This post was sponsored by Walgreens Cystic Fibrosis Services as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received compensation as a thank you for my post.
Being the caregiver to a child with CF (Cystic Fibrosis) is a major adjustment. Besides the medicines and routines you must get into, their diet is a major part of ensuring their health and well-being. CF effects approximately 30,000 adults and children in the US at any given moment. What happens to people with CF is that their body isn’t able to retain the right balance of salt and water. This means that their sweat glands, lungs, liver, pancreas, digestive and reproductive systems can’t function properly. Because of this the body ends up producing thick mucus, which clogs the lungs and creates a perfect breading ground for infections and other breathing problems. In kids with CF, this mucus can prevent the body from it’s normal absorption of key nutrients and fat in the intestines. When this happens it can lead to issues such as poor digestion, slow growth, difficulty gaining weight and a decreased ability to fight an infection.
So, you can see why having the proper diet is pinnacle to staying healthy and making sure children with CF are able to grow normally. The best way to make sure your child is eating the right diet, is to consult with your doctor and get them started on a high calorie diet. Since every child is different their specific dietary needs will likely be based on their lung function, illness and activity level. For us, we make sure to keep these specific items in our daughter’s diet at all times to ensure she stays healthy and still able to be a fun-loving kid.
- Fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K)
- Omega 3 Fatty Acids
- Calcium
- Iron
- Salt
- Zinc
Making sure our daughter received these essentials in her diet was hard at first, especially as a toddler when she was super picky with what she ate. Now that she’s a bit older and understands her CF better, she’s become a slightly better eater, although we still have the occasional food argument. We’ve found that the best way to get her to eat is to make sure we don’t give huge portions, make her food look as good as possible, if she’s eating somewhere away from home, we make sure to either pack her lunch or we have a small list of items we know she likes that I’ve had laminated for her to keep in her pocket.
If your looking for guidance on caring for someone with CF or have been diagnosed with CF yourself, Walgreens offers a wonderful resource through their Walgreens Cystic Fibrosis Services. As part of their CF Champions “Navigating The Journey Together” team, we’ve been able to share our journey with others.
Are you a caregiver to someone with CF? What do you do to make sure they get the right foods?
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