Dear Parents,

Thank you for taking time to log on and take a look at
the ACT website.

ACT is a website specifically designed to support teenagers who are taking a liquid diet as a treatment for their Crohn’s disease.

This website was developed after speaking to many teenagers with Crohn’s disease – so we think the information on this site should be of use to your teenager. 

Please remember that any advice and information on this site should not take the place of the information provided by your healthcare professional and if you have any concerns regarding your teenager’s health you should contact your Healthcare Professional.

As you will see, our website consists of a fun section – with games and quizzes – and then a more serious section which covers some of the important issues about taking a liquid diet for Crohn’s disease. Please feel free to have a browse through these pages. We’ve also put together some useful information specifically for you to help your teenager take their liquid diet. Click on the links below for this information.
 

ACT also produces a magazine which is available by post. We will not post this directly to your teenager without your knowledge; instead this will be posted to you – for you to then pass onto them. If you are happy for your teen to receive our magazine, please complete your details in the request magazine section.  Please note that this information will not be passed onto any third parties and will only be used to supply you with the magazine.

Happy reading!

The ACT Team

Please click on one of the three choices below to see what's included in these sections.

 

Liquid diets are one of the options which can be recommended by your doctor to help bring a Crohn’s flare-up under control. 

A liquid diet is a nutritional drink which contains all of the nutrients your teenager needs to grow and stay healthy. It is known as a nutritionally complete product – which means your child doesn’t need to eat any other foods when they are taking the liquid diet.

Taking the liquid diet has a number of health benefits for your child.  It can:

  • Help to reduce the inflammation in the gut and promote gut healing

  • Help reduce the symptoms your teenager may be experiencing such as pain or diarrhoea

  • Help your teenager to feel better and have more energy

  • Help your child to gain weight


 

Your child’s doctor or dietitian will recommend that they take the liquid diet for 4-8 weeks. We understand that this may be a struggle for your teenager – so to help you and your teen along this 4-8 week journey we’ve come up with a number of suggestions. 

Firstly, there are many things you can try to make the liquid diet more tasty and appealing, such as:

  • Keep the liquid diet chilled – by keeping it in the fridge, or if your teen is going to school or out for the day store the liquid diet in a flask so that it stays cool throughout the day.

  • Drinking the liquid diet through a straw may help – so stock up on plastic straws in different colours and designs for the 4-8 week period.

  • Try flavouring the liquid diet – why not try using Nesquik powder or Nesquik Magic Straws – they are good fun and can be used with their liquid diet.

  • You can make the liquid diet into ice-lollies – this can add variety to taking the diet and is also refreshing on a hot day.

  • If it is a cold day, you can warm it slightly – but don’t boil it.

  • Encourage your child to drink plenty of water each day.

  • Remind your teen to clean their teeth on a regular basis and use a mouthwash to keep their mouth fresh – why not buy your child a new toothbrush and a new bottle of mouthwash for the 4-8 week period.



 

Rewards may help to encourage your teen to take the liquid diet each day.  Some of the ideas below may help:

  • Since your child will not be eating everyday foods for the next 4-8 weeks, you could offer to save up their school dinner money each day. At the end of the 4-8 weeks they can go and buy a treat with all of the money they have saved up!

You could use a chart, like the one below, to keep a daily record and to keep track of the money reward.

Please click here to download a printable 8 week daily record chart.

  • Plan a family outing or day out with friends for when your child will be starting to feel better – for example after 3 weeks of taking the liquid diet. This will give them something to look forward to.

  • Plan an outing or activity for when your teenager has completed the 4-8 weeks on the liquid diet – again so that they have something to aim for and look forward to.