Pancreatitis Nutrition Plan

For the first few days of your child’s hospital stay, they will likely have a liquid diet.

Once your child is stable on liquids (usually within 1 to 2 days of hospital stay), a solid food diet is started. The team dietitian will discuss how best to start this for your child.

Getting enough calories early on in your child’s pancreatitis course can help shorten the length of their hospital stay, help with their recovery, and lower risk of complications.

If your child is not interested in eating because of pain, nausea, or vomiting, they may need some help getting enough energy. To help your child get the calories they need to heal and grow we may recommend:

• Oral supplements
  These are liquid formulas designed for children that provide excellent nutrition.
• A temporary feeding tube
  If your child is not interested in eating or drinking or are unable to eat or drink due to pain or vomiting, they can get their nutrition through a small feeding tube for a time. The tube goes in through the nose and down into the stomach.
• IV (intravenous) nutrition
  Sometimes, children with pancreatitis may need to be given nutrition through an IV while they are in the hospital. An IV is a tiny, soft tube or straw that a nurse puts into your child’s vein to give your body liquids, medicine and the nutrients (food). Your pancreatitis care team will discuss this with you if your child may need this kind of nutrition.

We will work with you to help plan your child’s best diet at home. Keeping good nutrition is an important treatment for your child’s pancreatitis. Low-fat diets may not be needed.

It is very important for your child to eat a healthy, balanced diet when in a pancreatitis flare, and to keep eating that diet once the flare has passed.

The most important goal is that your child is able to eat enough food in the day to meet their nutrition and growth needs. Your pancreatitis team will encourage your child to eat a healthy diet, both during a pancreas flare and when not in a pancreas flare.

• Berries
• Melon
• Kiwifruit
• Oranges

• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Cucumbers
• Tomatoes

• Whole wheat bread, crackers, cereal, pasta
• Quinoa
• Oatmeal

• Yogurt
• Cheese (hard, soft, or cottage cheese)
• Milk

• Eggs
• Chicken
• Tofu
• Salmon
• Beans
• Avocado
• Nuts and nut butters
• Seeds
• Oils (olive, coconut, vegetable, avocado)

There are many theories about foods that may help your child’s condition, but it is very important to stick to the diet your child’s dietitian has created.

You may have heard about certain diets that treat pancreatitis, such as a low-fat diet. Our research shows that there is no evidence to support this. A low-fat diet method may only be used in very specific cases. Otherwise, your child will be on a regular diet as recommended by your child’s dietitian.

We partner with you and your child to prevent and relieve pain as completely as possible. Your child likely will feel pain from a pancreatitis flare. You know your child best. We encourage you to take an active part in your child’s recovery by talking with your child’s care team about options for your child. No matter the level of their pain, we join you to assess and respond right away. Help your child get better, faster with good pain treatment.