A diet program for kids enables parents to plan meals that may alleviate the symptoms of certain health conditions. Some of these programs are backed by successful scientific trials, while others make claims that have yet to be substantiated. These diet programs are attractive alternatives and complementary care for kids with medication allergies and parents seeking natural solutions.
Ketogenic Diet
The Ketogenic Diet offers a natural method for treating epilepsy in children, according to Liu Lin Thio, M.D., Ph.D., an epileptologist in the Pediatric Epilepsy Center at St. Louis Children's Hospital. This diet program for kids causes the body to mimic a fasting state and features high-fat, low-carbohydrate and low-protein meals. Dr. Thio explains that the Ketogenic Diet is "designed to increase the body's dependence on fat rather than glucose for energy." Dr. Thio claims one-third of children who follow the Ketogenic Diet have a 90 percent reduction in seizures, and another third have a 50 to 90 percent reduction in seizure frequency after six to 12 months. However, these results are not backed by clinical trials.
Cystic Fibrosis Diet
Kids with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system, require meals with extra calories. Parents of children often collaborate with a dietitian who specializes in this area to create healthy and balanced meal plans tailored to each child. Kids with cystic fibrosis need more calories from fat, according to information provided by KidsHealth, because their bodies do not absorb fat and other nutrients at the same rate as those of kids without this serious health condition. In fact, KidsHealth recommends including foods like bacon cheeseburgers, extra-cheese pizza and milkshakes in the diet. Iron, zinc, calcium and salt are some of the nutrients about which parents should be most concerned.
Feingold Program
The Feingold Program is a diet purported to help kids with attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, a neurobehavioral developmental problem. This diet program for kids eliminates salicylates, artificial colorings, artificial flavorings and preservatives from your child's diet. Salicylates are chemically related to aspirin. According to conclusions from a scientific literature review of ADHD treatment in the 2001 September issue of the journal "American Family Physician," the Feingold diet program produces behavioral or cognitive improvement in only about 5 percent of hyperactive children. The authors of the review, William D. Smucker, M.D., and Marjeneh Hedayat, M.D., explain this is the same rate as that of a placebo. The Feingold Program website claims this diet helps over 80 percent of families that execute this diet correctly.
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