Please Note: For those of you who linked right to this page and are not aware, the Never-Ending Squirrel Tale is a web site for the parents of kids with cancer. They have special dietary needs and this forum is used to exchange ideas from parent to parent on what worked for them. Nutrition-Related Topics: Loss of Appetite Nausea & Vomiting Diarrhea Mouth Sores & Difficulty Swallowing Taste Alterations Dry Mouth Recipes We added powdered infant formula to whole milk to increase calories. Since our son had only recently switched to whole milk when he was diagnosed, he seemed to find the taste comforting. My son refused to drink Ensure® or other high-calorie drinks, but thought they were wonderful when frozen as fudgesicles.They really freeze nicely and are easy to eat. For my mother I use to add cream to her cereal and to her chocolate milk in the morning. She'd have a salad with high calarie dressing at dinner. At night, Hagan Daz® ice cream or milk with crackers and peanut butter. Tyler's Pita Tyler is 8 years old and VERRRRY protective of his secret recipe; he has not allowed it to be published in any recipe book. But when I asked to share it with other CANCER kids, he said, "ABSOLUTELY! But ONLY FOR CANCER kids!" He lives on it. Ready? We take ANY type of pita bread - white, Greek, Lawash...and toast it in the oven. Just throw it right on the oven rack. When it is a little toasted, take it out, and break it up into pieces on a REAL plate. Pour olive oil on the pieces of pita. Be generous. Salt to taste. DEEE-licious! Thanks to Tyler. God Bless us all. Snack Ideas Cookies and high-calorie milk Puddings: make with whole milkes, high-calorie milk, half 'n' half, or cream and add fresh fruit or mix flavors. Graham Cracker Sandwiches: spread with peanut butter and jam or turn into a cookie with frosting. Dipped Fruit: dip into sour cream or yogurt and then brown sugar Crackers: experiment with different cracks and cheeses Hot cocoa made with high-calorie milk, half 'n' half, or cream Banana dog: spread peanut butter all over a hot dog bun and add a banana. Quick Tips To boost the nutritional level of my son's foods, I have found a great friend—the blender. For spaghetti sauce, I cook carrots, turnips, and spinach, puree them and just add them to my tomato sauce. My son doesn't even know they are there. Related Web Sites AICR—Recipes From the American Institute of Cancer Research: Healthy eating can mean exciting, fun meals with lots of new tastes and plenty of enjoyment. And giving up old favorites? Take a look through our list of healthy recipes and you'll find there are ways to make almost any dish better tasting and good for you. Arbor Nutrition Guide Prepared by Dr.Tony Helman, another good resource for general nutrition. Ask the Dietician® The site for sound nutritional advice by Joanne Larsen, MS, RD, LD Eating Hints for Cancer Patients From the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute InteliHEALTH Nutrition Articles Nutrition During Childhood Cancer Good nutrition is an important part of your child's treatment. In general, your child's normal diet should be continued during cancer treatment unless your physician gives you a special one. You may have noticed that most two-year olds are very trim. Now the formula to their success is available to all with the this wonder diet. With this miracle diet, you are guaranteed to lose between 5 to 10 pounds, but please, only go on it for four days at a time. Day One: Breakfast:—One scrambled egg, one piece of toast with grape jelly. Eat two bites of egg, using your fingers. Push the rest on the floor. Take one bite of toast, then smear the jelly over your face and clothes. Lunch. Four crayons (any color), a handful of potato chips, and a glass of milk. Take three sips of milk and spill the rest. Dinner. A dry stick, two pennies, four sips of flat Sprite. Bedtime snack: Throw a piece of toast on the floor. Day Two: Breakfast: Pick up stale toast from kitchen floor from last night and eat it. Drink ½ bottle of vanilla extract or one to two handfuls of water from toilet. Lunch: half a tube of lipstick and a handful of dog food. One ice cube, if desired. Afternoon Snack: Lick an all-day sucker until sticky. Take it outside and drop it in the dirt. Retrieve it and continue licking until it is clean again. Bring it inside and drop it on the rug. Dinner: Take a small rock or an uncooked bean and shove it up your left nostril. Pour Grape Kool-Aid over mashed potatoes and eat it. Day Three: Breakfast: Two pancakes with plenty of syrup. Eat one with your fingers and then rub your fingers in your hair. One glass of milk. Drink half, then stuff the other pancake in the glass. After breakfast, pick up yesterdays’ sucker from the rug and lick off the fuzz. Put it on the cushion of mom’s best chair. Lunch: Three matches and a peanut butter sandwich. Spit several bites on the floor. Pour a glass of milk on the table and slurp it up. Dinner: A dish of ice cream, a handful of potato chips and some red punch. Try and laugh some punch through your nose. Final Day: Breakfast: pour a glass of milk over a bowl of cornflakes, add half a cup of sugar. Once cereal is soggy, drink the milk and feed the cereal to the dog. Lunch: Find that sucker and finish it. Afternoon snack: A quarter tube of toothpaste, a bite of soap and an olive. Dinner: A glass of spaghetti and chocolate milk.

