A nurse is preparing to teach the parents of a child who has cystic fibrosis. Which of the following instructions should the nurse plan to include?
Explanation & Rationale
A. Trim the fat from red meat prior to cooking. Children with cystic fibrosis often have difficulty absorbing fats due to pancreatic insufficiency, but they actually need higher fat intake to meet their increased energy demands. Trimming fat is not necessary or recommended. B. Provide a diet high in protein and calories. Children with cystic fibrosis require a high-calorie, high-protein diet to support growth, maintain weight, and compensate for the energy lost due to chronic lung infections and malabsorption. C. Administer pancreatic enzymes 30 min after meals. Pancreatic enzymes should be given before or with meals and snacks to aid digestion. Giving them 30 minutes after a meal reduces their effectiveness. D. Give the child hot foods to reduce the sense of fullness. There is no evidence to support using hot foods to manage fullness in cystic fibrosis. Instead, meals should be nutrient-dense and timed to optimize digestion and absorption.