Heartburn-Free Kids Recipes

One of the leading triggers of heartburn is the food we eat. In addition, fatty foods can cause a lot of problems for those prone to suffering heartburn, so parents can do their kids' bodies a favor by finding low-fat options for school lunches. Since our kids have to eat, we need to do our kids' bodies a favor by creating an acid reflux diet for them with low-fat options for their favorite dishes.

Tuna Melts
Fat can be a heartburn trigger for some people. Tuna, when packed in water instead of oil, is low-fat. This recipe also calls for low-fat or fat-free ingredients, making it a safe choice for heartburn sufferers.

Crunchy Fish Sticks
You may think that fish sticks have a lot of fat, and if fatty foods trigger your heartburn, you may also think you can't eat them. This may be true of the fish sticks you buy pre-made in the storet. Fish by itself is low in fat. And with the recipe below, you can make your own fish sticks with low-fat ingredients, such as dressing and cream cheese, instead of fat-laden coatings and tartar sauces. You can enjoy fish sticks without the heartburn.

Chicken Nuggets with Rice
You may think that chicken nuggets have a lot of fat, and if fatty foods trigger your heartburn, you may also think you can't eat them. This may be true of the chicken nuggets you buy pre-made in the store or those from a restaurant. With the recipe below, you can make your own nuggets with low-fat ingredients, such as chicken breast and skim milk. These nuggets are tasty but won't give you heartburn.

Meatballs with Pasta
You may think you can't have meatballs if you suffer from heartburn. Using only lean ground beef and cooking without added fat can help you enjoy meatballs without the heartburn.

Chicken and Cheese Bake
Using low-fat ingredients, such as low-fat margarine and cheese, skim milk, and skinless chicken breasts, make this tasty recipe heartburn safe.

Pasta and Ham
Pasta prepared with low sodium chicken broth and low sodium ham. Lean ham helps keep this recipe heartburn-friendly.

Chicken & Mozzarella Roll-Ups
Using low-fat cheese helps make this recipe heartburn friendly. Using skinless chicken breasts are also heartburn friendly since fatty foods can trigger heartburn, but by removing the skin, the fat content of this meal goes down.

View the original article here

Heartburn-Free School Lunches

School lunches prepared by a school can often be higher in fat, which can be a heartburn trigger for those children and teens who suffer from chronic heartburn or GERD. The best option, therefore, may be for kids to take home prepared lunches to school.

Fatty foods can cause a lot of problems for those prone to suffering heartburn, so parents can do their kids' bodies a favor by finding low-fat options for school lunches.

The following tips can help parents prepare heartburn-friendly lunches for their children. Use fresh fruit, veggies, and whole grain crackers instead of cookies and chips. If using canned or individual serving packs of juice, select those packaged in natural juices, not syrups. For a treat, give kids baked chips instead of regular chips. For sandwiches, use whole grain breads instead of white, with lean cuts of deli meats (e.g. turkey or chicken) instead of higher fat lunch meats (e.g. bologna). Use reduced fat mayonnaise or light mustard instead of the regular mayonnaise. Give kids low fat yogurt instead of puddings. Pack small boxes of low fat or skim milk, bottled water, or 100% fruit juices in kids' lunches instead of sugar-laden juice drinks or sodas. Preventing heartburn goes beyond the foods children eat. The following tips can help can further help reduce the chances of heartburn. Make sure your child's clothing is not tight at the waist. Tight clothing can put pressure on the stomach, which in turn pressures the LES and can allow heartburn to happen. Have your child do something quiet immediately after meals. Especially with elementary-aged children, recess is common after lunch at school. Talk to your children about doing something quiet during recess, such as swinging, instead of something vigorous, such as running and jumping. Active play can trigger heartburn. Tell your children not to bend at the waist for 15 to 30 minutes after eating.

Additional resources:

Sources:
Marsha Kay, M.D., Vasundhara Tolia, M.D.. "COMMON GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS." The American College of Gastroenterology. 16 Feb 2008.

"Gastroesophageal Reflux in Children and Adolescents." NIH Publication No. 06–5418 August 2006. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). 16 Feb 2008

View the original article here