Breakfast

Question

Dear expert team

I have question regarding a healthy breakfast for person with CF. My son is used to have nut wedges for breakfast – we cannot bait him with bread, cereals, fruit or anything else.
Well, nut wedges are high calorific food for sure – but is sugar in such an amount okay?
He does not have diabetes.
Thanks for your answer.

Answer

Hello,

There are many breakfast habits all over the world. [...] In France, several generations have had croissants with or without jam for breakfast.

If such a breakfast leads to deficiency symptoms of negative side effects depends on what is consumed during the rest of the day.

Of course, nut wedges do have a lot of carbohydrates but they are also – as you mentioned – high in calories. If your son keeps this habit for several months of 1-2 years and if he has a balanced diet containing all necessary nutrients during the rest of the day this habit is not problematic.

Regarding the worries about diabetes you should try to keep the consumption of sugar and sweets restricted during the other meals of your son.

In most cases, if children have a special eating habits this is a tempory phenomenon so that there is room for hope that it changes. Holiday trips, visiting other families/relatives or stays at a health resort are often a good way to bring about a change.

Try not to let the topic “nut wedges” become a bone of contention which would otherwise burden the breakfast atmosphere of the whole family from time to time. Just offer nice alternatives time and time again but without pressure.

Best regards,
Dr. H.-G. Posselt

13.10.2009