Wednesday, May 11, 2011

pudding

I've embarked on a campaign to fatten my children up.

I don't believe in percentiles, per se: both of them have been at the absolute bottom of the chart -- Isla is even less than 0%, a statistical mind-boggler, in my opinion -- and they seem to be doing just fine. Isla's weight stalled out for a few months there, mainly because she learned to walk (AT 9 MONTHS, WTF) and then suddenly had places to go and toys to steal and couldn't be bothered to eat. But the pediatrician was concerned, and wanted me to start giving her PediaSure. (He also scheduled a "sweat test" to rule out Cystic Fibrosis as a cause for poor weight gain, and while it's a non-invasive, non-painful procedure, I think it has caused Isla to swear off anyone remotely doctor-ish FOREVAR.)

I know I'm already biased, but when I looked at list of ingredients on the PediaSure, I wanted to swear AT my doctor. Because really? You want me to give my kid chemical sugar milk, like 3 times a day? Aren't we already having a problem with childhood obesity and diabetes in this country? NO THANKS.

I decided to do it the old fashioned way, ie, with actual food.

I made cookies with all the most fattening things I could think of, like peanut butter and flax meal and coconut oil and walnuts and butter and avocado -- surprisingly good! -- and then, because I was on a roll, I found this recipe for chocolate pudding made with avocado. I'll let the critics' faces speak for themselves:





(Okay, Isla looks alternately melancholy and deranged, but trust me, she loves it!)

If you want to try it yourself:

1 avocado
1/4 cup maple syrup (or more, to taste)
2-3 tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder
1-2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

The maple syrup and vanilla cover the avocado taste nicely, and the texture is perfectly creamy. Blend and slurp!

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5 comments:

Wood said...

That looks awesome and delicious! well done!

Did I ever tell you that I went through the same thing with Penny at that age? When Penny was 15 months my doctor told me to give her formula for weight gain. She was still breastfeeding, and had never had formula. And of course she refused it. And of course I wanted to swear at the doctor at the mere suggestion. Anyway, at 6, Penny is still below the charts, the only good thing is that we only even see the chart or think about it once a year, instead of every three months. At 6 she is outweighed by her 3-year-old brother, and is the smallest kid in kindergarten. But some kids are just small. I imagine that you and Jason are also below the weight charts for adults, so how can the doctor look at you be surprised?

kudos to you for good mama-problem-solving skills. chocolate avocado pudding! wow.

Robin Danely said...

Wood, I don't know why Blogger erased your comments... but I was so relieved to know your daughter is a tiny one, too. I can't believe your son out-weighs her!

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

Rachel P Roy said...

Totally agree with you on the approach to weight gain! If you are interested, I know a great organic meal-shake solution as well. Waaaay better than Pedia-whatever. Check it out here: http://www.shaklee.com/products.php?sku=20322

Anonymous said...

Try carob powder. Less of a adrenaline charge for both adults and kids.

Anonymous said...

P.S. Love your slippers.