Children with Cancer Face Unique Nutritional Needs

Proper nutrition is important for all children, but especially for those undergoing treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Some treatments for cancer and other pediatric catastrophic diseases can affect appetite by causing nausea, unusual allergies, changes to the sense of taste and mouth sores.

Nutritional care that helps patients achieve normal growth and weight gain, continue normal activities and prevent problems is central to recovery. St. Jude dietitians routinely consult with other members of the medical team to determine the best course of nutritional therapy for patients receiving treatment.

“At St. Jude, we try to look at the whole picture and evaluate what’s going to work best for the patients,” said Ginger Carney, a registered dietician and director of Clinical Nutrition at St. Jude. “The philosophy is that our patients should have what they need and what they want because it’s good for a patient to eat, and it’s good for the family to see the child eat.”

Thanks to a recent renovation of its cafeteria, St. Jude has enhanced its ability to cater to children who may have difficulties finding something that sparks their appetites. The Kay Kafe, named for a donation from Sterling Jewelers, the parent company of Kay Jewelers, boosts the hospital’s ability to provide variety and efficiency in meal preparations and delivery. Meal offerings include standard comfort foods like macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes; common favorites like pizza and hamburgers; a gelato station to sooth sore throats; and Indian, Mexican, Chinese and Italian dishes.

Dietitians advise that being flexible is key to getting children to eat. “The nutrition picture can change often and rapidly,” Carney said. “For example, cancer patients tend to eat poorly during treatment cycles but well between cycles. It’s important to encourage these children to eat extra when they feel well.” If a child is too sick to eat regular foods, dietitians will recommend the appropriate tube feeding, or even suggest optimal nutritional fluids to be provided intravenously.

Clinical Nutrition staff also counsels parents to remind children when it’s time to eat, but not to push them. “Try to get the foods they ask for. One rule of thumb, though: If you can’t get the requested food within about an hour, don’t spend time trying,” Carney said. “Usually after this period, children won’t want it any longer. It will soon be time for the next meal or snack, so you’ll have another chance to see if they’ll eat.”

Dietitians suggest other tips to assist cancer patients with poor appetites to eat adequately:
# Eat six times a day—three meals and three snacks.

# Try to finish what you start eating.

# “Power pack” the food so that each bite counts by adding extra margarine, cheese, gravy, or sauce to foods, if needed, to combat weight loss. Offer the high-fat version of a food like fried chicken instead of baked.