Food Plan for your Child with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
When your child has gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the foods your child eats and eating habits are very important. Choosing the right foods can help ease symptoms. Think about working with a nutrition specialist (dietitian) to help you and your child make good choices.
What are tips for following this plan?
Meals
- Give
your child healthy foods that are low in fat, such as fruits, vegetables,
whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and lean meat, fish, and poultry.
- If your child is younger than 2, ask your doctor or dietitian if low-fat dairy products are okay.
- Offer a young child thickened or specialized formula as told by his or her doctor.
- Let your child eat small meals often instead of three large meals in a day. Your child should eat meals slowly and in a relaxed place. He or she should avoid bending over or lying down until 2–3 hours after eating.
- Avoid
giving your child certain foods as told by the doctor or dietitian. These
foods may include:
- Fatty meats or fried foods.
- Full-fat dairy foods, such as whole milk or ice cream.
- Chocolate.
- Pepper.
- Peppermint or spearmint.
- Drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, black tea, energy drinks, or soft drinks.
- Bubbly (carbonated) drinks.
- Spicy foods.
- Other foods that cause symptoms.
- Keep a food diary to keep track of foods that cause symptoms.
- Have
your child avoid the following:
- Drinking a lot of liquid with meals.
- Eating 2–3 hours before bed.
- Cook foods using methods other than frying. This may include baking, grilling, or broiling.
Lifestyle
- Help
your child to:
- Maintain a healthy weight. Ask your child’s doctor what weight is healthy for him or her, and how he or she can safely lose weight, if needed.
- Exercise at least 60 minutes each day.
- Avoid alcohol or to stop smoking.
- Wear loose-fitting clothes.
- Give your child sugar-free gum to chew after meals. Do notlet your child swallow the gum.
- Raise the head of the child’s bed so that his or her head is slightly above his or her feet. Use a wedge under the mattress or blocks under the bed frame.
Summary
- When your child has gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), food and lifestyle choices are very important in easing symptoms.
- Have your child eat small meals often instead of 3 large meals a day. Your child should eat meals slowly, in a place where he or she is relaxed.
- Limit high-fat foods such as fatty meat or fried foods.
- Your child should avoid bending over or lying down until 2–3 hours after eating.
- Have your child avoid peppermint and spearmint, caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, and any other foods that cause symptoms.
