NCLEX Nutrition Knowledge:
Developed by: Lynn Tier, RN, MSN
Know these specific disease and illness processes which require nutritional knowledge
Burns: high protein, high calorie
Gynecologic cancer with radioactive implants/regional enteritis: low residue
Neutropenic individuals (low WBC): no fresh fruits or vegetables, might allow a
banana since entire fruit is covered by a peel
Hepatic Disorders:
Hepatitis-high protein, high carb, moderate fat, high calorie; vitamins A & E
given when steatorrhea present
Cirrhosis-high carb, low sodium, soft (if esophageal varices), protein intake
according to severity of disease (less as disease process increases)
Renal Failure: low protein, low sodium, low potassium (in that order)
Constipation problems: high fiber, high fluid (fresh fruits and veggies)
Cystic Fibrosis: high protein, high calorie, and carb, mod fat, pancreatic enzyme with
meals; increased sodium b/c of losses
Crohn’s/regional enteritis: no dairy, nuts, no high fiber, no whole grains, no fresh fruits
and veggies
Ulcerative Colitis: Small and frequent meals, no milk products, low fiber, low fat, fresh
fruits and veggies
Pancreatitis: high carb, bland, no caffeine or alcohol
Diverticulitis: low residue, well cooked meat, fish and eggs, no whole grains, no nuts
Celiac: no grains (oats, wheat, rye, barley); this means no bread, cookies, cake, pie,
crust, rolls, cereal, pasta (macaroni, spaghetti, noodles, etc.)
Cardiovascular/hypertension: low sodium, low fat
Diabetic: well balanced with no concentrated carbs
PKU: no protein (phenylalanine metabolism problem-amino acid)
People with latex allergies should stay away from: bananas, avocados, tomatoes,
(the foods most commonly cited as causing a problem b/c of certain proteins)
also passion fruit, chestnuts, kiwi fruit, melon, and celery.
People taking lithium: need increased fluid and sodium intake
Well older adult: protein, mod carb, low fat, low cal; nutritionally sound, but boring
High sources of Protein: Remember: animal sources of protein are higher per gram
than non-animal; i.e. meat, poultry and fish are higher than soy or eggs/cheese, etc.
Don’t forget nuts and legumes.
High sodium sources: tomato and tomato based products; condiments, (pickles, olives,
cheese); most processed and canned foods, fish, poultry, ham.
High sources of potassium: bananas, oranges, dried fruit, legumes, broccoli, green leafy
vegetables, dairy, nuts, bran.
High sources of iron: liver, red meat, green leafy vegetables, clams, oysters, beef,
shrimp, beans, broccoli, whole grains, nuts.
High sources of calcium: dairy, sesame seeds, broccoli, collard greens, kale, grains,
beans, fruits, and veggies
High sources of fat: fried foods, hard cheese, marbled meats, salmon, butter, mayo,
vegetable oils, nuts
Cultural/religious/socioeconomic Differences:
Orthodox Jew-Kosher (no milk and meat at the same meal; no pork, no shellfish).
Strict rules for killing animals-heavily salted for purification
Islamic-Halal: No pork or alcohol, no food that may be poisonous when alive, a well
Balanced diet.
Vegetarian: (different types)
 Total Vegetarians (Vegans) eat only plant food. They do not eat any animal
foods, including fish, eggs, dairy products, and honey.
 Pesco-Vegetarians: include fish into their diets
 Pollo-Vegetarians: eat poultry, such as chicken, turkey, and duck
 Lacto-Ovo Vegetarians: does not eat meat, fish or fowl. Eat dairy and egg
products. (Lacto-milk, ovo-egg)
 Ovo-Vegetarian: does not eat meat, fish, fowl or dairy products. Eats egg
products.
 Lacto-Vegetarian: does not eat meat, fish, fowl or eggs. Eat dairy products.
Fruits and fruit juices are lower in sodium; vegetable juices (tomato, V-8, etc.) very high
in sodium
Count Sources of Protein Fat and CHO; also Na and K and Calories
For Example:
(PF) (PF)
Cheeseburger has 2 major sources of protein and of fat and 1 CHO;
(Bun-CHO)
Who can eat what foods and who can’t and rationale: