A support blog for parents of children on the medical ketogenic diet for intractable epilepsy. KetoCal® is a medical food for the dietary management of intractable epilepsy and is intended for use under medical supervision. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine if KetoCal is right for you.
Keto-friendly popsicles are a great summer treat and a great way to cool down and make sure your keto kid stays hydrated on hot days. They are also great for sick days when your child doesn’t feel like eating or drinking. Here are some recipe ideas to consider. As always, check with your keto medical team before trying any new recipes.
Summer Snacks
Make summer variations of your favorite KetoCal smoothie
recipes by freezing them in popsicle molds!
Berrysicles – Use our Blueberry, Raspberry, or Strawberry Smoothie Recipes to create your favorite flavor berrysicles!
Refreshing Treats
Some dietitians allow sugar & carb-free electrolyte
drinks, such as Powerade® Zero Sugar*. Check with your dietitian and if allowed,
you can simply pour into a popsicle mold and freeze for a quick & easy,
refreshing summer treat.
Other Ideas
If you’re looking for more popsicle ideas, check out these
recipes provided by the Charlie
Foundation.
*POWERADE is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company and is not affiliated with Nutricia North America. Inclusion of a brand name ingredient is to allow Nutricia to provide the most accurate nutritional information for the recipe and does not indicate that the recipe, Nutricia or Nutricia products are sponsored, endorsed or associated with the respective trademark owner.
KetoCal is a
medical food and is intended for use under medical supervision. Speak with your
healthcare provider to determine if KetoCal is right for you.
Does your family use KetoCal 3:1 Powder? If so, we wanted to let you know about some minor changes coming soon.
Rest assured that the upcoming changes to KetoCal 3:1 Powder are small and do not affect the 3:1 ketogenic ratio. Below are some questions that you might have and the answers to them.
If you have any further questions about the changes to KetoCal 3:1, please feel free to contact our Nutrition Services team at 1-800-365-7354. If you have any questions about your prescribed intake of KetoCal 3:1 and how that may be affected by these changes, please reach out to your healthcare provider. You can also view the full list of Questions & Answers for families here.
Questions & Answers about the Changes to KetoCal 3:1 Powder
Why are these changes occurring?
KetoCal 3:1 is available in many countries and we ensure compliance with applicable laws in the countries where our products are sold. Given recent changes to European regulations, we made some minor adjustments to nutrient levels in KetoCal 3:1.
What are the changes to KetoCal 3:1?
The adjusted recipe for KetoCal 3:1 will include minor changes to the levels of macronutrients (carbohydrate, fat and protein), as well as the levels of certain vitamins and minerals. The changes will not affect the ketogenic ratio of the product.
When will this change occur?
The updated formulation of KetoCal 3:1 will be available in the spring of 2021 (we expect around March).
Is the ketogenic ratio changing?
No, the updated KetoCal 3:1 will remain at a 3:1 ketogenic ratio. There will be small changes to the levels of macronutrients (specifically fat and protein) per 100 grams of powder but the overall ketogenic ratio of the product will not change. You can view the nutrient comparison chart here.
Have the calories changed?
Yes, the calories per gram and calories per can of KetoCal 3:1 will change slightly. The current version of KetoCal 3:1 provides 699 calories per 100 grams of powder, while the updated version will provide 711 calories per 100 grams of powder. Therefore, each can of the current KetoCal 3:1 provides 2,097 calories and each can of the updated KetoCal 3:1 will provide 2,133 calories. Talk with your ketogenic dietitian to determine if your intake and/or monthly prescription needs to be adjusted to account for this minor difference in the calories.
Have the macronutrients (carbohydrate, fat and protein) changed?
Yes, there are small changes to the amount of fat and protein per 100 grams of KetoCal 3:1 powder. The changes will not affect the ketogenic ratio of the product.
Have the levels of vitamins and minerals changed?
Yes, the levels of specific vitamins and minerals have changed slightly. You can view the nutrient comparison chart here.
Why is the label different?
We regularly review and update the look and packaging of our products. We hope you like the new look of KetoCal 3:1!
What should I do to prepare for this change?
We recommend that you speak with your healthcare provider to determine if any changes need to be made to your daily intake or monthly prescription of KetoCal 3:1 to account for these minor changes in the formulation.
Where can I view the nutritional information for the updated KetoCal 3:1?
Is the updated KetoCal 3:1 nutritionally complete?
Yes, the updated KetoCal 3:1 can be used to provide complete nutrition for children ages 1-3 or can be used to provide supplemental nutrition for ages 1 and up. If you have any questions about how this product fits into your child’s medical ketogenic diet, please reach out to your healthcare provider.
How do I know if I have the updated version of KetoCal 3:1 or not?
You will be able to tell if you have the updated version of KetoCal 3:1 by the label. You can view the current and updated versions of the KetoCal 3:1 label here.
For more information:
For more details about the updates to KetoCal 3:1, view the full list of Questions & Answers for families here.
