Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a congenital genetic disease of epithelial cells of the body. According to the National Institute of Health, cystic fibrosis is a disease of the mucus and sweat glands of the body. Children born with cystic fibrosis suffer with serious health complications like breathing problems, recurrent lung infections, issues with digestion and weight gain. You need to be extra cautious for planning the diet for such children. You need to provide high calorie diet to these kids, but also need to make sure that you are providing them with all the nutrients that are essential for a normal growth. It does sound like a complex job, especially if you are not aware of the foods to add and foods to avoid in the diet for cystic fibrosis. For more assistance, you can always refer to the following list of must have foods for children with cystic fibrosis.
Fatty foods
As we know, fat is the richest source of calories, which can be well utilized for children with cystic fibrosis. Inclusion of fatty foods in their diet provides fat soluble vitamins and all the essential fatty acids that are needed for a healthy growth of these kids. Always choose fatty food options like margarine, butter, high calorie spreads like olive oil and sunflower oil, nut oils, etc. Make sure to use the fatty foods in generous amounts and prefer frying and stir frying the dishes over steaming and grilling. It will definitely increase the calorie count of the meal you are preparing. Also, use whipped cream, double cream, salad cream and mayonnaise while preparing recipes like cereals, drinks, soups, sauces, cakes, puddings, etc. Include high calorie foods like cream cakes, doughnuts, chocolates, ice creams, mousses and other sweets in the daily diet for the children with cystic fibrosis.
Starchy foods
Another type of foods which are rich sources of fats and calories are starchy foods. According to expert dietitians, at least one part of each meal should be used up by starchy foods. Some easily available starchy foods that you can use in the diet for children with cystic fibrosis are rice, pasta, white bread, cereals, pasta, potatoes, etc. You need to make sure to include foods like biscuits, white bread, breakfast cereals, rusks, etc. to the kids. Try presenting the dishes in interesting ways, so that the kids will not skip meals. For instance, make pasta using variety of shapes, include it in various recipes like soups, noodles, casseroles, etc. Prepare salad dishes with one of the starchy items like potatoes, bread or rice. You can also prepare a variety of dishes like fritters, waffles, salads, fries and puddings using potatoes.
Heavy breakfast and snacks
The role of a heavy breakfast and equally heavier mid-day snacks gets even more important in case of planning diet for children with cystic fibrosis. Rather than just three straight meals, you need to distribute the calories in 5 to 6 meals on a timely basis. You can mix the aforementioned starchy foods and fatty foods to prepare healthy breakfast and snack recipes for kids. For instance, you can serve breakfast cereals with heavy or double cream, white bread with cheese spreads, jams, chocolate spreads and marmalade, pancakes with honey, etc. You can use sugar in generous amount while preparing cereals and juices. However, make sure that you are giving them sweets after the breakfast. Also keep in mind that the time span between one snack and meal should be at least more than one and half hours.
Meat recipes
Along with fats and starchy foods, you also need to make sure that the kids are getting ample amount of proteins and other nutrients that are crucial for their healthy growth. As a result, various meat recipes are one of the must have foods for children with cystic fibrosis. Unless suggested by the dietitian or health care provider, all kinds of meats are suitable for the kids with cystic fibrosis. You can choose favorite types of meats and prepare them in the most healthiest ways. While preparing meat recipes, you need to make sure that you are adding extra fats by choosing cooking methods like stir frying, shallow frying, deep frying and grilling. Since bread and rice match up well with meats, you should incorporate them in meat recipes. Try making fried rice with chicken, chicken nuggets, stuffed turkey or chicken and such recipes that are heavy on calorie count.
Fish recipes
Similar to various sources of meat, fish is another food item which is highly recommended for the patients of cystic fibrosis. Various types of fish are the richest source of numerous nutrients like proteins, vitamins, minerals and most importantly all the essential fatty acids. It is exactly the reason why you need to include various fish recipes while planning a healthy diet for the children with cystic fibrosis. However, make sure that you have discussed the fish diet plan with the health care provider beforehand. Some of the best types of fish to include in the diet for cystic fibrosis are salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, pilchards, tuna, etc. You may also use canned fish to increase calorie content of the fish recipe that you are preparing. However, while choosing canned fish, choose canned fish with oil over the fish that is canned with brine. Fish canned with oil have more calories and hence they are more useful. You can prepare fish recipes like grilled fillets, stuffed fish, deep fried fish and loads of other recipes that your kid likes.
Lentils and beans
Another healthy source of protein and other nutrients, especially for vegetarians are various types of beans and lentils. Some of the best food sources for children with cystic fibrosis are lentils or red kidney beans. Try and include various types of beans like green beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, navy beans, lima beans, white beans, black beans, pea beans, garbanzos, black eyes peas, soybeans, broad beans, mung beans, mesquite beans, adzuki beans, etc. The best thing about various types of beans is that you can include them in any meal throughout the day. You just need to find the best way to include them in the daily meal of your kid. For instance, you can either use them for making baked beans on toast or add them into fresh vegetable salads, serve them with jacket potatoes or combine them with nuts and prepare healthy snacks like hummus sandwiches.
Dairy products
As we all are well aware, milk and various other dairy products have bountiful effects on a child’s body. Similarly, these products are one of the must have foods for children with cystic fibrosis. Dairy products like milk, yogurt, cheese, butter, buttermilk, and other such products are excellent sources of protein, calcium and vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin D. As a result, they become one of the must have foods to include while planning diet for those who are suffering with cystic fibrosis. Make sure the child is getting to drink plenty of milk, especially full cream milk. If your kid doesn’t like to drink plain milk, then you can prepare various milk drinks like homemade milkshakes, drinking chocolate, dessert recipes like custard, rice pudding and various other instant dessert recipes. Use full cream yogurt, fu
ll fat cheese like cheddar, philadelphia, cheshire, etc. Use cheese for making as many recipes as you can.
Fiber rich fruits
To suffice the need of fiber amongst the kids with cystic fibrosis, there is no better source than fresh fruits and dried fruits. You can include fruits and dried fruits in the daily diet of the kids with cystic fibrosis. Eating fruits at mid-morning or evening snack will regulate the digestion process and bowel function of the children. Fruits and other fiber rich foods like green and leafy vegetables also contain phytochemicals that strengthen the immune system of their body. The best sources of fibers include wholemeal bread, white bread, high fiber cereals made of oats, digestive biscuits, cereal bars, dried fruits like sultana, raisin, dried figs, currants, dates, etc. Some other sources of fibers include fresh fruits and salad vegetables like lettuce, celery, cucumber, spinach and other leafy vegetables, etc. You can prepare recipes like fruit juice, salads with cheese, nuts and dried fruits, milkshakes, stir fried vegetables with butter, etc. You can also use fruit syrups, canned juices and canned fruits.
Other choices
Along with all the must have foods for children with cystic fibrosis that are mentioned above, you also need to make sure that all the prescribed medications and supplements are provided to the kids. However, make sure that all the supplements and medications that you provide to the kids are consulted beforehand with the health care provider. Some of the most commonly prescribed supplements for the kids with cystic fibrosis are vitamin supplements, calcium supplements, salt supplements, pancreatic enzyme supplements, etc. All these medications and supplementation should be provided only if they are prescribed by the health care provider. Proper communication with the dietitian and health care provider plays a key role in successful planning of diet for the children with cystic fibrosis.