High Protein Shakes for Kids

High-calorie ingredients help with weight gain.

High-calorie ingredients help with weight gain.

The average child needs between 19 and 34 grams of protein per day, according to the Institute of Medicine, and that can easily be obtained by eating whole foods. Additional protein may be necessary when your child is underweight, suffering from a wasting disease or recovering from a major injury. In these instances, a high-protein shake expediently delivers calories and protein in a tasty way that even a child with a slight appetite might be willing to drink.

High-Protein, High-Calorie

High-protein, high-calorie shakes are usually indicated in cases of children who have a failure to gain weight or need the extra calories to help with healing, such as during cancer treatment or after severe burns. In these cases, you may have trouble getting your child to eat whole foods, and a high-protein shake makes a tolerable, palatable way to fit in lots of calories and nutrition. Powdered whole milk, whole-milk yogurt, peanut or almond butter, ice cream and whey or soy protein powder boost the calorie and protein content in these shakes. For example, blend up whole-milk powder, whole milk, peanut butter and a frozen banana or orange juice, vanilla ice cream and protein powder.

Commercial Products

Several commercial products offer high-protein shakes for kids already prepared. These usually contain concentrated calories and can help children gain weight or act as meal replacements when kids exhibit poor appetite. Their benefit rests in their convenience -- you can pack them in a lunch or for snacks. You can also use them as a base for an easy homemade shake -- just blend with frozen fruit and ice.

Keeping Calories Down

In some cases, a child may need a high-protein diet but doesn't need all the extra calories. Those with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, for example, may perform better in school after a high-protein breakfast, notes an article in "ADDitude" magazine. A high-protein shake for kids who need to maintain their weight skips the ice cream and other extra calories and includes protein from sources such as yogurt, low-fat milk and protein powder. Whip these ingredients up with frozen berries and a tablespoon of flax seed, and you've got a nutritionally dense, high-protein shake that doesn't promote weight gain.

Too Much of a Good Thing

A child of normal height and weight most likely doesn't need added protein, unless it's been indicated by his doctor. Children younger than 9 can get more than the necessary 19 grams of protein easily -- one egg, 1 ounce of chicken and a cube of low-fat cheese cover a day. Older children more than fulfill their 34-gram requirement with a cup of Greek yogurt, 2 ounces of beef and a tablespoon of peanut butter. Consuming large amounts of protein won't accelerate normal growth or strength development. The body cannot store protein for later use, so any extra is excreted and additional calories stored as fat.

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