What is the Diet for Cystic Fibrosis in Children
Cystic fibrosis is a disease that a person is born with (genetic). Cystic fibrosis causes:
- Thick mucus to build up on the body’s organs, including the lungs and airways. This makes breathing difficult.
- Problems with digestion, including the way the body absorbs nutrients.
- Large stools that are difficult to pass, leading to stomach pain and constipation.
Children with cystic fibrosis have trouble getting the nutrients they need. Work with your child’s health care provider to create a healthy eating plan that helps your child to get nutrients and calories.
What is my child’s plan?
Your child’s plan ensures that your child gets nutrients that he or she needs for healthy growth and development. The plan guides you about:
- How many calories your child needs each day, and how to get those calories into your child’s diet.
- Which vitamins and supplements your child will need.
- Which enzymes your child will need to help him or her absorb nutrients from food.
The eating plan should include a variety of:
- Proteins, including beans, poultry, meat, fish, and nuts.
- Fruits and vegetables.
- Whole grains and starchy foods, such as whole-wheat bread and corn.
- Dairy foods or drinks.
To help your child eat enough calories for good growth:
- Serve whole milk with each meal.
- Serve full-fat cheese and yogurt and other full-fat dairy products.
- Add avocado to meals and snacks.
What are tips for following this plan?
General instructions
- Understand your child’s nutritional needs. Cystic fibrosis triggers the production of very thick mucus. This prevents your child’s body from absorbing nutrients well. Because of that, your child needs foods that are high in fat, protein, and calories.
- Feed your child extra calories to stay at a healthy weight. Your child uses up to twice as many calories as a child without cystic fibrosis just to stay healthy and fight infections. Because your child’s body will use more calories to fight infections, your child may be underweight. He or she may need to eat 2,000–2,800 calories each day.
- Work closely with your child’s health care provider to adjust the eating plan as your child grows and changes. Your child’s need for calories, vitamins supplements, and enzymes will change, based on his or her height and weight.
- Talk with your child’s health care provider to see if tube feeding is a good option for your child. This is sometimes an easier, more effective way to be sure a child gets the nutrients and calories that he or she needs.
- Add supplements to your child’s diet as told by his or her health care provider. You may need to add fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
If your child refuses to eat:
- Do notoffer food while your child is watching TV.
- Keep mealtime free of distractions such as toys, books, and digital devices.
- Schedule a consistent daily schedule of three meals a day.
- Schedule snacks for the same times each day.
- Give your child choices when possible. Try to limit the choices to two options.
- Sit and enjoy meals and snacks with your child.
- Offer praise for eating well and for good behaviors.
- Keep mealtimes positive by encouraging your child to eat. Do notforce your child to eat or punish your child for not eating well.
- Talk
with your child about the importance of healthy eating and your child’s eating
behaviors.
- Talk about these topics in a relaxed manner.
- Avoid these topics during meal times and clinic visits with your child’s health care providers.
Add salt to your child’s food
Make sure your child gets enough salt (sodium), especially during the summer months or if you live in a warmer climate. Children with cystic fibrosis lose extra salt through their sweat. You can ensure enough salt by:
- Adding salt to any food that you cook for your child.
- Offering pretzels and other snacks that have salt.
- Making sure your child drinks enough water and other fluids to keep urine pale yellow.
- Talking with your child’s health care provider or a diet and nutrition specialist (dietitian) about the amount of salt that your child should have.
What foods can my child eat?
Your child can eat just about any food. Focus on offering foods that are rich in nutrients and high in calories, protein, and fat. Some good choices for your child include:
- Avocado.
- Nut butters, such as peanut butter.
- Seeds, such as sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.
- Whole milk.
- Whole-milk dairy products.
- Eggs.
- Olives or olive oil.
- Powdered milk added to oatmeal or other dishes.
- Meal replacement shakes or bars that are high in protein, calories, fat, and nutrients.
- Oral nutrition supplement drinks.
- Tuna salad or egg salad sandwiches made with mayonnaise.
- Cooked vegetables with added butter, oil, or cheese.
- Cream-based soups or noodle dishes with cream sauce.
- Pancakes or waffles with butter and peanut butter on top.
- Refried beans with added oil or butter.
- Breaded fish or chicken, such as fish sticks or chicken strips.
What foods are not recommended?
Most foods are not off-limits for a child with cystic fibrosis. However, try to avoid:
- Foods that are low-fat or fat-free.
- Foods that do not have nutrients that will benefit your child.
Do notfeed your young child small foods that may cause choking. If your child is younger than 4 years of age, avoid the following foods, which may be a choking risk for your child.
- Hot dogs.
- Popcorn.
- Whole grapes.
- Raisins.
- Candy.
- Raw whole fruits and vegetables, such as apples and carrots.
- Whole nuts.
- Large pieces of meat.
Summary
- Cystic fibrosis triggers the production of very thick mucus that builds up on your child’s organs. This prevents your child’s body from absorbing nutrients well.
- Focus on offering foods that are rich in nutrients and high in calories, protein, and fat.
- Work closely with your child’s health care provider to adjust the eating plan as your child grows and changes.
- Your child’s need for calories, vitamins supplements, and enzymes will change, based on his or her height and weight.
