Protein for kids

Does anyone give their children protein bars or powders? If so, can you recommend some good ones?
Our doctor suggested Cliff bars, but DD did not like them. We tried Quest bars and have found 1 flavor that she likes so far.

How else do you get your child to eat enough protein? She won't eat pasta, so protein pasta is out of the question.

She is only 5 and a super picky eater. The only "protein" she gets is from McDonalds chicken nuggets. I make chicken nuggets at home (have tried multiple brands) but she doesnt seem to like them. It is a struggle to get her to eat 1. She does eat yogurt (but does not like greek yogurt which has more protein)

editing to mention the foods she does not eat:
eggs
meats/chicken/deli meat
only will eat peanut butter if it is covered in chocolate (reeses pieces or reeses peanut butter cups)
hummus
milk
cheeses

Message edited 4/20/2018 12:38:47 PM.

Protein for kids

I buy the PB2 powder--they sell it at Target with the peanut butter; it comes in peanut butter and chocolate--and I add it to oatmeal and smoothies.

Protein for kids

Will she do any peanut butter or nuts? What if you made chicken nuggets for her? Like baked in the oven?
You can also maybe try pediasure or try the kids friendly protein powder, they have a few and mix with milk? Will she drink chocolate milk? Try grass fed chocolate protein powder for kids. You can google for link it’s like a blue and green jar

Re: Protein for kids

eggs?
hummus?
try deli meat/cheese rollups?

Protein for kids

My kids get their protein from eggs, milk, cheese, peanut butter, yogurt. My 5yo eats oatmeal every morning and I add hemp seeds for a little protein boost. I put them in my yogurt too but the kids won't. My 3yo loves chickpeas in any kind of Indian food and she'll eat crispy chickpeas or lentils.

Re: Protein for kids

Protein for kids

have you tried the Zone bars for kids? My 4 year old seems to like those better than the Cliff's kids ones... they come in vanilla, sugar cookie, chocolate...
have you tried Avocado with some chips? i don't like plain avocado that much (like it in guac) but my son loves it...

Re: Protein for kids

Message edited 4/20/2018 2:17:00 PM.

Protein for kids

Would she drink smoothies? Maybe that would get her to take Greek yogurt and you can add hemp seeds or flax. I find if I put in berries my kids don't care what else is in there, they'll drink them.

Maybe try chia seed pudding? I've also made chia seed jam to put on toast or oatmeal.

What about snacking on nuts. My 3yo isn't crazy about peanut butter but eats peanuts, cashews, sunflower seeds as a snack.

Re: Protein for kids

Beans?
Bean dip with chips?- purée the beans and make them h recognizable?
Cottage cheese?
meatballs- mini ones? Saturated in sauce?
Chili? Maybe don't tell her what the ingredients are?
Greek yogurt smoothies and let her add chocolate to it herself? Maybe if she drinks it , slowly start decreasing the amount of chocolate you add ?

I'm assuming you've tried making eggs a zillion different ways and all different cheeses..

This ones tough !

Message edited 4/20/2018 4:45:25 PM.

Protein for kids

I was curious so I did a few searches to see how many grams a 5yo should be eating in a day bc dd is also super picky but I also think many people tend to over do protein. Depending on weight it seems like around 20g is good.

Sounds like a lot but my bread has 4g per slice and dd eats two. One cup of regular stony field yogurt has 8g. So two slices of toast and the yogurt I'm at 16 already. So even if she's picking up a gram here and there through the day she's fine even if she's not touching milk or meat.

Would your dd drink chocolate milk? One cup of that would get her 8g which is a big chunk. I guess I'd just loon at what she eats and see if any minor changes will help (toast in the morning instead of waffles is double the protein looking at my labels). It may not be as tough as you think.

Re: Protein for kids

Is it a texture issue?

Perhaps she eats the nuggets as they are pretty soft.

I’d try the Morningstar sausage patties, veggie burgers, hot dogs, ground beef, fish sticks. All have a soft texture.

Will she eat other nuggets? I buy the antibiotic free ones to feel a little better about it.

Kodiak pancake mix can be used for high protein muffins, banana bread, etc.

Lentils, beans, edamame, and fruit smoothies are options.

Quinoa and some other grains have protein.

What about chocolate yogurt or puddings made with milk?

Protein for kids

Is the doctor concerned about her growth? Honestly, if not, I wouldn't go nuts. If she's thriving, leave her alone. She will eventually eat more.

Re: Protein for kids

Olly kids protein. I get it at Target. The ingredients are pretty clean and my kids like it. Kids don't generally need a lot of protein, but they do need some.

Re: Protein for kids

Re: Protein for kids

My kids are picky too. They don't like most cheeses or milk, but will eat string cheese and drink chocolate milk. I get Fairlife 2% chocolate milk.

Re: Protein for kids

Re: Protein for kids

I've never tried them, but I've seen cookie recipes with protein powder in them.

Re: Protein for kids

My daughter is picky too. It’s so rough. Will she eat peanut butter on toast if you sprinkle a tiny bit of chocolate chips on top?

My daughter eats no other cheeses, but she does eat shredded Mexican cheese in a tortilla (not cooked). Maybe there’s some type or shape of cheese out there that your dd would eat . I think it’s a texture thing. Dd will only eat chicken nuggets after sitting in her thermos for awhile so they are nice and soggy.

I recently made a bingo card (there’s an online program where you can write in your own things) ans I put things like 3 bites of meat, 1 bite of something new, 1 egg, 1 whole portion of a veggie, ate a family meal, etc., varying levels of diffficulty. When she got a complete row, she got a small prize like a pencil or time with me to do a puzzle, but the whole completed thing was a big event like a movie. Now she’s working for American Girl place (we were going to take her anyways lol) and she’s so motivated, she ate pork, asparagus, and avocado this week.

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Lots of foods have protein. Whole grains, dairy, legumes... yogurt smoothies, high protein cereal, grilled cheese, bean/cheese quesadilla, homemade muffins, anything baked with eggs all have protein. is she in feeding therapy? It worked wonders for my daughter. We are vegetarians and my Dd was an extremely picky eater/problem feeder. We used lots of strategies and were able to move forward to expand her food repertoire.

Re: Protein for kidse

Oh, my daughter randomly loves cream of wheat, which is chock full of protein and calcium and I make it with mostly water but a little milk too to sneak in some more calcium and protein

ETA we did feeding therapy too, and they did identify some legit issues but she’d eat things there and not at home so after a couple hundred dollars in copays, it became a behavioral issue.

Message edited 4/21/2018 6:30:26 AM.

Protein for kids

My very picky son just started drinking kids orgain protein shakes. They have 8 grams of protein per serving and served in a "juice" box. I started bribing him to take a few sips a day and now he asks for them all the time. Good luck!

Protein for kids

good luck

Re: Protein for kids

Will she eat brownies? Maybe try a recipe like this:

Fudge brownie protein bars

My son is 6 and is also *extremely* picky. He will eat these, though:

Happy Tot Fiber and Protein Pouches

Good luck. Picky eaters are so difficult!!!

Protein for kids

DD eats the PB2 Chocolate Peanut butter and loooooves it

Message edited 4/25/2018 10:04:14 AM.