Hey, wait a minute, isn't the term "feed" meant for cattle and other such beasts? Nope, not entirely. In the world of recovery-nutrition, feed is the term used to describe what is essentially formula, but made for adults not babies.
I have to say that there are not many perks to having a feeding tube (I consider living as a given rather than a perk). In fact, I don't think that a feeding tube has any perks at all, save one; if you are recovering and you need a lot of calories/specific nutrients then it's a perk. Why? Because it's especially lovely NOT to taste it as it is infused into your stomach via the tube, rather than via the many taste buds present in your mouth!
All kidding aside, not too many people enjoy the items they must drink in order to get the calories and nutrients that they so desperately need. I know that many people get used to the drinks, some even like them, but I don't know too many people who do....BUT, and this is a large "but" (appropriate under the circumstances?), guess what? You don't have to drink it that way!
Somewhere along the line, a dietitian taught me how to make some of those "nutrition" drinks more palatable, by adding all sorts of good, functional, yummy, and still (mostly) healthy things. So, whether you are having carnation instant breakfasts or something similar to supplement your diet, or boost or ensure, peptamin, or jevity etc. as full meal replacements you can make your drink tasty (well, at least tasti-er). As a side note I must say that I quite liked the carnation ones - though they are not meant to do the same things as traditional feed. Still, the drinks got boring after a while (only 3 flavours), so mixing it up was lovely.
*Disclaimer; the following are suggestions to make said drinks more tasty and should not be attempted without the approval of your dietitian, speech pathologist, or physician.*
If you have a magic bullet, a blender, or some really hefty elbow grease, try the following combinations:
- Add the following to chocolate flavoured drinks
- A mashed banana, and a tbsp. of peanut butter
- A mashed banana, a tbsp of peanut butter, and a tsp. strawberry jam
- A mashed banana and chocolate syrup
- 2 Tbsp peanut butter and chocolate syrup to taste
- Add the following to strawberry flavoured drinks
- 1/4 cup plain or vanilla yogurt
- White hot chocolate powder
- Raspberries and or a mashed banana
- Actual strawberries
- Add the following to vanilla flavoured drinks
- Peaches and/or plums
- Blueberries
- Caramel sauce
- Chocolate and Banana
- Pears and plums
- Peaches and Raspberries
- Peaches, Raspberries, Plums, blueberries and caramel sauce
The possibilities are endless - don't be afraid to experiment. I personally like the carnation drinks the best, and especially with combinations of the above in them. Note though that they are aimed at the main stream (not recovery targeted like other drinks), and so they should not replace feed or be used as a feed supplement unless given the go-ahead from the appropriate medical team members involved in your care (like the dietitian). I hope these ideas kick-start you into creating some fun new flavours, and that you don't need to worry about getting an acquired taste for required supplements or feed.
Happy taste-bud tickling!
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