the end of the month and he is only 32 pounds.

[Caro2]

How about giving her a peannut sandwich for breaky and for dessert after dinner time. I don't see anything wrong with her weight why to do you want her to gain weight? SHe will still gain weight she will grow she might remain thin. DD is 6.5 and weights 38lbs yes she is slim and long but she eats really well.

Does your child like nuts? You can leave them on the counter for your child to eat them as she pleases. She likes chicken and a few bites is enough for protein, if you look at a adult serving it should not be more than 4oz which is the size of the plam of your hand so for your child might be half of the size with is probably a couple of bites. Don't worry too much.

Caro

[momla]

South Beach makes a GREAT mixed berry granola. They come in little packets and have 6g of protein per packet.

I give Jake a big scoop (like 1/4 cup) of Carnation Instant Breakfast in his milk every day. That will give him about 4g of protein. (1/3 cup is 5gm).

1 cup of cheerios has 3gm.

Goldfish crackers have 4gm for 55 pieces. That is a LOT of pieces though.

Kraft Mac and Cheese has 9gm for about a 1 cup serving. Perhaps you could get it into her IEP to have someone heat this up for her for her nutrition.

What about bacon? Cold pepperonis are good on ritz crackers with cheese slices.

Kashi Honey Toasted Oat cereal in those individual plastic bowl things has 6gm.

1 slice of Sara Lee Whole Grain Brown Sugar and Cinnamon bread has 3gm.

Bagels have a lot. A Thomas brand cinnamon swirl bagel has 10gm of protein. Would she put cream cheese on that? That would add more.

Dannon All Natural Cherry yogurt has 5gm. Lydia thinks this is dessert! It is SO yummy. I don't care for yogurt usually and I am addicted to this stuff!!

BTW, a 4-6 year old needs .5 gm of protein per pound of body weight (which would be 19.5 gm for Jake who is 39 lbs). And a 7-14 year old needs .45 gm per pound.

Hope this helps! Can you tell I struggle with this issue too?

[Cathy]

You can also buy protein powder you could mix into milk shakes or smoothies. I would stay away from soy protein powder. I use a brown rice protein powder that is 15grams of protein for just 2 Tablespoons. You could probably bake it into stuff too. I'd try loading her up with protein outside of the school hours with peanut products and other nuts. Its not easy is it?