Nutrition and Health Eating

Objectives:

At the end of the session, the participant will be able to:

  • Define a healthy diet.
  • Identify why healthy eating is important for people who have lung conditions.
  • State how to improve their own nutritional intake.
  • Identify energy boosting foods.
  • Identify potential nutritional issues common in lung disease and how to manage these.
  • Identify associated link to quantity and quality of foods that increase breathlessness.

Facilitator:

This session may be facilitated by a dietitian or respiratory nurse.

Content Resources Topic
Introduction. Importance of a healthy diet, especially for people with lung conditions. (Ref 22 and 23)

What are common nutritional problems for people with lung disease and why do they matter? (e.g., bone mineral density, muscle loss, fat)

How to identify individual risk factors.

What is a healthy weight for height (BMI)?
BMI range chart for adults.

Better Living with COPD (Ch 15)
A healthy diet. Tips for healthy eating. Explain food groups. Examples of food groups. Better Living with COPD (Ch 15). The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating Guide.
Modification of eating habits. Meal planning. Energy boosting food. Healthy cooking methods. Food labels. Supplementation. Size and frequency of meals in the context of breathlessness and energy conservation, managing breathlessness whilst eating.

Dispelling common dietary myths (e.g. milk & mucus).
Better Living with COPD (Ch 15).

Queensland Health Nutrition Education Materials Online (NEMO) website.

Strategies to prevent breathlessness whilst eating guide
Tips to avoid aspiration

Food packages.
Summary and discussion. Individualisation of meal plan depending on individual risk factors (e.g. overweight, underweight). NEMO website

The Toolkit

Getting Started
Getting Started
Patient Assessment
Patient Assessment
Exercise Training
Exercise Training
Patient Education
Patient Education
Patient Re-assessment
Patient Re-Assessment
Additional Resources
Additional Resources

Endorsed by the following organisations according to their respective approved criteria: