MUSC Nutrition Services : Wellness : Wellness Education Resources : Dietary Guidelines : Need extra calories in your child's diet?

 Using Milk and Cream

• Use whole milk or 2% milk instead of 1% or skim (or try cream instead of milk!)
•  Mix chocolate or strawberry syrup into milk
• When cooking: use heavy cream, evaporated or whole milk (instead of water) to make soups, hot chocolate, cooked cereals, puddings etc.

 Using Powders and Mixes

• Mix Carnation Instant Breakfast into milk
• Mix whole milk, ice cream, and a packet of Carnation Instant breakfast in a blender to make a milkshake
• Stir 1-2 Tablespoons of powdered milk into pudding, potatoes, soups, sauces, gravies, omelets, drinks, ground meats, hot cereal, and casseroles… anything you can stir!

 Using Cheese

• Make grilled cheese sandwiches using extra slices of cheese
• Put an extra slice of cheese on top of macaroni and cheese and melt them together in the microwave
• Mix parmesan cheese into pasta dishes and then sprinkle more on top
• Melt cheese over vegetables or into sauces, grits, potatoes, and casseroles

 Using Eggs (cooked only, of course!)

• Hard-boiled and deviled eggs make great snacks!
• Add calories to a tossed salad by adding a chopped hard-boiled egg
• Mix raw eggs or egg beaters into ground meats and casseroles before you cook them

 Using Corn Oil and Butter

• Add extra butter to vegetables, casseroles, sandwiches, and cooked cereal
• Add extra oil to pasta, rice, and stir fry

 Using Spreads (NOTE: Peanut butter is not recommended for children under three 
   years old, as it may be a choking hazard)

• Use peanut butter, cream cheese, or Nutella on bread, bagels, English muffins, crackers etc.
• Mix cream cheese with marshmallow fluff to make a delicious fruit dip
• Put peanut butter on apple slices and celery sticks

 Using Other High Calorie Foods

• Dried fruit - serve as a snack or mix into cereals and desserts
• Ice Cream - serve as a snack, dessert, or use to make milkshakes
• Sour cream - add to potatoes, burritos etc.
• Gravy, cream sauce, salad dressing - use extra when possible
• Marshmallows - add to fruit, hot chocolate, and Jell-O

 Using Supplements

• For younger children: try Pediasure, Nutren Jr., or Carnation Instant Breakfast with whole milk
• For older children: try Boost, Ensure, Scandishakes, or Carnation Instant Breakfast with whole milk

 High calorie recipe ideas

 High calorie snack ideas