TubieTalk: Blended Diets

Oct 12

*Consult with your doctor and dietitian before implementing a blenderized diet.*

Blenderized tube feeding is a combination of “pureed” or blended foods that are administered directly through a feeding tube using a syringe or pump. Blended diets give tube-fed individuals the ability to control exactly what foods they put in their bodies. Many patients and families choose blended diets because of the perceived health benefits including better toleration in comparison to commercial enteral formulas.

From combining jars of baby food purees with formula, to blending whole foods into a colorful puree, there are many ways to implement a blended diet. With the guidance of a healthcare professional, blenderized tube feeding may be a great option based on your specific medical needs.

This month, TubieTalk collaborated with the blenderized tubie community and received first-hand advice, helpful resources, and popular blended recipes. Thank you to everyone who contributed to our blended diet topic! If you would like to stay updated on TubieTalk topics, click here.

First-hand Advice

“Get a good blender! Using a commercial blender that completely liquifies the food will save you SO much time because you won't have to strain the blend. You can also use pretty much any food, which allows for more nutrient variety!”- Hilarie
“Blended meals should be as relaxed as possible. A child feeling stressed is more likely to have digestive issues after their tube fed meal.”- Hilarie
“When starting a blenderized diet, it is important to start slow, especially with younger children. If a child has never had fresh foods before, it is important to introduce one food at a time over a few days to test for any reaction, just as you would with an infant.”- Lara
“Take advantage of the food you prepared for the whole family if your child's diet permits it. This saves time and money!” - Giselle
“Try to make your own recipe book with your kid's favs.” - Giselle

Words of Encouragement

“For us it was an obvious choice – through careful research and lots of guidance from others we had made it, so Amy retched less, got REAL nutrition and not just chemicals, and more importantly… actually gain weight!” - Ceri-Ann
“A tube fed child’s medical picture can be complex. Having some control over your loved one’s health and well-being is important"- Hilarie
“Do it! Don’t overthink it.”- Janessa
“Blending provides a sense of purpose. Being able to go to the grocery store or garden and choose what to feed your child to positively impact their health is huge.” - Hilarie
“Blending allows you to have some choice back into what you feed yourself or loved one.”- Hilarie
“I recommend everyone doing a blended diet if possible!”- Perry
“The blended diet went so well for us; it gave us our lives back and we even got our lovely dietitian on board!” - Ceri-Ann

Helpful Blended Diet Resources

There are many helpful resources available that can help you feel more connected to those around you in a similar situation. Whether you are interested in blended diets as a tubie yourself, a caregiver/parent of a tubie, or as a healthcare professional, seeking community through various resources helps raise awareness and create advocacy. Some of our favorite blended diet resources can be found below: