Saturday, for lunch, we were in a hurry to get everyone fed before we left for a wedding a couple hours away. I put all of the ingredients for the blend in the blender, pushed the button, and walked away. (Milk, rice cake, sunflower seed butter, bell pepper, and a plum. In case you were wondering).
My husband took over when it was done, putting it into two bottles-one for lunch, and one to take to church for lunch on Sunday. As he's scraping it out of the blender, he pulls something out, and asks, 'what did you put in there that had plastic on it?'
I was wracking my brain trying to figure it out. The rice cakes come in a plastic bag, but I knew that wasn't it. Nothing else had plastic. After he finally dug all of it out, and pieced it together a bit, we were able to solve the mystery. I decided to share it here, as a lesson in blending for everyone else.
ALWAYS, always, remove stickers from produce BEFORE blending.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Fillers.
I have written a post already about things that can add calories to a blend without adding much volume. There are tons of options. The list I posted is by no means extensive. I'm certain there are tons of things I have missed on it. We aren't really in need of extra calories anymore here.
I, however, am a medical nerd. I read medical journals, drug trials, and nutrition information about my children's diagnoses. If I meet another family, I research their child's diagnoses. I just want to understand things. In all honesty, it gives me some illusion of control, that I don't have at all.
In my research for the blenderized diet I came across an article written by doctors at the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital. They were specifically looking at the effects of the b.d. on children with a fundoplication. After reading this though, I researched a little more for recipes for a blenderized diet. I talked to a few other people. I was sort of shocked by what I heard.
In order to increase calories people are being given recipes that add sugar, corn starch, or corn syrup. I can't quite understand why there is need to add three tablespoons of sugar to a blend, aside from increasing calories. There are so many other ways to increase calories, that are much healthier.
I have a desire to make tube feeding much less medical. While a g-tube is a medical device, my daughter's eating is not a mathematical and medical formula that needs broken down and figured out. Once again, I am aware that some children have things that require a very specific diet. Lots of families though, are being told exactly what they can and can't feed their child, only because they have a g-tube.
If you would not use sugar, corn starch, or corn syrup to increase calories or fat in a typical child's diet (and I almost guarantee that a doctor would not tell you to use these to increase calories) then it is not necessary to use it for a b.d. I want to empower you, if you are using a recipe with one of these things, to try something else. Look around. You CAN feed your child enough calories, with healthy foods. You don't have to use fillers. Remember, when someone feeds their typical child, they do not sit at each meal making it a stressful math equation. They offer them balanced meals. The child then chooses to only eat cheese for three days. When you are feeding your tubie, you get to offer them a well balanced meal, and they will get all of it. They get much less choice. My seventeen month old eats much healthier than any of her peers.
Have you ever used these fillers? Did they work well for you?
I, however, am a medical nerd. I read medical journals, drug trials, and nutrition information about my children's diagnoses. If I meet another family, I research their child's diagnoses. I just want to understand things. In all honesty, it gives me some illusion of control, that I don't have at all.
In my research for the blenderized diet I came across an article written by doctors at the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital. They were specifically looking at the effects of the b.d. on children with a fundoplication. After reading this though, I researched a little more for recipes for a blenderized diet. I talked to a few other people. I was sort of shocked by what I heard.
In order to increase calories people are being given recipes that add sugar, corn starch, or corn syrup. I can't quite understand why there is need to add three tablespoons of sugar to a blend, aside from increasing calories. There are so many other ways to increase calories, that are much healthier.
I have a desire to make tube feeding much less medical. While a g-tube is a medical device, my daughter's eating is not a mathematical and medical formula that needs broken down and figured out. Once again, I am aware that some children have things that require a very specific diet. Lots of families though, are being told exactly what they can and can't feed their child, only because they have a g-tube.
If you would not use sugar, corn starch, or corn syrup to increase calories or fat in a typical child's diet (and I almost guarantee that a doctor would not tell you to use these to increase calories) then it is not necessary to use it for a b.d. I want to empower you, if you are using a recipe with one of these things, to try something else. Look around. You CAN feed your child enough calories, with healthy foods. You don't have to use fillers. Remember, when someone feeds their typical child, they do not sit at each meal making it a stressful math equation. They offer them balanced meals. The child then chooses to only eat cheese for three days. When you are feeding your tubie, you get to offer them a well balanced meal, and they will get all of it. They get much less choice. My seventeen month old eats much healthier than any of her peers.
