What nutritional concerns are common in children with disabilities?
Many children with disabilities have health issues that can impact their nutritional well-being and eating habits. This makes meeting your child’s nutritional needs even more important. Some issues that might affect your child include:
- Slower oral-motor development
- Larger tongues, smaller teeth, challenges with chewing
- Food texture preferences
- Constipation
- Picky-eating or eating the same foods
- Weight gain
- Body metabolism burns fewer calories
- Hypothyroidism
- Celiac disease
- Acid reflux
What is included in a healthy diet for your child?
You can work to improve these issues by providing your child with a well-rounded diet. The amount of foods recommended from each food group varies by age. Include a variety of different foods from each food group: Fruits/Vegetables, Protein, Grains, and Dairy.
What is important to know about each food group?
Fruits and vegetables are an excellent way to provide your child with essential vitamins and minerals that may reduce risks for certain chronic diseases, such as heart disease, certain types of cancer, and type-2 diabetes. They also provide an excellent source of fiber that helps to fight weight gain, heart disease, and prevent constipation.
When preparing your child’s meals, try to fill half of their plate with fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables can be purchased fresh, frozen, canned, or dried. When possible, choose fresh local produce. Frozen vegetables are also a good option since they are picked and frozen at their peak ripeness. Just aim for variety and watch out for added salt and sugar!
Foods that contain protein include: meat, fish, poultry, beans, peas, eggs, nuts, and seeds. Protein supports growth, builds muscles, and develops bones. When thinking about your child’s protein choices, go lean and choose a variety of different sources.
Protein-rich foods provide a variety of nutrients, including vitamins B and E, iron, zinc, and magnesium. These are needed to help the body release energy, carry oxygen around the body, and to keep a healthy immune system. Additionally, adding fish such as tuna or salmon to your child’s diet will provide essential fatty acids that may help prevent heart disease.
Aim to buy the leanest cuts of beef or pork. For ground meats, try to purchase at least 90% lean. Also, remove the skin from poultry. Try dried or canned beans, tuna, and salmon, but watch out for sodium. Limit buying processed meats such as sausage and deli meats. Aim for variety!
Grains include wheat, barley, rice, oats, or other cereal grains. When thinking about your child’s grain choices, aim for whole grains. Whole grains are a great source of fiber that help reduce the risk for heart disease and prevent constipation. Grains also help with weight maintenance. B vitamins and iron help with the body’s energy and delivery of oxygen, while magnesium and selenium build bones, selenium build bones, release energy, and protect the immune system.
Food Groups: Daily Servings by Age
| 2-3 Yrs | 4-5 Yrs | 6-8 Yrs | 9-17 Yrs | 18+ Yrs | |
| Grains (oz) | 3 oz | 5 oz | 5 oz | 6 oz | 6 oz |
| Veggies (cup) | 1/3 cup | ½ cup | 2 cups | 2 ½ cups | 2 ½ cups |
| Fruits (cup) | 1/3 cup | ½ cup | 1 ½ cup | 1 ½ cup | 2 cup |
| Dairy (cup) | 2 cups | 2 ½ cups | 2 ½ cups | 3 cups | 3 cups |
| Protein (oz) | 2 oz | 3 oz | 5 oz | 5 oz | 5 ½-6 oz |
Choose products that list 100% whole grain or whole wheat in the first three ingredients. If you child does not like the look of whole wheat pastas or flours, try purchasing the whole wheat white pastas and breads. Try brown rice instead of white and aim for cereals without added sugars.
Dairy products include milk, cheese, and yogurt. For individuals who are lactose intolerant, try soy, coconut, or almond milk varieties. When purchasing dairy products, choose low-fat options.
Most dairy products are an excellent source of calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein, which are all essential for proper bone development and prevention of osteoporosis. Since children and teens are growing rapidly, it is important they get sufficient amounts of these nutrients. Milk products may also help reduce the risk of heart disease and type-2 diabetes.
‣ VKC Resources
‣ Other Resources
- Guthrie Medlen, Joan E. (2006). The Down Syndrome Nutrition Handbook: A Guide to Promoting Healthy Lifestyles. Lake Oswego, OR: Phronesis Publishing.
- Kids Eat Right
- USDA’s ChooseMyPlate
- Raising Healthy Eaters Website
- Super Healthy Kids
Content for this tip sheet was developed by Jenna R. Brinkman as a component of her participation in the Dietetic Internship Program at Vanderbilt University.
Top photo by Getty Images/iStockphoto
[April 2015]