Question
My child (a 6-year-old boy) has a sore throat with some difficulty in swallowing and is accompanied by a low fever. What should I pay attention to in terms of diet?
Answer
When children have tonsillitis, dietary adjustment is very important in addition to medical treatment. Here are some dietary suggestions for children with tonsillitis:
- Consume plenty of fruits and vegetables: Vegetables and fruits are rich in various nutrients that can help boost the child’s immunity. It is recommended to choose fruits like pears, watermelons, tangerines, and pomegranates, as well as green leafy vegetables and tomatoes.
- Opt for light, easy-to-digest, and easy-to-swallow foods: In daily meals, focus on light, easy-to-digest, and easy-to-swallow foods. Examples include congee and noodles.
- Avoid irritating foods: Foods such as beef, mutton, poultry eggs, seafood, as well as spicy, hot, and steamed dishes like hotpot, should be avoided at this stage.
- Cultivate good living habits: In addition to a healthy diet, also help children develop good habits such as early to bed and early to rise, and moderate exercise to improve the child’s immunity and promote recovery from the illness.