Have you ever used these fillers? Did they work well for you?
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Help Wanted.
I'm still really excited about this blog. I would LOVE to hear more about what people want to read about. I also would be interested in other people who might want to tell their blenderized story. I've been racking my brain for a topic for a few days now. So comment or e-mail (imamann at gmail dot com) to throw out ideas, or let me know if you have a story to share.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
The little Extras.
I don't know if everyone does this or not, but when I blend, my beauty gets the extras. For example, the other night, we had chicken alfredo (the sauce i made has TONS of calories if you're in need of that), with a salad. Beauty got the pasta, chicken, and alfredo sauce, spinach, carrots, celery, croutons, craisins, and then I put in some salad dressing.
This was definitely not a meal where I was looking to give her any extra calories. However, if she were eating by mouth, I would give her all of the veggies, and then put the dressing on the side for her to dip things in. And, like most toddlers, she would likely devour it. So she gets it in her blend.
If we eat pancakes, waffles, or french toast, she gets butter and syrup. Biscuits get butter. Tacos get sour cream, as does chili. We also like our chili piled on top of corn chips. Beauty's chili gets corn chips with it. I try hard to give her what she would likely be getting, if she were to eat by mouth. Even down to my oldest daughter, and husband's favorite banana chocolate chip muffins.
I have yet to blend anything like a cupcake or cookie to give to her. If she isn't eating by her second birthday, we'll see what I decide to do for her party.
Overall, we eat really healthy. Most of the extras she gets are good fats. We want her tube to be her mouth, and so we do our best to give her the things she would be eating.
What are some extras you add to blends?
This was definitely not a meal where I was looking to give her any extra calories. However, if she were eating by mouth, I would give her all of the veggies, and then put the dressing on the side for her to dip things in. And, like most toddlers, she would likely devour it. So she gets it in her blend.
If we eat pancakes, waffles, or french toast, she gets butter and syrup. Biscuits get butter. Tacos get sour cream, as does chili. We also like our chili piled on top of corn chips. Beauty's chili gets corn chips with it. I try hard to give her what she would likely be getting, if she were to eat by mouth. Even down to my oldest daughter, and husband's favorite banana chocolate chip muffins.
I have yet to blend anything like a cupcake or cookie to give to her. If she isn't eating by her second birthday, we'll see what I decide to do for her party.
Overall, we eat really healthy. Most of the extras she gets are good fats. We want her tube to be her mouth, and so we do our best to give her the things she would be eating.
What are some extras you add to blends?
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Protein.
Most people are aware that everyone needs protein. But why do we need protein? Where does it come from?
Protein makes up about 45% of the human body. It is found in muscles, bones, hemoglobin, myoglobin, hormones, antibodies, and enzymes. Protein is necessary for building and repairing tissue, it produces enzymes and hormones, it regulates water balancing, transports nutrients, and helps muscles contract. Protein helps us resist diseases, and gives us energy and stamina.
I imagine that when the word protein is mentioned, almost everyone pictures some sort of meat. Meat definitely fits into that category. There are also lots of other sources of protein available, that may be less expensive, or carry some different vitamins and minerals than what are commonly found in meat.
If you are looking to think outside of the box, here is a list of things that you can add to the blender to help meet the dietary need for protein.
Milk Products: Cheese (some are better than other-with the highest being Parmesan and Yogurt both are high sources, but really milk, and all products produced from milk, contain protein.
Legumes: Nuts, Beans, Seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, flax, chia, etc.), Peas, Lentils.
Vegetable: Corn, Tomatoes, Soy, Brussel Sprouts, Spinach, Broccoli, Asparagus, Greens, Kale, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Cabbage, Parsley, Mushrooms, Green Peppers, Avocado.
Fruit: Dried Fruits (dried apricots, raisins, prunes, dried figs), Passion Fruit, Kumquat, Mulberries, Currants (black and red), Blackberries.
Grains: Oats, Wheat Flour, Whole wheat pasta, Egg noodles, Buckwheat, Millet, Rice, Quinoa, Barley, Rye, Bulgar, Spelt.
