ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Therapeutic food

So, you know how when you get sick, you might not feel like eating because your tummy hurts or you don't have an appetite? Well, sometimes when people get really sick, they can't eat at all, even if they want to. When this happens, they need something called therapeutic food to help them get better.

Therapeutic food is a special kind of food that is made for people who are sick and not able to eat normal food. It has a lot of protein, vitamins, and minerals that the body needs to heal and stay healthy. Think of it like a superhero that helps sick people get better!

Therapeutic food usually comes in a package that looks like a bar or a paste. This makes it easy to eat, even if someone doesn't have much of an appetite. It's also easy to digest, meaning that the body can use all of the nutrients without needing to do a lot of work.

Doctors and nurses give therapeutic food to people who are malnourished, meaning they don't have enough food or nutrients in their body. This can be caused by things like a disease, a natural disaster, or just not having enough food to eat. Therapeutic food can help these people get better and have more energy so they can do things like play and learn.

Overall, therapeutic food is a special kind of food that helps sick people get better by giving their body all the nutrients it needs to heal. It's easy to eat, easy to digest, and can make a big difference in someone's health and wellbeing.