Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease which affects the epithelial cells. These cells are found in many places in the body, including the lungs, sweat glands, and pancreas. A slight disruption in the functions of these cells causes an imbalance with the amount of salt and water in the body. The body produces thick mucus as a result of this. The mucus is thicker than what it should be and it blocks the lungs, ducts and passageways.

This leads to infections and breathing problems. The thick mucus prevents the intestines from absorbing important nutrients from the food. The deficiency in the absorption of vitamins and minerals in cystic fibrosis patients affects their growth. Children affected by cystic fibrosis may be short or underweight and can fall sick frequently. This makes it necessary for those parents whose children are living with cystic fibrosis to be proactive and take care to ensure that dietary needs are met with the daily intake of food. Children must be given a balanced diet consisting of fat, protein, dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Stress should be laid on consuming a highly nutritious diet which helps to immunity and helps fight infection and keep the lungs strong and healthy.

The child should be encouraged to eat a variety of foods. A high-calorie diet consisting of eggs, meat, fish, pulses, cereals, vegetables and fruits, and dairy products should be given. Planning a diet to ensure that children get their favorite food along with healthy food is critical. Feed children with a lot of fatty foods. Sugary foods also give the required energy to the children. Three meals a day with 2 or 3 mid-meal snacks in between is recommended. A few suggestions to add extra calories to the regular diet are given below:

1. Butter and other spreads

Add generous quantities of butter or margarine to bread, toast, crackers, and sandwiches. Butter/margarine can be added to rice, soups, and casseroles. Use mayonnaise for dips, meat, fish, salads.

2. Sour cream

Use sour cream as a dip for pasta, vegetables, chips, rice, and potatoes

3. Nut butters

Peanut-butter which is a high-calorie food can be used in sandwiches, crackers, milkshakes and ice creams.

4. Say yes to cheese

Add cheese to sandwiches, burgers, noodles, eggs, toast, and crackers.

5. Whipped cream

Whipping cream (high-fat) can be used as an accompaniment to pancakes, waffles, fruit, hot chocolate, and other desserts.

6. Salt

Add extra salt to foods in the diet as children with cystic fibrosis lose more salt when sweating. This is especially important when they play a lot in summer when the weather is hot and humid.

7. Milk

Sprinkle powdered milk on cereals, eggs, and puddings. Powdered milk contains high quantities of fat.

8. Sweeteners

Add brown sugar, maple syrup or sugar syrup to cereals, ice cream, and puddings to increase sugar consumption in the body.

9. Foods high in fat-soluble vitamins

Some foods are rich in Vitamins A, D, E, and K – the fat-soluble vitamins. Children affected with cystic fibrosis do not get enough of the fat-soluble vitamins because they have difficulty digesting and absorbing fat. Consume foods high in these vitamins to curb the effects of cystic fibrosis. Animal products, eggs, and certain vegetables are rich in vitamin A. Vitamin D is found in mushrooms, plants, and animal-derived foods. Dietary sources of Vitamin E are nuts, vegetable oils, and seeds. Leafy green vegetables and animal-sourced foods are the best sources of Vitamin K which helps in reducing the effects of cystic fibrosis.