Discover 15 Nutritious Foods to Help Children Gain Weight
Basically, feeling worried when your child's weight isn't increasing is only human. So it's natural to want to know which nutrient-rich foods can help children gain weight.
Unfortunately, according to the latest WHO data, around 45 million children were malnourished in 2022. About 13.7 million of them were under 5 years old.[1] One indicator is weighing too little compared with other children of the same age.
So, to prevent this from happening to your child, learn how to help your child gain weight quickly by adding some of the following foods to their diet!
1. Breast Milk

If your child is under 6 months old, breast milk is the only option. Be sure to exclusively breastfeed for the first 6 months, without introducing any other foods, to help prevent gastrointestinal and other infections.[2]
2. Fish

However, if you're looking for foods to help children aged 1 and up gain weight, fish can be an excellent choice. This is because it has the lowest fat content compared with other animal protein sources. However, it is high in calories, averaging 205 kcal.
3. Chicken

Besides fish, chicken is another option to consider. Each 100 grams of chicken contains 27 grams of protein and around 239 kcal. This helps increase not only body fat but also your child's muscle mass.
4. Beef

Another excellent source of protein for your little one's growth and development is beef. However, if you're looking for foods to help children aged 2 and under gain weight, avoid serving it too often. It contains relatively high amounts of trans fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol.
5. Dried Fruit

If you're looking for fruit to help children aged 2 and up gain weight, dried fruit can be an excellent choice. It contains more calories than fresh fruit. You can also add it to muffins or other sweet foods to make a healthier snack for your child.
6. White Rice

Once your child is 6 months old or older, you can start introducing white rice. Rice is rich in carbohydrates, protein, calcium, and B vitamins, making it good for your little one's growth and development.[3] However, start by serving it as a soft meal or porridge.
7. Whole Wheat Bread

Another tasty, healthy option that can help children gain weight is whole wheat bread. It provides 247.1 kcal per 100 grams, more than rice, which has around 130 kcal per 100 grams.
8. Peanut Butter

If you're looking for something to serve with whole wheat bread, peanut butter is a great option. Although it's high in calories and fat, most of its fat is unsaturated. Peanut butter is also low in cholesterol.
9. Avocado

One way to help your child gain weight quickly—in as little as a week—is to include avocado regularly in their diet. Avocados are high in calories and fat, but they're healthy for children because most of their fat is unsaturated.
10. Carrots

Along with calorie-rich foods, helping your child gain weight rapidly also means improving their appetite. For example, regularly eating carrots may help stimulate appetite. Carrots also contain natural sugars that are good for your child's health.
11. Honey

Another food that can help stimulate appetite is honey. The main acids in honey—glutamic acid and butyric acid—can stimulate the appetite, encouraging you to eat more often.[4]
12. Java Turmeric

You can also introduce Java turmeric to your child to help boost their appetite. Both regular and black Java turmeric may help bring on hunger sooner.
13. Ginger

Another herbal plant that can significantly help stimulate appetite is ginger. You can choose regular or red ginger and start introducing it to your child.
14. Licorice Root

Another option to help stimulate appetite is licorice root. It offers several benefits, tastes good, and is suitable for children.
15. Chocolate

Lastly, you can also give your children chocolate. However, don't serve it too often, as it contains a considerable amount of unsaturated fat.
Another option is to regularly consume Anak Sehat Chocolate from Sidomuncul, which is safer for children. This chocolate-flavored herbal drink contains several other herbal ingredients that can quickly help boost your child's appetite, such as:
- Carrots
- Honey
- Java turmeric
- Black Java turmeric
- Ginger
- Red ginger
- Licorice root
So, in addition to nutrient-rich foods that help children gain weight, you can also give them Sidomuncul's Jamu Anak Sehat Chocolate as a complementary drink. Besides chocolate, there are several other flavors to choose from. So, try it today to help your child enjoy their meals!
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