Body image is important no matter what age you are, but for teenagers, it can be a particularly sensitive subject. When it comes to weight issues for teens, people typically think of overweight kids. However, being underweight can be just as much of a challenge. If you're the parent of an underweight teen, it's not enough to encourage her to eat more. Taking specific action will help ensure your teen is not only gaining weight, but also doing it in a healthy way.
Step 1
Buy whole-fat dairy products and keep them in the house for your teen to consume. Buy your teen his own gallon of Vitamin D milk, for example, and write his name on it with a permanent marker. Do the same with other whole-milk products, such as cheese, yogurt, cream cheese and cottage cheese. Explain to other members of the family the importance of leaving these items for your underweight teen.
Step 2
Modify your cooking and meal planning for your underweight teen. Cook her portions with extra butter, heavy cream, or margarine. For example, if you're planning mashed potatoes for dinner, set aside a serving for your underweight teen and add extra butter and whole milk.
Step 3
Encourage your teen to increase portion sizes of healthy foods in order to increase the number of calories he intakes during the day. Add fruits to cereal, side dishes to meals and snacks throughout the day to help bump up the number of calories eaten daily.
Step 4
Find out what your teen's favorite meals are, and figure out a way to serve them more often with extra calories--but in a healthy way. For example, if your teen loves pizza, find an easy recipe you can make often, and load the pizza with tons of fresh vegetables and extra cheese.
Step 5
Increase your teen's intake of healthy fats, such as poly- and mono-unsaturated fats, to help increase her weight without drastically upping the amount of saturated fats she consumes. Use beans, nuts and vegetable oils in recipes and snacks. Put together a trail mix full of a variety of nuts and seeds. Use avocado on sandwiches and in salads. Select canola oil to cook fish or chicken.
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