Aoife Hearne: My son has lost his appetite following virus
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I am glad to hear your son is starting to feel better. It is not unusual to crave comfort foods as we recover from illness. Appetite can often return slowly, especially since we are likely not as active as usual. No doubt, all will get back to normal in time.
In the meantime, a good food focus is to keep dietitian Ellyn Satter’s division of responsibility in mind: The what, when, and where of eating is up to you as the parent and whether your son eats it or not is his responsibility.
- Aim to keep structure with meals and snacks throughout the day. There should be times when we eat and times when we don’t. Grazing throughout the day will reduce his appetite at meals when recovering from illness because he is less active.
- The composition of meals during convalescence might be different from what you usually serve. Include carbohydrates, protein, and vegetables or fruit in each meal.
- Boost flavour by adding herbs and spices to meals that may make them more appetising.
- White bread, pasta, or rice is not bad. Children do not need as much fibre as adults, so even during a regular week, it is normal for children to have a variety of white starches and higher-fibre carbohydrates. If there are a few more lower-fibre varieties at this time, I wouldn’t worry. The most important thing is that your son consumes adequate energy as he recovers.
- Protein is an important nutrient for recovery. Have some protein choices at all meals. Milk, cheese, yoghurt, lean meat, fish, egg, and beans can all work. Something like beans on toast can often be a real hit for lunch or dinner when my children are getting over illness.
- Micro-nutrients are important now, but it’s not unusual for children to eat less of them when recovering from illness. Continue to offer vegetables at meals without any pressure to eat them. In addition, you can also consider offering foods and drinks such as orange juice, smoothies, and soups to get more vegetables and fruits into his daily diet. I’m generally not a fan of blending vegetables into sauces, but it might be a good back-up until he recovers fully.
Your son’s appetite will return, so be patient. Offer small and frequent meals and snacks throughout the day, and don’t be afraid to let him take the lead with the foods he finds appealing right now.
If his appetite doesn’t improve soon or you have concerns about his nutrition, consider making an appointment to see your GP, public health nurse, or community dietitian.
- If you have a question for dietitian Aoife Hearne, please send it to parenting@examiner.ie