Seeing Food as Medicine
Published on in CHOP News
Published on in CHOP News
What a child eats or doesn’t eat can have a significant impact on their growth, overall health and well-being. For children with gastrointestinal (GI) issues such as abdominal pain, constipation, gastro-esophageal reflux and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), food choices can determine if the child is healthy and active or sickly and sluggish.
As you know, many children with GI issues are prescribed elimination or restrictive diets that are designed to improve their symptoms by avoiding certain “trigger” foods. For many children, these diets are not as appealing as the foods they are used to. (Plus, no one likes change!) This can cause challenges with compliance – and ultimately affect patient outcomes.
The Clinical Nutrition Department at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has compiled methods we’ve found effective in improving patient compliance with elimination diets. These methods ensure adequate nutrition and empower patients to engage in the process.
Here are a few tips that we’ve found can help patients become more compliant with their food restrictions:
Our goal for patients is the same as yours: to nurture them nutritionally, physically and emotionally, and support their families in their journey. At CHOP, our registered dietitians provide customized dietary counseling to meet the medical and cultural needs of patients. Our team provides in-depth nutritional assessments and counseling; management of enteral nutrition therapy (tube feedings); and evaluation of special or restrictive diets (such as an anti-inflammatory diet).
We can also help you address issues such as obesity, difficulty gaining weight and nutritional replacements with your patients.
We offer several specialized programs to support you and your patients, including:
There are an array of treatment options available today for children with gastrointestinal symptoms. Let us work with you to determine how best to help each patient and family in your care.
— Maria R. Mascarenhas, MBBS, is a pediatric gastroenterologist, Medical Director of the Clinical Nutrition Department and Director of the Integrative Health Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.