Nutrition Interventions for Children with Special Health Care Needs

Chapter 6 - Nutrition Interventions for Constipation
Assessment Intervention Evaluation/Outcome
• Juices thickened with pureed fruit, infant
cereal, or a commercial food thickener
• Gelatin
• Increase foods with high water content
if fluid intake is suboptimal. (Fruits and
vegetables are about 90% water.) 1,3
Increase dietary fiber with the following foods:
• Unprocessed bran (add 1-3 Tbsp per day to
foods. Provide adequate fluid.)
• Whole grain cereals, breads, and crackers
• Raw, cooked, or dried fruits (especially
prunes and prune juice)
• Raw or cooked vegetables
• Legumes (beans, split peas, lentils)
Consider use of supplemental fiber products
(e.g. Benefiber ® , Unifiber ® , Metamucil ® ).
78 Nutrition Interventions for Children With Special Health Care Needs
For tube-fed individuals, advise the following:
• Increased water
• Try prune juice
Try formula with added fiber, such as
PediaSure with Fiber ® , Compleat Pediatric ® ,
and Nutren Jr. with Fiber ®