thumb|Packets of ready-to-use therapeutic food

Therapeutic foods are foods designed for specific, usually nutritional, therapeutic purposes as a form of dietary supplement. The primary examples of therapeutic foods are used for emergency feeding of undernourished children or to supplement the diets of persons with special nutrition requirements, such as the elderly.

The term theraputic food mostly refers to energy- and/or nutrition-dense foods for feeding of children by mouth. Other types of food used in a therapeutic setting, such as food for tube feeding, are more commonly described as medical food. Therapeutic food for emergency feeding of children also counts as medical food. Phase one (stabilization) usually deals with children who are severely malnourished and very ill as a result. The therapy used in this phase is F-75, a milk-based liquid food containing modest amounts of energy and protein (75 kcal/100 mL and 0.9 g protein/100 mL) and the administration of parenteral antibiotics. When an improvement in the child's appetite and clinical condition is observed, the child is entered into phase two (rehabilitation) of the treatment. This phase uses F-100. F-100 is a "specially formulated, high-energy, high-protein (100 kcal/100 mL, 2.9 g protein/100 mL) milk-based liquid food".

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! Name !! Amount (per 100 g<br/>or otherwise specified)

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| Moisture content || 2.5% maximum

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| Energy || 520-550 Kcal

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| Proteins || 10 to 12% total energy

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| Lipids || 45 to 60% total energy

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| Sodium || 290&nbsp;mg maximum

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| Potassium || 1100 to 1400&nbsp;mg

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| Calcium || 300 to 600&nbsp;mg

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| Phosphorus<br/>(excluding phytate) || 300 to 600&nbsp;mg

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| Magnesium || 80 to 140&nbsp;mg

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| Iron || 10 to 14&nbsp;mg

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| Zinc || 11 to 14&nbsp;mg

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| Copper || 1.4 to 1.8&nbsp;mg

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| Selenium || 20 to 40&nbsp;μg

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| Iodine || 70 to 140&nbsp;μg

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| Vitamin A || 0.8 to 1.1&nbsp;mg

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| Vitamin D || 15 to 20&nbsp;μg

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| Vitamin E || 20&nbsp;mg minimum

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| Vitamin K || 15 to 30&nbsp;μg

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| Vitamin B1 || 0.5&nbsp;mg minimum

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| Vitamin B2 || 1.6&nbsp;mg minimum

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| Vitamin C || 50&nbsp;mg minimum

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| Vitamin B6 || 0.6&nbsp;mg minimum

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| Vitamin B12 || 1.6&nbsp;μg minimum

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| Folic acid || 200&nbsp;μg minimum

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| Niacin || 5&nbsp;mg minimum

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| Pantothenic acid || 3&nbsp;mg minimum

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| Biotin || 60&nbsp;μg minimum

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| n-6 fatty acids || 3% to 10% of total energy

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| n-3 fatty acids || 0.3 to 2.5% of total energy

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A subset of therapeutic foods, ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs), are energy-dense, micronutrient-enriched pastes that have a nutritional profile similar to the traditional F-100 milk-based diet used in inpatient therapeutic feeding programs and are often made of peanuts, oil, sugar and milk powder. The paste form allows feeding of children as young as 6 months.

In addition to pastes and spreads, the 2023 WHO Guideline includes compressed biscuits/bars like BP-100 in the definition of RUTF. The size of the particles in the mixture has to be less than 200&nbsp;μm for the mixture to maintain its consistency.

RUTFs are used by UNICEF Kid Power malnutrition program, which employ celebrities to raise awareness about the issue.

Dietary method

When used at home, RUTF paste is generally provided to malnorished children from 6 months to five years of age, usually for a period of 2 to 4 months. The daily amount is usually based on body mass at 175&nbsp;kcal/kg/d. There is a detailed rule in which some children (no danger signs, in stable condition, less severe edema, good appetite for RUTF) may be wholly treated at home using RUTF.

RUTFs within the person's own home for the treatment of severe acute malnutrition in children under five years of age may be effective at improving weight gain and recovery when compared to alternative dietary approaches. The effectiveness of ready to use therapeutic food on potential relapses or on overall mortality is not clear as of 2019.

  • Emergency food ration, a standard fortified high energy biscuit. Acceptable for 6 months (when mixed with water into porridge) and older.
  • Fortified biscuits, intended as general food distribution, school feeding, and use in emergencies. Can help complement the lack of micronutrients in other ration foods and prevent micronutrient deficiency in school-aged children.
  • Super Cereal CSB+, a fortified blend of maize and defatted soy flours with 10% added sugar for cooking into a porridge or gruel. For 3-year-olds and older.
  • Super Cereal Plus CSB++, a fortified blend of maize, defatted soy flours and skimmed milk with 10% added sugar for cooking into a porridge or gruel. For 6 months and older.
  • Liquid-based Nutritional Supplement (LNS-SQ) "lipid nut", fortified food rich in proteins, fat, vitamins, and minerals for prevention of malnutrition in at-risk children 6 months and older.

The UNICEF also has a Ready-to-Use Infant Formula (RUIF) for replacement of breastmilk in orphans. It is packaged in liquid form.

Fortified blended foods (which includes the CSB+/CSB++) and lipid-based nutritional supplements (LNS, which includes RUTF, RUSF, and "lipid nut") are included in the WHO Guideline as acceptable for moderate wasting. LNS is the preferred option.