1. Ensure Your Child is Eating a High-Fat, High-Calorie Diet
Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) require from 30 to 50 percent more calories than children without the disease in order to reach normal heights and weights. Feeding them can sometimes prove tricky, as children can often be finicky about the foods they eat.
Infants should be fed breast milk and formula like other children for about the first year. After about 6 months, well-pureed solid foods may be added to the child's diet in addition to milk or formula. If the child is still not getting enough calories, parents may need to add whole milk as recommended by their physician for the child's continued growth. In addition, some children will require pancreatic enzymes, which help in the digestion of foods. These should be added to foods before they are served.
Toddlers with CF will likely eat the same amounts of food as children without the condition, so it is important that the foods selected for them be high in calories and fat. In general, parents should aim for about 1,300 to 1,900 calories per day. Whole milk, ice cream, hot cereals with cream and butter, muffins and pancakes are all good choices that children may find appetizing. Parents should also make sure that they replace the salt that children with cystic fibrosis lose by providing salty snacks such as crackers, pretzels or nuts. Enzymes may also be required.
Children from the ages of 4 to 7 usually require between 2,000 and 2,900 calories per day for proper growth. Keeping the calorie count up at this age is important, as young children are usually very active and need the energy that comes with the extra calories. The choices for children of this age are virtually unlimited, and all high-calorie, high-fat foods can be offered, in addition to lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. If at all possible, children should drink whole milk with every meal. This will boost calories, fat and calcium, which is needed for strong bones. Multi-vitamins containing A, D, K and E are recommended, as individuals with cystic fibrosis are often lacking these essential vitamins.
Making sure teens get 3,000 to 5,000 calories should be a priority for parents. The teenage years are a time of tremendous growth and the onset of puberty, which requires enormous energy stores. Just like toddlers and children, teens can benefit from foods such as full-fat dairy products, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, grains and high-protein meats. They should also make sure they take vitamins and enzymes as necessary in order for the body to absorb the calories and nutrients.
2. Give Children Supplements to Increase Caloric Intake
For any number of reasons, children may not always get sufficient calories from the foods they eat. In these cases, parents may need to add additional calories to the child's diet with calorie supplements. These supplements are largely milk- or fruit-juice based and can usually be purchased in drug and grocery stores. Although these can add well-needed calories, they should not be meal replacements, but instead should be eaten along with meals or snacks. Ensure, Enlive and Pediasure are popular over-the-counter choices, but a physician may provide other options.
3. Opt for Tube Feeding When Other Methods Are Not Sufficient
Although it should be a last resort, sometimes tube feeding is necessary to ensure children are ingesting enough calories for their developmental needs. This method of feeding involves injecting calorie-rich supplements into the nose, mouth, stomach or intestines through a tube directly into the child's stomach. Tube feedings should always be considered an addition to regular meals and not meal substitutes.
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