High-Calorie Eating For Infants

Most of your baby’s nutrition should come from breastmilk or formula. Don’t give your baby cow’s milk or any other milk alternative to drink until they are 12 months old, unless recommended by your doctor. You can start to offer certain foods to your baby once they are 4 to 6 months old and your doctor says that your baby is ready.

Your doctor can also tell you if your baby is at risk of having a food allergy. Some babies have allergy symptoms like a rash, vomiting, stuffy or runny nose, or diarrhea after they eat certain foods. Common foods that may cause an allergic reaction include eggs, nuts (peanuts or tree nuts), fish, shellfish, wheat, soy (like soymilk, edamame, or tofu), and dairy (like milk, cheese, or yogurt). If you think your baby has an allergic reaction, stop offering that food until you talk to your baby’s doctor.

• Look for pureed foods with at least 80 to 100 calories in every 4 ounces
• Choose higher calorie options if you want to make your own purees:
  • Banana
  • Cooked potatoes, sweet potatoes, or squash
  • Cooked meats or fish (without bones)
  • Cooked beans or lentils
  • Cooked eggs
  • Avocado
• Prepare fortified baby cereal (any kind) with formula or breastmilk
• Offer full-fat yogurt or cottage cheese (can be pureed if needed)
• Add 1 teaspoon of oil, butter, or ghee to every 4 ounces of purees
• Add 1 Tablespoon of half & half, heavy cream, non-dairy creamer, or coconut cream to every 4 ounces of purees
• Offer nut butters thinned with breastmilk or formula, or mixed into yogurt or purees

• Meats or fish (cooked and tender), tofu, or eggs (cooked any way)
• Cooked cereals like oatmeal, buckwheat, or quinoa
• Full-fat dairy foods like cheese, yogurt, or cottage cheese (or dairy-free alternatives)
• Smoothies made with fruit (fresh or frozen), full-fat yogurt (or dairy-free alternatives), nut butters, or avocado. You can add a handful of spinach to get a serving of greens.
• Cream- or meat-based soups

• Dip foods in hummus, tahini, ketchup (mix ketchup with mayo to increase the calories), sour cream, or guacamole
• Spread nut butters on baked goods (add a layer of unsalted butter or margarine underneath), fruits (like bananas or apples), or add to hot cereals or smoothies
• Add refried beans, sour cream, avocado, or melted cheese to other dishes
• Add mayo or a layer of unsalted butter to the inside of bread when you make sandwiches
• Add an extra egg to French toast, pancake batter, or waffle batter before cooking
• Add oil, butter, margarine, or ghee to foods like hot cereals, noodles, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, breads or baked goods
• Sautee or roast veggies in extra oil, butter, margarine, or ghee
• Add half & half, heavy cream, non-dairy creamer, or full-fat coconut milk to smoothies, fruit purees, soups, or scrambled eggs (before cooking)