As a parent, it is worrisome to see your child not gain weight like they are supposed to. Children gaining weight is natural, but your paediatrician may recommend you add more fat-filled and nutritious foods to your baby’s everyday diet.
You may wonder what kind of food would speedily make your child gain weight. This piece will suggest different types of easily affordable and accessible Nigerian foods that can make your child gain weight quickly. Some of the types of foods are;
- Nigerian pap
- Tom Brown
- Rice pudding
- Boiled mashed beans
- Oatmeal
Nigerian pap
Pap (ogi) is made from guinea corn, maize, millet, and sorghum all alone or in combination. During preparation, you may add powders from legumes, milk, powdered dried fish, crayfish, or nuts like tiger and soy nuts. Ensure the pap is not bland to entice your child to take it. To do this, add nuts or sugar to it.
Tom Brown
Tom brown is a thick-brown, nutritious and healthy meal from a combination of millet, legumes (soybeans), peanut (groundnut), yellow corn, and cereals (guinea corn). It is a meal that is easy, quick to prepare, and essential for your baby. It is prepared the same way as pap.
Rice pudding
The ingredients required for making rice pudding are brown rice, milk, and salt. To prepare, boil the rice until it gets tender, after which the milk is added and subjected to boiling until it gets soft. This can be done with coconut milk, tiger nuts, or soya beans. An interesting thing about this meal is that finely ground pureed, cashew, or dates fruits can be added.
Boiled mashed beans
Your child will undoubtedly enjoy this Nigerian food! Beans are one of the meals that will make your child gain weight, and at the same time, your child will look cherubic and healthy. Beans are rich in protein, fibre, minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins. You can prepare beans by washing them, adding them to water on a fire, and cooking till they get very soft. You can add mashed steamed fresh fish or dry fish powder and then make a tomato stew to eat with it.
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is rich in fibre and assists in the digestion of foods. This meal can be tasted with fruit slices, dairy milk, honey, or plant. It will help your baby’s digestive system.
In situations with low birth weight and severe malnutrition, consult a paediatrician who may prescribe certain medications to make your child gain weight. If administered properly, medications (such as cortisol and other glucocorticoids) can increase your child’s weight. However, it is imperative to have a doctor’s order and prescription before giving your child any weight-gaining drugs.