Healthy relationships with food for kids with medical issues and dietary restrictions

I talk about healthy relationships with food A LOT. And one of the main points of topic in this discussion is minimizing a restriction mindset. So how do you navigate this with a child who NEEDS certain foods restricted or eliminated due to medical conditions like a food allergy or phenylketonuria (PKU)? Read on to hear why this is important + my thoughts on striking a balance between ensuring your child’s safety and fostering a positive relationship with food within the bounds of their dietary limitations.

Safety is the top priority: When dealing with medical issues or dietary restrictions, safety must always come first. Some conditions, such as severe food allergies, may require strict avoidance of certain foods to prevent life-threatening reactions. In these instances, it is crucial to prioritize safety over everything else, including cultivating a healthy relationship with food. While I’d love to tell you that we can completely avoid your child feeling restricted with medical diet needs, I simply can’t. So I want to shift our mindset from avoiding a restriction mindset altogether to limiting a restriction mindset as much as possible within the bounds of your child’s needs.

With that being said, it is still possible to foster a healthy relationship with food within the boundaries of your child’s dietary limitations.

Utilize a low pressure feeding style: To the best of your ability, avoid pressuring your kids to eat certain food. Utilize safe and preferred foods to help your child meet their daily phe goals when necessary (for PKU). Ask your allergist about mixing OIT foods into preferred foods to make daily consumption easier (for food allergies). Talk to your dietitain or endocrinologist about adjusting insulin dosing to your child’s intake rather than the other way around (for type 1 diabetes). Serve safe foods as a part of meals and snacks. And utilize novelty tools, play, and strategic exposure to help expand your child’s diet variety without pressure
Talk about it: Help your child understand why they have dietary restrictions and involve them in decision-making when appropriate. I also think books and videos are a GREAT resource for parents to help explain these complex topics to kids. Explain to them WHY certain food boundaries are important. It’s normal for your kids to have big feelings about these boundaries. Ask your child’s specialist to connect you with a therapist who can support your family through these big feelings.
Encourage fun, play, variety and creativity: Within the limits of their dietary restrictions, explore a variety of foods together, both at mealtimes and outside of mealtimes. Food play, books, cooking videos, STEM activities with food, and grocery store exploring are all great ways to foster diet variety and healthy relationships with food. My Variety 101 course covers this in detail! These principles are the same for kids with and without dietary restrictions.
Involve your child in meal planning and preparation: This serves to both expand your child’s diet variety AND empower them with the tools they will need to independently manage their diet as teens and adults. This can start with something as simple as offering two choices to a toddler, and increase in complexity to planning, shopping, budgeting for, and cooking an entire meal as a teen.
Seek Support and Resources: Connect with healthcare professionals, support groups, and online communities specializing in your child’s medical condition or dietary restriction. They can provide valuable guidance, tips, and recipes that can help you create a positive food environment. I started my pediatric nutrition career in a camp for kids with PKU. The community and resources were incredible!

With love,

Dr. Taylor

Disclaimer: Although I am a medical provider, I am not your child’s medical provider. I am not able to respond to questions about individual medical circumstances or provide any clinical opinions via website, email, or social media. Please be sure to bring any nutrition concerns you have to the attention of your child’s dietitian or pediatrician.