The biggest thing with proteins is that they all contain amino acids. You need sources that have all of the different amino acids. There are some foods though, that are 'complete proteins' so they contain all of the amino acids you need. All animal products (meat, eggs, fish, milk) are complete proteins. Quinoa is as well (and as I mentioned before, one of my favorite foods because of how rich it is in so many areas).
As long as you are getting a wide variety of protein sources, you will get all of the amino acids you need. Some of the complete combinations are things you likely eat together anyway (or at least we do), beans and rice (ours always had tomatoes and corn as well...lots of protein), hummus and pita bread, and the list goes on.
If you are overly worried about protein, you probably don't need to by. Pretty much every resource out there says most Americans are getting enough protein Even those who are vegetarian or vegan. The greater issue is too much protein in our diets.
What are some of your favorite non-meat sources of protein?
Protein makes up about 45% of the human body. It is found in muscles, bones, hemoglobin, myoglobin, hormones, antibodies, and enzymes. Protein is necessary for building and repairing tissue, it produces enzymes and hormones, it regulates water balancing, transports nutrients, and helps muscles contract. Protein helps us resist diseases, and gives us energy and stamina.
I imagine that when the word protein is mentioned, almost everyone pictures some sort of meat. Meat definitely fits into that category. There are also lots of other sources of protein available, that may be less expensive, or carry some different vitamins and minerals than what are commonly found in meat.
If you are looking to think outside of the box, here is a list of things that you can add to the blender to help meet the dietary need for protein.
Milk Products: Cheese (some are better than other-with the highest being Parmesan and Yogurt both are high sources, but really milk, and all products produced from milk, contain protein.
Legumes: Nuts, Beans, Seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, flax, chia, etc.), Peas, Lentils.
Vegetable: Corn, Tomatoes, Soy, Brussel Sprouts, Spinach, Broccoli, Asparagus, Greens, Kale, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Cabbage, Parsley, Mushrooms, Green Peppers, Avocado.
Fruit: Dried Fruits (dried apricots, raisins, prunes, dried figs), Passion Fruit, Kumquat, Mulberries, Currants (black and red), Blackberries.
Grains: Oats, Wheat Flour, Whole wheat pasta, Egg noodles, Buckwheat, Millet, Rice, Quinoa, Barley, Rye, Bulgar, Spelt.
The biggest thing with proteins is that they all contain amino acids. You need sources that have all of the different amino acids. There are some foods though, that are 'complete proteins' so they contain all of the amino acids you need. All animal products (meat, eggs, fish, milk) are complete proteins. Quinoa is as well (and as I mentioned before, one of my favorite foods because of how rich it is in so many areas).
As long as you are getting a wide variety of protein sources, you will get all of the amino acids you need. Some of the complete combinations are things you likely eat together anyway (or at least we do), beans and rice (ours always had tomatoes and corn as well...lots of protein), hummus and pita bread, and the list goes on.
If you are overly worried about protein, you probably don't need to by. Pretty much every resource out there says most Americans are getting enough protein Even those who are vegetarian or vegan. The greater issue is too much protein in our diets.
What are some of your favorite non-meat sources of protein?
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
P is for....
If you have been a parent at all, you likely have realized that the topic of pooping comes up regularly all of a sudden. For some reason, this is even more true for children with tubes. For our family, it is because low muscle tone means slower moving food, means higher incidents of constipation. Some families are dealing with slow motility, and a myriad of other things that can affect a child's bowel habits.
We weren't interested in the normal regimen of miralax. I felt like it was offered the moment she set foot in the clinic for Down syndrome, because it was assumed she would have trouble. While we aren't opposed to medicine at our house, and believe there are instances where it is necessary we like to try for natural before we jump into a prescription. And, there are lots of things that can be given in a blenderized diet to help with constipation.
First of all, a great helper is P fruits. Think of fruits that start with P's, and go with them. Plums, peaches, pears, and pineapple are all great. We really love prunes in our blends as well. Some other fruits that work well for us are grapes, raisins, avocado and apricots have also worked well for us. Most fruits contain natural fiber, and therefore are helpful in easing constipation. Green veggies are also helpful. We use apples and bananas sparingly because we have found them to cause more issues with constipation.
Grains are also a great helper to keep things moving. Whole grains of any sort tend to help. We are personally big fans of flax seed (you can buy flax meal, or grind the seeds into meal before adding to a blend), quinoa, and buckwheat (breads made with buckwheat, or cream of buckwheat both work for us). We are a gluten free family, so I don't have experience with this, but I also have heart that oats are helpful as well.
