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Child Nutrition for Special Kids
Balancing good child nutrition with what your child is willing and able to eat is often a challenge. Some children with celiac disease or autism benefit from the
gluten free, casein free diet
while others will only eat
certain consistencies.
Many children with feeding problems suffer from
under-nutrition
and occassionally need to be
tube fed.
Before determining that, you need to calculate
calories to know how many he needs. Food allergies
require children to stay away from certain foods which can be a problem if they already self restrict.
If you are concerned your child is too thin, check his place on the
growth chart. Calorie boosters
are helpful for kids who do not eat enough to stay well nourished naturally. If you are concerned about giving your child to much fat, look at our list of
lowfat, high calorie foods. Click here
for a list of healthy high calorie foods to incorporate into your child's diet.
Smoothies
are also a good option for children who refuse to eat solid fruit, vegetables and protein but are willing to drink
liquids
. If your child has trouble tolerating the flavor of her formula, you can try
flavoring it.
. Feel free to check out our
high calorie recipes
for child friendly recipes high in protein, fat and calories.
Although
children's portion sizes
are important, keep in mind it should only be used as a general guide because they are not always appropriate for a child with a feeding problem if she is underweight.
If you have an infant and are trying to
breastfeed
but are having trouble, you may need to transition to
formula.
. For the more expensive formulas try to get it
covered by insurance.
Many children suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease and need to follow restrictions consistent with an
acid reflux diet.
If your child is aversive to the fork or spoon, she may do better with
finger foods.
Click on the links above for full articles on each topic, and check back often for new information!
"I just want to say: Although the sudden plunge into no Vital Jr and no baby formula was cold turkey and not easy and super scary for me, a month later, I can say that my son looks really, really good physically, is now maintaining weight, and obviously feels a little more light and happy in his physical actions. Regardless of whether the GFCF diet will end up being necessary, I am thrilled beyond words that he eats REAL FOOD, not chemicals. The lighter, more frequent meals make me feel like I am finally not causing GERD and constipation faster than I can medicate it. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your help! I truly could not have done it without your help. And I feel confident that with continued tweaking with you his diet can get in more calories and complete nutrition, which makes me feel so good as a mother (especially of a chronically malnourished child, even in utero) that I am finally actually nourishing my child."
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