Many parents worry about their infant's weight gain, especially if their infant has been diagnosed with failure to thrive. Failure to thrive is a diagnosis given when an infant has very slow physical growth or his growth drops at least two major growth percentiles, according to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. Adding foods high in calories to your infant's diet can help with weight gain, but knowing which foods are highest in calories is necessary to provide the largest caloric increase in your infant's diet. According to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, many of the foods considered best for an infant are also high in calories.
Fruits
Many fruits that young infants enjoy are also high in calories. On average, bananas offer 90 calories in each 3.5-oz. package, according to Children's Heathcare of Atlanta. Pears offer an average of 70 calories per 3.5 oz., peaches offer an average of 70 calories per 3.5 oz., while applesauce only offers about 50 calories per 3.5 oz .
Vegetables
The majority of vegetables have fewer calories than fruits, but some vegetables are high in calories. Each 3.5-oz. of sweet potatoes has on average 70 calories, peas offer 50 calories, carrots and squash both offer 35 calories and green beans offer 30 calories, according to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
Meats
Meats offer a large amount of calories in a small container. Beef infant food offers 76 calories per 2.5-oz. jar, according to Calorie Lab. The website states that ham and pork both offer more calories than beef at 78.8 and 88 calories per 2.5-oz. jar, respectively. Chicken and veal offer slightly fewer calories than beef but still more than many vegetables. Chicken offers 66 calories per 2.5 oz., while veal offers 71.7 calories per 2.5 oz.
Cereal
Baby cereals are a good source of calories. Rice cereal offers 58.7 calories per 1/2 oz., oatmeal offers 59.7 calories per 1/2 oz. and barley cereal offers 54.8 calories per 1/2 oz. before it has been mixed with formula or breast milk, according to CalorieLab. Simply adding formula or breast milk can greatly increase the amount of calories in a single serving.
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