Making certain that a lot of water is being added is important as well. We do a water bolus before a meal, a flush after meals, and large bolus first thing in the morning, and at bedtime. Water should not affect the amounts that can be given at meal times. Water is absorbed instead of digested. It takes the body between 10-30 minutes to absorb water. So if you are still nervous about the water affecting how much you might be able to feed, make certain it is given at least thirty minutes before mealtime. We have found, though, that the closer to mealtimes it is, the more it help prevent constipation.
Some people add oils to the blend, or give them directly through a g-tube as well. We have done this in the past, and I'm not opposed to it. It did not make a huge difference for us. So you may have to play around with things to see what works best. Also, things that are warm digest better. So if you are giving free fluids of any sort, warm them up a bit, make certain the blends are warmed as well.
And lastly, my personal favorites, breast milk (if you have any available to you) keeps things regular for our Beauty all the time. When we don't have any available to us, coconut water for the win. If you have ever seen the movie 'Cast Away' you may remember Tom Hanks making a reference to the coconuts being a laxative. While it doesn't quite have that extreme of an affect here, We do like to give her a couple of ounces each day, warmed up a bit, and it keeps things moving quickly. You can get different flavors, brands, so on and so forth. We don't have any particular favorites. My only requirement, is that, when reading the label, it not have added sugar of any sort. There are a few we like that have fruit purees in with them. One brand has one that is coconut water with coconut and pineapple puree. If there's anything not moving through, this particular one will clear things out in no time.
What about you? Do you have anything you have found, when added to blends, helps keep bowels moving well?
We weren't interested in the normal regimen of miralax. I felt like it was offered the moment she set foot in the clinic for Down syndrome, because it was assumed she would have trouble. While we aren't opposed to medicine at our house, and believe there are instances where it is necessary we like to try for natural before we jump into a prescription. And, there are lots of things that can be given in a blenderized diet to help with constipation.
First of all, a great helper is P fruits. Think of fruits that start with P's, and go with them. Plums, peaches, pears, and pineapple are all great. We really love prunes in our blends as well. Some other fruits that work well for us are grapes, raisins, avocado and apricots have also worked well for us. Most fruits contain natural fiber, and therefore are helpful in easing constipation. Green veggies are also helpful. We use apples and bananas sparingly because we have found them to cause more issues with constipation.
Grains are also a great helper to keep things moving. Whole grains of any sort tend to help. We are personally big fans of flax seed (you can buy flax meal, or grind the seeds into meal before adding to a blend), quinoa, and buckwheat (breads made with buckwheat, or cream of buckwheat both work for us). We are a gluten free family, so I don't have experience with this, but I also have heart that oats are helpful as well.
Making certain that a lot of water is being added is important as well. We do a water bolus before a meal, a flush after meals, and large bolus first thing in the morning, and at bedtime. Water should not affect the amounts that can be given at meal times. Water is absorbed instead of digested. It takes the body between 10-30 minutes to absorb water. So if you are still nervous about the water affecting how much you might be able to feed, make certain it is given at least thirty minutes before mealtime. We have found, though, that the closer to mealtimes it is, the more it help prevent constipation.
Some people add oils to the blend, or give them directly through a g-tube as well. We have done this in the past, and I'm not opposed to it. It did not make a huge difference for us. So you may have to play around with things to see what works best. Also, things that are warm digest better. So if you are giving free fluids of any sort, warm them up a bit, make certain the blends are warmed as well.
And lastly, my personal favorites, breast milk (if you have any available to you) keeps things regular for our Beauty all the time. When we don't have any available to us, coconut water for the win. If you have ever seen the movie 'Cast Away' you may remember Tom Hanks making a reference to the coconuts being a laxative. While it doesn't quite have that extreme of an affect here, We do like to give her a couple of ounces each day, warmed up a bit, and it keeps things moving quickly. You can get different flavors, brands, so on and so forth. We don't have any particular favorites. My only requirement, is that, when reading the label, it not have added sugar of any sort. There are a few we like that have fruit purees in with them. One brand has one that is coconut water with coconut and pineapple puree. If there's anything not moving through, this particular one will clear things out in no time.
What about you? Do you have anything you have found, when added to blends, helps keep bowels moving well?
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