High Calorie Food Ideas for Children

Children who are underweight need to increase calorie intake in order to gain and maintain a healthy weight.

Protein-Rich Foods

Cheese: Strips/squares of soft cheese (American, Gouda, Jack, Cheddar, etc.); ricotta or cottage cheese (mixed with fruit); string cheese; cream cheese and jelly

Yogurt: Custard style, whole milk, or frozen

Meat: Salami, turkey, ham (wrap around cheese/cream cheese);
liverwurst, bacon, sausage, chicken pieces; Meatballs in pasta

Fish: Tuna (packed in oil) mixed with mayonnaise; fish sticks with tartar sauce

Eggs: Deviled (mix mayo into yoke of hard-boiled egg); Scrambled with cheese, omelets

Misc.: Refried beans mixed with sour cream and cheese; Grilled cheese sandwich (butter on inside and outside of bread)

Fruits and Vegetables

Banana: Slice and mix with peanut butter or whipped cream

Avocado: Slice and mix with mayo and lemon

Papaya: Mash and mix with whipped cream

Fruit: Canned or fresh, roll in graham cracker crumbs

Squash: Pumpkin or squash squares baked with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon or nutmeg

Vegetables: Any vegetable cooked and served with sour cream, gravy, or cheese

Starches

Potato: French fries, tater tots; mashed or baked potato with butter, gravy, or sour cream

Noodles: Ramen-type soups (add scrambled egg, meat chunks, or vegetables); pasta with cream sauce or butter and parmesan cheese; macaroni and cheese

Crackers: Graham, saltine or other topped with cream cheese, jelly, peanut butter, or cheese

Bread: Sliced bread with butter, peanut butter and jelly, or cheese; biscuits with butter and honey