Eating well during treatment is really important as a well-nourished child is able to cope better with their treatment and fight infection. It will also help their body repair healthy body tissues that have been damaged by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. By Louise Henry, Paediatrics Senior Specialist Dietitian at Royal Marsden.
How do I choose the right foods for my child to eat?
All children should be encouraged to eat a variety of foods. This will ensure that they get all of the energy (calories), protein, vitamins and minerals they need for a balanced diet.
- PROTEIN (meat, fish, dairy, nuts, pulses) helps the body to grow and repair and maintains the immune system
- CARBOHYDRATES (bread, potatoes, rice, pasta) are the main source of energy for physical activity and good organ function
- FATS (butter, margarine, vegetable oil, olive oil, nut oils, ghee, cream) are good sources of energy and contain fat-soluble vitamins
- FRUIT AND VEGETABLES are a good source of vitamins, minerals and fibre
- WATER is essential to health and all body cells to function
Can my child be involved in choosing what to eat?
You can encourage your child to be involved in choosing and preparing their food but limit their choice to a few different foods or snacks as having too much choice can be overwhelming.
MEALTIME TIPS:
• Don’t put too much food on the plate as it can be off-putting, and don’t force your child to eat, as sometimes they just won’t feel hungry. Instead, wait a while and try a snack or nutritional supplement drink later
• Try to also include the family at mealtimes and aim to eat at the same time as your child. This can help take the focus off eating and make mealtimes a social occasion
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