As long as the sick child can eat, he/she will have the physical strength to receive treatment. Therefore, strict restrictions on diet are not necessary. Many dietary restrictions, such as not eating shrimp and crab, chicken, duck and goose with two feet, have been spread among the people. It is suggested that there should be no strict restrictions except on foods that cause allergies.
Basic dietary principles
- Eat several small meals a day in bite-size pieces, which are sliced and boiled in a semi-liquid form, such as salty rice porridge, noodles, etc.
- Choose foods that are fresh, cooked and clean. Choose fresh ingredients to avoid expired foods. Food must be provided in a well-cooked form. Do not serve half-cooked eggs, hot spring eggs, or undercooked steak. Food should be rinsed clean or peeled.
- Nutrition supplement: When food intake cannot meet the demand, commercial formulas can be considered to meet the demand, and how to supplement can be consulted with professional dietitians.
Dietary principles during treatment
The sick child is at the stage of growth and development, and in the course of treatment, besides destroying cancer cells, it may also cause damage to normal cells of the body. Therefore, adequate nutrition is needed to restore the injured part of the body. A "high calorie and high protein" diet should be adopted, with adequate calorie requirements as the primary goal.
- Increase protein: milk - extended shelf life milk, commercial nutrients; meat/fish - fresh and well-cooked; eggs - steamed eggs, scrambled eggs; beans - tofu, bean bundle, soymilk.
- Increase calories: Choose foods with a high calorie density, such as thick soup and solid food, and eat several small meals.
Dietary principles during convalescence
- Convalescence refers to the period between two treatments or after active treatment, with the goal to solve the problems caused by treatment, such as the symptoms triggered by mineral and vitamin deficiency.
- Food choice: Balanced intake of six categories of food.
Dietary precautions for all age groups
- Infant and young children period
- Avoid using formula with probiotics, such as Pedia Sure powder formula.
- Don't feed unknown folk recipes.
- It is forbidden to drink honey water.
- Make good use of color matching, change the way of cooking to attract children to eat, and gradually increase the supply and number of times.
- School period: This stage can teach children to know the names and nutritional values of various foods. Changing menu contents can help them develop the habit of taking in various foods.
- Adolescence: At a stage when there are huge hormonal changes, children are fussy about their looks, which can lead to obesity and underweight problems. Weight gain is due to increased appetite after taking steroids. The following principles should be noted in diet:
- Eat several small meals a day. Reduce unnecessary food intake such as snacks.
- Eat more high-fiber foods that make us feel full, such as brown rice, grain rice, whole wheat bread, vegetables and fruits.
- Avoid drinking sugary drinks.
- Avoid high fat and fried foods such as fat, animal skins, doughnuts and fried chicken.
- Food is cooked by blanching, steaming, boiling and brining to reduce the amount of fat.
- Slow down the eating speed and chew slowly.
Examples of semi liquid diet
- Good calcium egg gruel (450 Kcal; 20g protein)
- Ingredients: 1 egg, 50g sweet potatoes, 20g carrots, 50g spinach, 40g polished rice, and 240ml extended shelf life milk.
- Method:
- Wash, peel and steam the sweet potatoes into paste.
- Steam the carrots in a rice cooker and then chop them up into small pieces.
- Pour cooked rice, chopped carrots and segmented spinach into a pot and cook together. Then pour in egg liquid and extended shelf life milk, stir and boil, and add salt.
- Soymilk noodles soup (350 Kcal; 17g protein)
- Ingredients: 240ml soybean milk, 100ml soup stock, 50g dry thin noodles, 50g cabbage, 30g onions, 35g pork tenderloin, appropriate amounts of salad oil.
- Method:
- Wash the cabbage and onions and cut them into small pieces.
- Heat the pot, add a little salad oil, stir-fry onion and cabbage, then add soybean milk and soup stock for boiling, and then add salt.
- Cook noodles and meat slices in boiling water, pick them up and put them in a bowl, then add soup base.