KetoCal is a medical food for the management of intractable epilepsy and is intended for use under medical supervision. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine if KetoCal is right for you
A Q&A with ketogenic dietitian Robyn Blackford, RDN, LDN. For more posts in our “Ask the Keto Dietitian” series, click here.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your work as a ketogenic dietitian?
Hello! My name is Robyn Blackford and I am
one of the ketogenic dietitians at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. I have
been a full-time ketogenic dietitian in pediatrics for 15 years. Our center
manages close to 300 patients on the medical ketogenic diet. I believe that the
medical ketogenic diet has incredible possibilities and that all patients have
a right to try the diet and be carefully followed by an expert medical ketogenic
diet center.
I am also one of the Keto Ambassadors for
Nutricia in North America, where I spend time mentoring and teaching the medical
ketogenic diet to healthcare professionals.
On a more personal note, I have been married to my husband, Jason for many years and am the mom of 2 teenagers.
What is Dravet Syndrome?
Dravet Syndrome is a rare, catastrophic, lifelong form of epilepsy that begins in the first year of life with frequent and/or prolonged seizures. This epilepsy diagnosis affects 1 in every 15,700 individuals and 80% will have a mutation in the SCN1A gene.
What are the symptoms of Dravet Syndrome?
A study published in 2015 describes how patients with Dravet Syndrome typically have at least 4 of the 5 following symptoms:
Normal or near-normal cognitive and motor development before seizure onset
Two or more seizures with or without fever before 1 year of age
Seizure history consisting of myoclonic, hemi-clonic, or generalized tonic-clonic seizures
Two or more seizures lasting longer than 10 minutes
Failure to respond to first-line antiepileptic drug therapy with continued seizures after 2 years of age
Do you have patients with Dravet Syndrome who are following a medical ketogenic diet?
Yes, our Epilepsy Center has a vast number
of patients with Dravet Syndrome and many of them are on the medical ketogenic
diet. Since patients with Dravet Syndrome tend to be in the intractable
epilepsy category, meaning that they do not respond to first- and second-line
medications, the medical ketogenic diet is often suggested as part of their
next-line options. Our Epilepsy Center
has been responsible for many research studies involving those with Dravet
Syndrome and their families.
Is the medical ketogenic diet helpful in managing seizures for patients with Dravet Syndrome?
Yes, the medical ketogenic diet can be quite helpful in managing seizures in those with this epilepsy syndrome. Since this diagnosis can be made early in life, I like to use the diet as part of their regimen as early as possible. I have seen many times where an early diagnosis and precise management can lead to successful seizure control and positive outcomes for our patients.
Is the medical ketogenic diet helpful in managing seizures for patients with Dravet Syndrome?
Yes, there is research supporting the use of the medical ketogenic diet for patients with Dravet Syndrome. The Dravet Syndrome Foundation (DSF) website has a lot of information on past and current research studies for those with Dravet Syndrome. Included on the site is the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR), which provides patients and their clinicians with evidence-based information in order to help them make more informed health care decisions and answer questions about the potential benefits and risks of different care options. The medical ketogenic diet is included in the PCOR.
In 2013, Dr. Linda Laux and I published a paper that found 65% of children with Dravet syndrome at our center following the medical ketogenic diet experienced a greater than 50% reduction in seizure frequency.
Do your patients with Dravet Syndrome typically remain on their antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) while they are following the medical ketogenic diet?
Yes, many patients with Dravet Syndrome
remain on some AEDs. But, the wonderful team of professionals with whom I work
always aim for the least amount of seizures with the least amount of side
effects possible. So, they are always looking for ways to decrease medications
without losing the seizure control that they have. They look to balance quality
of life with the seizures. I feel like the medical ketogenic diet is a great
addition to a seizure management plan, especially when it’s taking the place of
a sedating medication that is not helpful to a patient’s quality of life.
Is there a specific type of medical ketogenic diet that is recommended for patients with Dravet Syndrome (for example, classical ketogenic diet, modified Atkins diet, etc)?
No, there is not one specific type of
medical ketogenic diet that is recommended. Any of these versions of the diet
can be helpful for seizure control. The preference for diet options may depend,
for example, on the age and feeding differences between patients. So, please
discuss these issues with your child’s neurology and/or keto provider.
How long do patients with Dravet Syndrome typically stay on the medical ketogenic diet?
Patients can be on the diet for as long as
they need to be to help manage seizures. The keto team will require
intermittent visits for follow up and blood work to assess the safety of the
patient for the duration of the diet. Often times patients are on the diet for
a few years before attempting a wean of the diet or simply going to a less
restrictive version of the diet (such as the modified Atkins diet) for
maintenance. If the medical ketogenic diet fails to be beneficial, then it
would be stopped more quickly according to the plan from your keto team.
Where can families of Dravet patients find more information about the medical ketogenic diet?
Here are some of my favorite websites to
visit for more information: