What diet for children with intestinal flu?

Intestinal (stomach) flu is an illness caused by a virus, the main symptoms of which are diarrhoea, vomiting and fever. No wonder that a child after being attacked by the virus does not want to eat. However, families cannot allow it, because without energy, the body cannot cope with the disease.

That is why we have prepared a cheat sheet for parents who do not know what to give their child at this time:

1. Your baby should drink plenty of water during this time. Water is a natural remedy for stomach flu. Accelerates the excretion of toxins and recovery. It is good that the water is warm, because cold water can unnecessarily intensify unpleasant symptoms.
2. For the first 1-2 days, the symptoms are the most severe and the baby will not want to eat. During this period, herbal teas should be given: mint (relieves symptoms), chamomile (calms), sage. We can also reach for ready-made electrolyte mixtures that supplement deficiencies caused by diarrhea and vomiting. We find them in the pharmacy and those for children often have flavors that are friendly to the small palate, such as banana or raspberry. It is important during this time to refrain from serving foods that take a long time to digest (this is how the body “takes care of” digestion, instead of self-healing). So let’s forget about homemade, heavy dinners, sweets or soups based on fatty meat.
3. However, it is worth trying to give your baby solid foods, such as gruel and rusks. It is important that they are as gentle to the stomach as possible – made with water, fresh, without added fat and sugar. Alternatively, you can add a little salt, which contains the necessary electrolytes for the sick body.
4. If the child does not want to eat, it is good to give him light vegetable soups. They contain valuable minerals and vitamins but do not burden the body. It’s good that such a soup is cooked on pureed vegetables, without the use of stock cubes or flavor enhancers.
5. On the third day of illness, you can start giving more solid foods. During this period, broth or light meat without skin will work well, and in spring – cold soup.
6. If the baby wants to eat, let’s give him too cooked vegetables. The best ones are those with a mild taste and properties: potatoes, carrots, broccoli. Let’s beware of fruits that could irritate the stomach (citruses, strawberries) and inflating cabbage or beans.
7. A product that perfectly cleanses the digestive tract and at the same time works gently is groats. It is worth reaching for the least processed ones (i.e. white buckwheat instead of roasted). You can put butter on them. Let’s give up pasta at this time, which burden the stomach and stay in it for a long time, aggravating the symptoms of the disease.