Here's some high-calorie foods that won't require your child to eat more: High Calorie Milk Mix well: 1 cup whole milk 2 Tablespoons cream 2 Tablespoons skim milk powder Yield: 225 calories and 12.3 grams protein Body Builder Cookies 1/2 cup margarine 1/2 cup sugar 1 egg 1 cup flour 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 2 cups bran flakes 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 3/4 cup raisins Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream margarine and sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg. Add flour and baking soda to creamed mixture, mix well. Stir in bran flakes, cheese, and raisins. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto greased cookie sheets. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Yield: 3 dozen; 88 calories and 2 grams protein per cookie. Trail Mix Mix together: 1/2 cup sunflower seeds 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds 1 cup raisins 3/4 cup peanuts 3/4 cup shredded coconut 3/4 cup M&M®'s, or chocolate chips 1/2 cup = 340 calories Nachos & Cheese Spread 25 tortilla chips on a plate or pan. Sprinkle with 2 ounces of grated cheese and melt in microwave. Serve with salsa: 350 calories. Cheesy Buttered Popcorn and Milkshake 2 cups popcorn 1 tablespoon melted butter 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese or 1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese Serve with a milkshake, about 500 calories. Individual Pizza Use an English muffin half or an individual pizza shell. Top with tomato sauce, meat, mushrooms, green pepper, cheese and any other favorites. Broil in oven until cheese is bubbly (or check in the grocery for prepared pizzas!). One serving = 200 - 250 calories. Toast Pizzas Toast bread in toaster. Spread sauce (from a jar or homemade) on toast, sprinkle with cheese, add parmesan cheese, and microwave for 30 secs on high. Deep Fried Cheese Cut cheese into 1-inch cubes. Dip into beaten egg and roll in bread crumbs. Bake or pan fry in oil at medium heat until golden. 125 calories per cube. Pita Pocket and Whole Milk Fill 1/2 pita with 3/4 cup egg, tuna, ham, or chicken salad and serve with whole milk. About 450 calories. Potato Skins Cut one baked potatoe into quarters. Spoon out most of the potato leaving about 1/4 inch layer. Brush with oil or melted butter and bake at 400 degrees for five minutes. Top with 1/4 cup grated cheese, 2 tablespoons crumbled bacon and choped green onion. Broil until cheese melts. Serve with 2 tablespoons sour cream. About 375 calories. Chicken Fingers Look for already prepared packages in frozen food section. About 225 calories per serving. Yummy Granola Bars 3 cups rolled oats 1 cup chopped almonds 1 cup raisins 1 cup sunflower seeds 1 cup chocolate chips 10 oz sweetened condensed milk 1/2 cup melted margarine or butter 1 egg Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Press into a 9"x13" greased cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. When partly cooled, cut into 16 large bars. 367 calories per bar. Quesadillas 2 - 6" flour tortillas 1 teaspoon mustard 1 slice ham 1 slice pineapple 1 slice processed cheese Spread ustard over one tortilla. Top with ham, pineapple, and cheese and top with other tortilla. Wrap in paper towel or place on microwavable plate. Microwave on high for 30 - 60 seconds. Makes one large serving (280 calories). Nachos & Cheese 1 bag nacho chips grated cheddar cheese grated Monterey Jack cheese chopped avocado chopped tomatoes Spread nacho chips on an ovenproof platter. Sprinkle on lots of grated cheese. Bakein a hot oven or microwave until cheese is melted. Springle chopped avocado and chopped tomatoes on top and dig in! Martian Squares 4 Mars® bars 1/2 cup margarine 4 cups crisped rice cereal (br> 1/2 cup raisins Melt candy bars and margarine completely in duthc oven on top of stove. Mix in crisped rice and raisins. Press into an 8"x8" pan and cool. 182 calories per square. Cherry Deslight Milkshakes 3/4 cup vanilla ice cream 3/4 cup cherry pie filling 1/2 cup whipping cream 1 teaspoon vanilla Put all ingredients into a blender and blend well. Serve with a straw. Makes 2 cups. 439 calories per cup. High Calorie Pudding 1 package instant pudding mix 2 cups half and half In a large bowl mix ingredients together with a mixer. Chill until set. Makes 4 servings. 215 calories per serving. Kiddie Koffee 1 tsp vanilla 1-2 tsp sugar 1 cup whole milk Kids can make this easily and it has been a favorite in my home especially at bedtime. Heat in microwave until warm. Banana Orange Shake (Otherwise known as the Potassium Kick) 1 cup Vanilla Ice Cream 1 cup Orange Juice 1 banana 1/2 pouch of scandishake drink mix Mix well in a blender. I'm not sure of the exact caloric count of this drink. I know that an 8oz serving of scandishake has 600 calories. So I would estimate that this drink would have at least 400-450 calories. But we used it because of the potassium when our daughters levels of potassium started to drop off we fixed this and even though she didn't drink the whole thing it kept the levels within an acceptable range. Plus it extended the serving size of the drink mix. Although you could probably add powdered milk as well, but the calorie count would go down.

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