Please note: This information was as current as we could make it on the date given above. But medical information is always changing, and some information given here may be out of date. For regularly updated information on a variety of health topics, please visit familydoctor.org, the AAFP patient education Web site.

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An article on this topic is available in this issue of AFP.

Diet Tips for Children with High Blood Cholesterol

What is high blood cholesterol?

High blood cholesterol, also called hypercholesterolemia, is an unhealthy level of cholesterol in the blood. Having high levels of blood cholesterol can cause your child to have heart problems when he or she gets older. But there are changes you can make in your child's diet now to lower the blood cholesterol.

How can I help my child eat right?

The first step to reducing cholesterol levels is to follow the "step 1" diet of the American Heart Association. This diet is low in cholesterol and saturated fat and high in complex carbohydrates. It provides energy and protein for normal activity and growth.

What are some examples of good foods?

Breakfast:
The first meal of the day is a good time to give your child foods that are high in fiber, such as cereals and whole-grain breads. Fruits, juices, cheeses and yogurt are also good. Use skim or low-fat milk rather than whole or 2% milk.

Lunch:
Use whole-grain breads and rolls to make a better sandwich. Whole grains increase the total fiber in your child's diet. Give your child whole-grain crackers with soups, chili and stew, and always serve fresh fruit (with the skin) with meals.

Here are some ways to make healthier sandwiches:

• Use low-fat or fat-free lunch meats. They are good in sandwiches or cut into strips on top of a salad.
• Put leftover chicken or turkey strips in a tortilla to make a cold fajita (add strips of raw red and green peppers and onions). Use fat-free sour cream as a dressing.
• Stuff a pita-bread "pocket" with vegetables, fat-free cheese and bits of leftover grilled chicken.
• Cut up vegetables such as onion, carrot, celery and green peppers to add to tuna salad. Mix vegetables and water-packed tuna with fat-free mayonnaise or, for a different taste, mix with a fat-free salad dressing.
• Chunky bits of leftover chicken mixed with fat-free mayonnaise, raisins, shredded carrots and sliced almonds is a great chicken salad. Serve it in a pita-bread pocket. Top it with salsa for a Southwestern flavor.
• Mix cranberry sauce and fat-free mayonnaise to add to a turkey sandwich.
• Put natural peanut butter together with an all-fruit jelly for an old favorite.
• Sliced ham and low-fat or fat-free cheese with honey mustard is great on rye bread.
• Low-fat cheese makes a good sandwich with tomato slices and mustard or fat-free mayonnaise on a roll.
• Slice leftover pork tenderloin and top with barbecue sauce for a hot or cold sandwich.
• Make grilled-cheese sandwiches with low-fat or fat-free cheese and serve them with raw carrot and celery sticks.

What snacks are good for my child?

Fruits, vegetables, breads and cereals also make great snacks for children. Here are some ideas for ways to serve these foods to your kids:

Fruits (Bite-size pieces of fruit look good to kids):

Fruit bits stirred into nonfat yogurt
Strawberries
Raisins
Grapes
Pineapple chunks
Orange or grapefruit sections
Bananas cooked lightly in apple juice
Apple slices with natural peanut butter
Dried fruit mixes

Vegetables:

Baked potato with low-fat cheese sprinkled on top
Carrot sticks
Celery sticks with natural peanut butter
Raw broccoli and cauliflower florets with a low-fat dip or salsa

Protein:

Cheese: use 1% fat or fat-free cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
Water-packed tuna mixed with fat-free mayonnaise on top of celery sticks or low-fat crackers
Yogurts: use fat-free yogurt. Try topping it with sunflower seeds, chopped dried fruit or a spoonful of oat bran

Cereals:

Low-fat cereals or cereal bar

Sweets and desserts:

Fat-free frozen yogurt
Juice bars
Sherbet and sorbet

Other snacks:

Popcorn: use "lite" or nonfat versions (try sprinkling popped corn with a little garlic, onion or chili powder)
Rice cakes
Low-fat pretzels
Roasted peanuts in the shell
Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds
Fat-free or baked potato chips
Bagels and low-fat bagel chips
Low-fat breadsticks
Low-fat pita chips

Miscellaneous:

Maple syrup or fruit syrups make good toppings for fat-free yogurt
Pizza made with fat-free cheese

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This handout provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. To find out if this handout applies to you and to get more information on this subject, talk to your family doctor.

Visit familydoctor.org for information on this and many other health-related topics.

Copyright © 2000 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Permission is granted to print and photocopy this material for nonprofit educational uses. Written permission is required for all other uses, including electronic uses.

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