1. Eat More Than Their Friends
Malabsorption, frequent infections and an increase in resting energy expenditure bump up the calorie and nutrient requirements of children with cystic fibrosis. If your child has this disorder, ideally she should consume a high-fat, high-protein diet containing 20 to 50 percent more total calories per day than her healthy peers. Children with cystic fibrosis are prone to developing short stature and nutrient deficiencies, so try providing your child with frequent meals and snacks every two or three hours to help her meet her dietary needs.
2. Pile on the Fat
Your child most likely has difficulty absorbing fat, so it's a good idea to keep her fat intake between 35 and 40 percent of her total calories. The good news is that most fatty foods taste delicious and are calorie-dense, so your child will be able to enjoy this type of diet while getting the calories she needs. Fat-soluble vitamins will need to be supplemented as well. If greasy stools are an issue, an indication of malabsorption, Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) oil may be consumed to help lessen the amount of fat that?s excreted.
3. Poor Appetite is a Challenge
We all know some kids are finicky eaters, but if they also have cystic fibrosis, then stomach pains, shortness of breath, reduced sense of smell and other issues may cause them to want to eat less, not more. What to do? Allow your child access to her favorite foods to snack on throughout the day. The texture, aroma and even appearance of foods may make all the difference in the world to your child, so ask her why she turns her nose up at certain foods. It may just be because all the carrots on her plate look "funny." When she's coughing a lot, she'll likely prefer to eat soft foods. You may need to provide her with nutrition supplements, specially formulated beverages and puddings on some days to help her to get more calories.
4. There's a Link Between Osteopenia and Cystic Fibrosis
Since children with cystic fibrosis tend to have difficulty absorbing fat-soluble vitamins, such as bone-building vitamins D and K, they're more at risk for developing weakened bones. Calcium intake may be low as well. In addition to providing your child with fat-soluble vitamin supplements, try encouraging her to consume more foods rich in calcium. Really now, what kid would turn down a bowl of ice cream?
5. Keep the Salt Shaker on the Table
While the rest of us should be concerned with consuming less salt, children with cystic fibrosis actually need to be sure they're taking in enough of it. Large amounts of sodium and chloride are lost in sweat in those with this disorder, so watch your child on very hot days, when she has diarrhea, or is very physically active for outward signs of excessive sodium loss: fatigue, dehydration or vomiting.
