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Healthy diet will help to protect your child from various diseases and disorders, including psoriasis. Nutrition is also very important for the overall health of your child.
Psoriasis in a child may often be triggered by a bad diet. Therefore maintaining a healthy diet would be a very prudent thing to do.
Child's Diet Tips:
- Set a good example by also eating healthy, then the child will not feel as though he/she has to do it alone.
- Try to not use food (i.e. artificial sweets) as a reward. Better substitute it with a toy, an educational gift, a practical gift etc.
- Choose low calorie and low fat meals and desserts, rather that "regular" meals and desserts.
- Substitute:
- 100% fruit juices FOR soda;
- baked and grilled foods FOR fried foods;
- low calorie and low fat foods FOR high calorie and high fat foods;
- fresh fruits and vegetables FOR canned fruits and vegetables;
- chicken, turkey and fish FOR beef and pork;
- whole grain bread FOR white bread;
- honey, fruits, dried fruits and nuts FOR artificial sweets.
Food and its Value
Dairy Products
Dairy products (Milk, Yogurt, Cheese etc.) provide protein, vitamins, and minerals (including calcium).
Meat, Beans, and Nuts
Meat (Poultry, Fish etc.), Eggs, Dry Beans, and Nuts provide protein, vitamins (including B vitamins), and minerals (including iron and zinc).
Vegetables
Vegetables provide vitamins (including vitamin A, B and C), minerals (including iron and magnesium), and fiber. Vegetables are low in fat and sodium.
Fruits
Fruits and 100% fruit juices provide vitamins (including vitamin A and C) and minerals (including potassium). Fruits are also low in fat and sodium.
Grains
Grains (in Bread, Cereals, Rice, Porridges, and Pasta etc.) provide complex carbohydrates (starches), vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
New or "Exotic" Food Products
A new or "Exotic" Food Product, introduced into your child's diet may sometimes cause an allergy. An allergy is one of the known psoriasis triggers. In order to minimize any possible allergic reaction of your child's body to some "exotic" food product, it is necessary to introduce it with caution.
New food product is introduced:
- when a child is healthy;
- when there are no vaccinations "on the horizon";
- in the first half of the day in order to have time to see if the new product causes any kind of an allergic reaction;
- in small amounts, gradually increasing the amount;
- only one "unknown" food product at a time.
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