When dinner comes, appetite may return for some as the medication starts to wear off.

This leave parents with only two precious opportunities to squeeze in all the calories and nutrients for the day, breakfast and dinner.

I would suggest adding high calorie and nutrient-dense food, such as healthy fats and oils.

Some pediatricians may say “give them anything even junk food like ice cream, cookies and chips“.

But I disagree and rather use high fat ingredients, especially natural healthy fats, to increase caloric intake for 2 reasons.

One…fat is a very dense source of calories – 9 calories per gram, compared to 4 calories per gram in carbohydrate or protein. And it’s easy to add to many food without increasing the food volume.

Two…healthy fat feeds the brain and provide important building material for new healthy brain tissues. Because young children’s brains are still growing, therefore, introducing healthy fats along with a whole food plant-based diet will hopefully improved some of the ADHD symptoms as new healthy brain tissues and connection forms.

The healthy fats I’m talking about is omega-3 fatty acid. it’s a major brain tissue component. That’s why you find omega-3 fatty acids in infant formula and pregnancy multivitamins. Omega-3 is also one of the natural substances most studied in ADHD researches, which shows low levels in children with ADHD.

I love this particular fish oil supplement for kids. As young as toddler’s age can take it. In just 1/2 tsp or 2.5ml, you get the perfect amount of DHA and EPA PLUS vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K. And these are not “sprinkle” amount. These are full daily recommended amount.

 Parents ask “What about Pediasure?” all the time.

I hate Pediasure… it’s protein is from casein (the most difficult cow’s milk protein to digest), full of sugar and artificial ingredients.

It’s so popular because of the heavy advertising.

I prefer homemade fruits and vegetable smoothies that are packed with all kinds of nutrients and healthy fats.

 With the support from your psychiatrist, you can stop the ADHD medication on weekends or days when there is no school, so your child have an off day with good appetite to eat up a good reserves.

Changing or adjusting ADHD medications sometimes maybe an option. It all depends on what you and your psychiatrist decide.

 You can try 1 tablet of zinc lozenges daily for at least 2 weeks to help increase appetite. Picky children who do not eat a normal diet tends to have mild nutrient deficiencies. And one of these nutrients is zinc, which is found mainly in animal meat and seafood.

Zinc’s most well-known function is supporting immune system. But its other less known function is boosting appetite. Zinc is a key ingredient in the little finger-like structure on the taste buds on the tongue. I usually recommend zinc lozenges in kids who complains that your food “smell funny” or “taste funny”. Chances are their taste buds is a little off due to zinc deficiency.

This is the zinc lozenges that I recommend as it has 23mg of zinc and some vitamin C in just one tablet. The bottle says to take 1 every 2 hours. For your purpose here to increase appetite, just 1 chewable a day is enough.

Here’s a liquid zinc supplement if you prefer. This requires 1ml a day even though the bottle says 1/2ml for children.

Periactin is the second to the last resort to help increase oral intake as most parents do not want to add on more medication. There are many other prescription appetite stimulants, but periactin is what’s used in young children frequently.

Periactin is an anti-histamine with “increased appetite” as one of its side effects. It is a fairly safe medication that we’ve used successfully in many young children with minimal side effects. Besides increased appetite, the other common side effects is drowsiness and crankiness. So we just have parents give the medication at night before bed.

Feeding tube is the absolute last resort when all else fails and your child’s weight and growth continues to tank.

Luckily, we hardly ever have to resort to tube feeding for most kids on ADHD medications.

Actually, there’s another last resort…it’s to stop ADHD medication and try natural alternative options.

On the same note, I want to mention the most disturbing side effects of ADHD medication is increased suicide ideation.

A successful natural ADHD treatment should start with the foundational basics that feed and support your child’s brain growth and development, so you don’t waste time and money on another expensive supplements that do not work for your child. 

I hope you find this article helpful. Let me know what you think and comment below.

Are you ready to learn more about how to help your child have more good days in school, enjoy better mood, less emotional meltdowns and no more text or phone calls from the school without medicating?

Download this new free ebook “Natural ADHD Treatment Quick Start Guide”.