Strategies for Feeding Picky Eaters Who Have Cystic Fibrosis

Dealing with picky eaters can turn the dinner table into a battleground, but it can also become a serious health issue for children with cystic fibrosis. Their need for high-calorie, high-fat foods and additional nutrients means every meal is vital. Compounding the problem, children who take enzymes need to make the most of their medication by eating a complete meal while it is still effective.

There is no magic method for getting a picky eater to change his ways, but these easy strategies helped me entice an active boy with cystic fibrosis to sit down and eat. Your personal physician and nutritionist are the best sources of information, but I hope these ideas will inspire you to discover new solutions for feeding your picky eater.

Establish Regular Mealtimes
Between breathing treatments, chest percussion therapy and school, kids with cystic fibrosis have a busy schedule. Add in a cystic fibrosis diet that mandates three meal and three snacks, and it is a tough schedule. Having regular meal times makes eating routine instead of an interruption to playtime or other activities.

Serve Small Dishes
Kids love fun meal presentations. One simple strategy is to serve a medley of small dishes. Portion foods in small dishes, dip containers or ramekins and arrange on a plate. I usually serve three or four small dishes of food. This method is great for serving snacks, but I also use it to add calories to meals by serving extras such as dip.

Cook Miniature Foods
Miniature foods are a big hit. Cooking tiny pancakes does not take much longer than making a batch of regular pancakes. Tiny tacos are also quick and easy to prepare. Use miniature taco shells that are easy for little mouths to eat. Dinner rolls make small buns perfect for mini burgers.

Use Clever Marketing
Another option is to rename food in honor of your child's favorite book or movie characters. Children's movies and books with food themes, such as "If You Give a Pig a Pancake", can inspire kids to try new foods.

Enlist a Junior Chef
Letting kids pick one or two items at the grocery store and help in the kitchen can motivate them to eat. The produce department is a kid-friendly choice since they can smell and touch the foods before choosing.

Be Empathetic
Kids can be picky eaters for a number of reasons, including health issues. (Think about how a cold can affect your own appetite and taste buds.) That is not a pass for a CFer to quit eating, but it does merit a little empathy and flexibility with meal planning.

Explain Food is Fuel
Kids love to ask why and in this case there is a simple explanation: Food is fuel to help keep your body going.