Choose My Plate for children
The Choose My Plate food guide shows you how to make food choices for a healthy diet. The pyramid divides foods into 5 major food groups: grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy, and proteins. You can learn more and get help using it for your child based on her age at ChooseMyPlate.gov. At this website you can also find a menu planner and a tracking tool to help you look at what your child is eating and see whether she is getting enough of each food group to meet her needs. Keep in mind that during treatment your child’s needs may be different from those in the Choose My Plate guide. Talk to your doctor, nurse, or dietitian about your child’s nutrition needs and how to best meet them.
Nutrition for Children with Cancer
- Why good nutrition is important
- Benefits of good nutrition
- What children with cancer need: Nutrients
- How your child can take in nutrients
- When your child is taking steroids
- Cancer treatment side effects and what you can do about them
- Appetite changes
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Mouth pain, throat pain, or mouth sores
- Trouble swallowing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dry mouth or thick saliva
- Unwanted weight gain
- Fatigue
- Low white blood cell counts
- Ways to help your child take in more protein and calories
- Recipes to try
- Choose My Plate for children
- To learn more
- References
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and master’s-prepared nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Last Medical Review: June 30, 2014 Last Revised: June 30, 2014
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