Wow, I just logged on to see that there has been a bit of activity!! Must find out if I can get updated by email when comments are added.
RIVEN- great to find someone else here who does this! I hope you have had a quiter evening and all is well after last nigh?
I am a bit paranoid about the nutrition content of my blends, I had a real battle with dietician as she said I would never be able to give my son a balanced diet this way as it would require too much liquid to make the blend thin enough, and his tube would block etc. - tosh!!! I have devised a spreadsheet database of the foods I use so it calculates the nutrition content of my blends.
My son only needs approx 300 cals per meal,and I use rice & nut milks as the liquid to blend other ingredients or veg juices. His blends are usually between 150ml to 220ml in volume for the full 300 cals!
My parents bought me the Vitamix last xmas, I was trying to get PCT to fund it as they were spending £450 per month on enteral feed plus all the giving sets etc. he was put on a special formula that was £800 per month as they thought he may have had food intolerances! I have saved them thousands and increased my monthly food bill by loads as I try to buy organic and wholefoods for his blends and us too when I can!! Before getting the mega blender, I would poach chicken and fish so it was softer & cut finely, then use fresh juiced veggies so didn't have to add extra liquid and powdered baby rice and blended with a normal stick blender, stage 1 baby foods are good too (Ella's kitchen, especially new breakfast ones as they contain rice so more cals, I keep these for emergencies and days out when I can't keep meals chilled or heat up).
I add calories to the blends by using nut butters, tahini, nuts, seeds and good oils as well as coconut milk. I add green tea sometimes, superfoods - papaya, raspberries watercress etc. for carbs I like to use grains such as amaranth, quinoa, couscous, brown rice, rice pasta - I have learnt so much doing this and discovered tips along the way and foods I had never heard of!
There is noting better than preparing his food again, I feel in control and fulfilling a basic function of a parent and not just breaking the seal on a pack on Tentrini!!. My son was always proud he had a healthy diet before his brain injury so I am glad to be able to do it again and resolve long term gut issues!
The Blenderized Diet group is a great place to start and they are a wonderful and very active and supportive community to learn more, I am also happy to share my experiences with anyone interested.
Just over 3 months ago my son had spinal fusion and rod surgery, he recovered very quickly and after 2.5 weeks his stomach resumed normal function (with the help of some pre & probiotics), which surprised his GI Dr and other parents whose 'complex' children who had the same op!!
Only had one blockage, hemp protein powder settled in syringe and forgot to shake it up, resulting in a tube change late one night and had to wake him up - been a late day and got behind with feeds and was making up!!