Trick or Treat? When your child is on a low protein diet for an inborn error of metabolism, such as PKU, MSUD, TYR or HCU, sometimes the tricks feel safer than the treats.

Halloween celebrations that center on candy, food and snacks can be tough for kids on restricted diets –and tough for parents who want their children to fully enjoy the festivities.

But it is possible to have fun AND stay on a low protein diet this Halloween?

Here are a few tips, resources, and recipes to help you make it a healthy and happy Halloween.

    Safety First:

• Be sure to talk with teachers and other parents about what your child can and cannot have at Halloween parties or school activities.

• Talk with your child about the importance of staying on diet and remind them to check with you to determine if a particular food or candy is safe.

*Nutricia North America is not affiliated with HowMuchPHE.org and has not independently verified the information on HowMuchPHE.org.

My child would eat pasta every day, every meal if I let him. It is great he found a food he enjoys, but I want my son to eat more vegetables and other healthy foods that provide fiber and other nutrients.

Here are some ideas to feed your child’s low protein pasta cravings, but to make your low protein pasta last longer and provide more dietary variety.

Soup 

Dicing carrots and celery (the smaller the better for young kids) and simmering in a vegetable broth with low protein pasta added is a low pro and filling lunch or dinner.   You can use Loprofin Animal Pasta, Rice, or broken Spaghetti to keep it new and exciting.   Fresh dill adds a great ‘soup’ flavor and expand your child’s taste  palate.

Veggie Noodles 

Bulk up your Low Protein Spaghetti by mixing with Zucchini or Yellow Squash noodles. With a spiral vegetable slicer this only takes minutes and can really satisfy a bigger appetite.

 Spicy Vegetables over Low Pro Rice Pasta

You can do so many different meals with fresh or frozen cauliflower and carrots, which are both naturally quite low in protein. Often, people on a low protein diet enjoy spice. Check out this recipe for Indian Curry with Loprofin Rice.

 Dish it out slow 

I often serve my son a small amount of pasta, which he gobbles up. Then ask him to eat 3-4 bites of the vegetables on his plate. Once done I serve another small portion of pasta and repeat. All children are motivated differently, but that love of pasta usually is an incentive to eat more veggies at meal time.

 Roll it up 

Kids love to eat with their hands (or at least my son does). Use Loprofin Lasagna to make a salad roll-up or other roll-up filled with veggies. Try filling a pasta roll-up with a blend of mashed potato and mashed cauliflower for a yummy kid friendly dinner entree.

Order Loprofin Low Protein Pasta online at medicalfood.com

Written by Sandy Simons, MA, RD, CHES