Let's be honest. We have a relatively decent idea of what is good for us without pondering the amount of calories. A giant slice of Heath Bar pie probably contains tons of sugar the body will never use. Red pepper humus with celery sticks are certainly a healthy snack. Consume an entire bag of Cheetos will add some bulk around the tummy. Cut some apples and bananas then dip into yogurt as a wise solution to push away the munchies. There are good choices and bad choices that few people are ignorant to so why burden myself with label reading when I have common sense.
Then my daughter's pediatrician appointment changed that viewpoint.
My daughter has not lost weight, but she is not gaining appropriately to her height growth. My chubby bunny in the 95 percentile for children of 6 months is now in the 3% at 18 months. A plateauing I thought by now would incline with the average percentile. I was warned as a breastfed baby the trend was sure to occur with Lucy. However, I certainly was not expecting the trend to last this long.
The pediatrician recommended buying PediaSure since I can not entice Lucy to drink cow's milk. Lucy also should have no water or juice since water is calorie free. She will have a re-check in two months. If there is no improvement or weight gain she will need to be weened from breastmilk entirely.
Now, I breastfeed mornings and evenings, but for a short time. The feedings are mostly for comfort. The idea of removing her comfort terrifies me. Breastfeeding is my last weapon, the final solution, my last hope.... my bond. A gift I am not ready to release.
Immediately after leaving the doctor's office I rush to the grocery store. I gotta get some protein shakes. Grab the PediaSure and yogurt squeezable. I allow Lucy to sample the berry flavored supplement. Fortunately she clutches the bottle with interest and continues to gulp. Whereas I make a face from the overwhelming flavor of zinc, but whatever works.
The next day, Lucy's interest in the new beverage has passed. This is my battle with her eating habits. She usually will try any new food, but refrains from eating large quantities. A little here. A little there. Her staple foods are cottage cheese, edamame, dried cranberries, bananas, and humus. Nonetheless, there is only so much cheese I can offer the child before she becomes constipated.
Next time I go to the store I buy chocolate PediSure. This feels wrong because it contains 15 grams of sugar. I could be serving her regular chocolate milk, but I have avoided this solution because of the amount of sugar. Yet, I justify the chocolate flavor because of added mineral benefits and I will dilute it with milk. I start staring at all the food labels of snacks and yogurt and peanut butter. If there is a decent amount of calories, protein, and fat I throw the item in the shopping cart. The dairy section of the store is discouraging because of all the low-fat items. I NEED fattening yogurt.
Lucy drinks the chocolate PediaSure for two days then turns her nose to it. Meanwhile, I have a collection of cups in the frig containing different flavors of protein shakes. Why won't she drink the milk? Pinterest becomes my next source for help. "High protein baby drinks," is my search. I receive a list of recipes from moms who do not trust PediaSure. Some of the recipes seem more like Smoothie King drinks with flaxseed and protein powder, but I am willing to try anything.
I think Lucy senses my anxiety and urgency. Almost like a laugh in my face, "You will not control me!" Oh Boy! Is this what I have to look forward to?
My husband sees my fret as unnecessary. "Give the kid a milkshake if that is what she will drink." He has become annoyed with me because I have turned him into a closet eater and drinker. He cannot eat his Poptart without a little girl reaching up with, "Wanna," then screaming if denied. Then comes Mom saying, "No empty calories loaded in sugar." I am just as frustrated trying to convince Lucy high protein is necessary over the pretty sugar distraction. I can hear her saying with her weepy eyes, "If it is good enough for Dad why can't I have it?"
One night my husband stressed concern to me about Lucy's hydration. Trying to follow the doctor's orders I stopped serving water to Lucy. While my husband was holding her within five minutes she drinks four small cups of water. He was worried I was allowing her to become dehydrated. Though I noticed little change in her wet diapers and I allowed her to drink form my cup, the point was made. I needed to chill out and make sensible decisions for our daughter.
Variety and persistency are the most important keys. Just because Lucy ate a healthy amount of sausage one morning does not mean she will the following breakfast. I try to rotate foods. Peanut butter and bananas today for lunch. Tomorrow we will have turkey and humus. Dips, spreads, and condiments work great. Can not get her to finish her bagel, offer a little dip in the coffee. (Don't judge. Besides, she saw mamma do it.) We had a gay ole time eating peanut butter and crackers with Nutella spread as a dessert. Her drinks are a different flavor every day. Sometimes I mix with PediaSure. Sometimes I use coconut milk. (Horizon's organic vanilla milk is also helpful.) I will make tropical OJ drinks, chocolate, blueberry pomegranate, banana. The skies the limit. One rule I did change is for meals she receives the higher calorie milk drinks then any other time of day has water available. It is better if it comes from Mamma's cup.
As for persistency, eating a meal can take anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes. Lucy starts by feeding herself then when she starts to slack I take the utensil trying to sneak in food. Sometimes it is an easy "pop" in the mouth. Other times a noisy plane or galloping horse will make an entrance charging into her mouth. I also find she is more likely to eat and drink what Mamma is consuming. If I notice she has lost interest in her beverage I preform a little sippy sip then offer her the same opportunity. She has received the nudge and I have been denied.
It is a work in progress. Because I hate wasted food I resort to finishing off her tropical shake or untouched sandwich. I sure hope I am not the weight gainer in this story. I like to think she feels heavier. Hopefully, through this ordeal she will experience a wide array of foods. I want to avoid her becoming a picky eater like her mamma who depended on junk food and had a weight problem. Yet, if I have to spread Nutella to get an extra bite I will gladly take the risk.
1 comment:
For future reference (and I do mean FUTURE!): I read a book called "It's Not About The Broccoli" when Liam was just about to turn 3 and was only wanting certain foods and refused to try new ones. The irony is that he wound up loving broccoli of all things :) But this book was written by a mama first, sociologist second, and it's interesting. It was good.
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