Selected topics in therapeutic nutrition.

Although parenteral and enteral nutrition has advanced rapidly in the last 5 years, prevention of nutritional problems in children still depends on the practice of basic nutritional principles. Breast-feeding remains the best alimentation for the infant. Increased support of breast-feeding in children with cleft lip and/or palate is a simple application of basic therapeutic nutrition. Proper feeding can avert the need for parenteral or enteral nutrition. As our knowledge of nutritional therapeutics expands, the practitioner will be able to play a greater role in both preventive and therapeutic nutrition.