CF Nutrition Tips for a Healthy Winter
Kay Vavrina, RDDecember brought cooler weather, crazy schedules, holiday treats, and the beginning of cold and flu season, a combination that can make nutrition feel a little more challenging for people with CF.
Now is the perfect time to start (or get back to) simple, sustainable habits that support immunity, energy levels, and overall health.
Here are a few practical nutrition tips to help keep the season bright and your body well-nourished.
Keep Those Calories Consistent
For people with CF, consistent energy intake is essential for supporting lung function, growth, and weight maintenance.
Some easy strategies:
- Pack high-calorie snacks if you’re traveling or running holiday errands.
- Choose convenient nutrient-dense foods: nut butters, trail mix, cheese sticks, Greek yogurt, smoothies, or homemade muffins.
- Keep mealtime structure as much as possible, even on busy days.
Think of calories this month as “fuel for resilience.”
Prioritize Immunity-Supporting Foods
While nutrition can’t prevent infections, it absolutely plays a role in helping the body stay strong during cold and flu season.
Some helpful nutrients are:
- Vitamins A & D: support lung and immune function.
- Vitamins C & E: antioxidants to help fight inflammation.
- Zinc: key for immune function and wound healing.
- Omega-3 fats: naturally anti-inflammatory.
Simple ideas: add berries to yogurt, mix chia seeds into oatmeal, choose fortified dairy, or incorporate salmon, tuna, or walnuts into a meal.
Keep the GI System Happy During the Season
Changes in schedule, travel, and different holiday foods can affect GI comfort.
To help support digestion:
- Maintain routine enzyme use.
- Include fiber sources such as fruits, vegetables, oats, and whole grains.
- Remember that CF GI symptoms can be affected by hydration, so fluids are important too.
- If you’re trying probiotic-rich foods like kefir or yogurt, add them gradually.
