Diets for lactose-intolerant children

Fructose intolerance is one of the most common food intolerances. If your child has been diagnosed with this condition by a physician, the following guide will provide you with useful information to help you plan your infant's meals with more preparation.

Fructose intolerance in children can occur in two cases:

• Problems in the intestine: this occurs due to a deficiency in the body of the specific intestinal transporter for fructose. Colloquially, this condition is known as fructose intolerance, although it should actually be called fructose malabsorption. It is estimated that approximately 1/3 of the population suffers from it, and the most common symptoms include nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, flatulence, etc.

• Enzymatic problem: The second case refers to the absence of a liver enzyme called aldolase B, responsible for metabolizing fructose, and is usually inherited from the parents. If the child consumes foods containing fructose, the consequences can be more serious than in the first case, including severe hypoglycemia, abdominal pain, difficulty sleeping, vomiting, poor appetite, and kidney and liver disease.

Weekly menu for children with fructose intolerance

In both of the above cases, it is necessary to follow a strict diet, excluding any product that may contain fructose. This includes certain vegetables and fruits, such as apples, pears, plums, cherries and peaches. However, there are a variety of foods that can replace these to make delicious and balanced meals for your child.

Here is a sample weekly menu suitable for children with fructose intolerance.

Monday

• Breakfast: Fruit smoothie with oat milk. Toast of soy bread with olive oil.

• Mid-morning: Natural yogurt and a portion of dried fruits.

• Lunch: Lentils stewed with rice. Tomato salad, avocado and fresh cheese.

• Snack: Flavored yogurt and a portion of nuts.

• Dinner: Baked stuffed mussels with roasted zucchini. Vegetable salad.

Tuesday

• Breakfast: Fruit smoothie with oat milk. Toast of soy bread with tomato.

• Mid-morning: Natural yogurt and fruit ration.

• Lunch: Ham steak and vegetable salad.

• Snack: Bowl of oat milk with nuts.

• Dinner: Baked salmon with avocado sauce.

Wednesday

• Breakfast: Banana and nuts smoothie with oat milk. Toast of soy bread with avocado.

• Mid-morning: Yogurt with fruit ration.

• Lunch: Potato omelet and vegetable salad. Serving of fruit.

• Snack: Yogurt with a serving of nuts.

• Dinner: Grilled sea bass and sautéed vegetables.

Thursday

• Breakfast: Fruit smoothie with oat milk and scrambled eggs.

• Mid morning: Fruit salad.

• Lunch: Turkey breast accompanied by quinoa with garlic and parsley. Vegetable salad.

• Snack: Yogurt with a serving of nuts.

• Dinner: Grilled swordfish and tomato salad with avocado and fresh cheese.

Friday

Breakfast: Cashew milkshake with oat milk. Natural omelet. Mid-morning: Port