While most babies gain weight without issue, your pediatrician may suggest adding even more nutritious, fat-filled foods to your little one's diet. Here's how to tip the scale in their favor.
Compared to the four calories found in a gram of protein or carbohydrate, each gram of fat contains about nine calories.4 One good option is the plant-based olive oil; try drizzling a teaspoon on pureed vegetables for an extra boost.
Nuts are densely nutritious and chock-full of healthy fats. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology recommends they be introduced to babies gradually when starting solids (after they tolerate less allergenic foods) to help prevent allergies down the road.
Since infants should be drinking breast milk or formula for the first year of their lives, this is a no-brainer next step. Between ages 1 and 2, introduce whole milk to encourage baby weight gain. Before age 1, you can introduce other full-fat dairy products.
Its creamy consistency and mild flavor make avocados an easy addition for babies in the early stages of eating solid foods. Some store-bought baby foods even feature blended avocados with other fruits, so watch out for those.
Not all fruits are created equal when it comes to their calorie content. Bananas have far more fat than, say, watermelon, apples, or strawberries. They're also packed with potassium and fiber.