An alternative for your feeding tube

jackrabbit said:

Feeding tube recipe please!
I know this is quite an old thread, so I don't know if I'll get a reply, but I'm on a feeding tube right now and am desperatly wanting something healthier to put down it than Ensure. Please send me your recipe, it sound great. I don't like posting my email address on message boards, can you just post the recipe here?

Here is my recipe
I thought I would share the recipe I have used to keep my husband’s weight stable during chemo/radiation. He started at 160 lbs., lost 5 lbs. after the first two weeks of treatment, then ended treatment three days ago at 160 lbs. We were told he would lose lots of weight, so I am pleased to say that doesn't have to happen. Oh yes, he also has 3 liters of water by tube every day.

He has stage 4a base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma. He had 35 radiation treatments while simultaneously having chemo over 7 weeks time--1 dose of cisplatin (that caused him to lose some of his hearing), then 5 weekly treatments of carboplatin and taxol.

He had a PEG placed before he started treatment, and although he has been able to swallow water, pills, and Throat Coat tea, he has had little food for the last 5 weeks. (Today he had maybe a 1/4 cup of cream of wheat. I was delighted!!!)

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about specific ingredients. You can also visit his Caring Bridge blog at https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kevindavidsmith
Karen

Recipe for the super-high calorie shake (Total calories 1310):
This is my feeding tube recipe. This shake makes two servings. I make it in the morning, and save half for an evening meal in the refrigerator. Allow it to sit at room temperature for a bit of time, so it is more comfortable going through the tube.

1 can high calorie liquid meal replacement (Nutren 1.5, could use Ensure)
(15 g/protein, 375 calories)
1 envelope Carnation Instant Breakfast powder
(5 g/protein, 130 calories)
2 scoops EAS 100% whey protein powder (found at Target)
(23 g/protein, 240 calories)
3/4 cup Organic Half-and-Half
(6 g/protein, 240 calories)
3/4 cup prune juice
(1.5 g/protein, 135 calories)
1 ripe banana (108 calories)
1 Tblsp. *Barlean's Total Omega 3/6/9 oil, pomegranate blueberry flavor
(70 calories)
2 capsules *New Chapter Probiotic Immunity (to help with digestion)
2 capsules *Branched Chain Amino Acid Complex (to protect muscle tissue)
1 tablet Centrum chewable multi-vitamin (crushed)
1 tablet Zinc (crushed)
2 tsp. Fiber powder (Benefiber) (to help with constipation)
(15 calories)

Blend until very smooth, so it can pass through a feeding tube.
(* Ingredients can be found at a health food store.)

When husband was able to handle the taste of a shake by mouth, I would use this same recipe as above (minus the 3/4 cup half-and-half which was too rich for him to drink), but also add:
1/4 cup Half-and-Half
(2 g/protein, 80 calories)
1/2 cup whole milk
(4 g/protein, 75 calories)
1/4 cup walnuts (they blend very smooth in a blender)
(4.5 g/protein, 196 calories)
1/4 cup organic whole milk yogurt
(2 g/protein, 37 calories)
2 heaping Tblsp. Flax seed, ground
(3 g/protein, 45 calories)
2 heaping Tblsp. Wheat germ
(4 g/protein, 55 calories)
3-4 kinds of fresh or frozen fruits (strawberries, blueberries, peaches, pears, raspberries, mango, cantaloupe)

Total 1558 calories (plus the calories from the fresh/frozen fruit)

2 weeks after chemo/radiation is completely over, we will add anti-oxidents back into his diet, and the shake will additionally include:
2 Tblsp. *Noni juice
2 Tblsp. *Acai juice
1 packet Emergen-C powder (vitamin C powder)
1 Tblsp. *Green Vibrance (powdered organic greens, grasses, concentrated superfood)

SmithMama2 said:

Here is my recipe
I thought I would share the recipe I have used to keep my husband’s weight stable during chemo/radiation. He started at 160 lbs., lost 5 lbs. after the first two weeks of treatment, then ended treatment three days ago at 160 lbs. We were told he would lose lots of weight, so I am pleased to say that doesn't have to happen. Oh yes, he also has 3 liters of water by tube every day.

He has stage 4a base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma. He had 35 radiation treatments while simultaneously having chemo over 7 weeks time--1 dose of cisplatin (that caused him to lose some of his hearing), then 5 weekly treatments of carboplatin and taxol.

He had a PEG placed before he started treatment, and although he has been able to swallow water, pills, and Throat Coat tea, he has had little food for the last 5 weeks. (Today he had maybe a 1/4 cup of cream of wheat. I was delighted!!!)

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about specific ingredients. You can also visit his Caring Bridge blog at https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kevindavidsmith
Karen

Recipe for the super-high calorie shake (Total calories 1310):
This is my feeding tube recipe. This shake makes two servings. I make it in the morning, and save half for an evening meal in the refrigerator. Allow it to sit at room temperature for a bit of time, so it is more comfortable going through the tube.

1 can high calorie liquid meal replacement (Nutren 1.5, could use Ensure)
(15 g/protein, 375 calories)
1 envelope Carnation Instant Breakfast powder
(5 g/protein, 130 calories)
2 scoops EAS 100% whey protein powder (found at Target)
(23 g/protein, 240 calories)
3/4 cup Organic Half-and-Half
(6 g/protein, 240 calories)
3/4 cup prune juice
(1.5 g/protein, 135 calories)
1 ripe banana (108 calories)
1 Tblsp. *Barlean's Total Omega 3/6/9 oil, pomegranate blueberry flavor
(70 calories)
2 capsules *New Chapter Probiotic Immunity (to help with digestion)
2 capsules *Branched Chain Amino Acid Complex (to protect muscle tissue)
1 tablet Centrum chewable multi-vitamin (crushed)
1 tablet Zinc (crushed)
2 tsp. Fiber powder (Benefiber) (to help with constipation)
(15 calories)

Blend until very smooth, so it can pass through a feeding tube.
(* Ingredients can be found at a health food store.)

When husband was able to handle the taste of a shake by mouth, I would use this same recipe as above (minus the 3/4 cup half-and-half which was too rich for him to drink), but also add:
1/4 cup Half-and-Half
(2 g/protein, 80 calories)
1/2 cup whole milk
(4 g/protein, 75 calories)
1/4 cup walnuts (they blend very smooth in a blender)
(4.5 g/protein, 196 calories)
1/4 cup organic whole milk yogurt
(2 g/protein, 37 calories)
2 heaping Tblsp. Flax seed, ground
(3 g/protein, 45 calories)
2 heaping Tblsp. Wheat germ
(4 g/protein, 55 calories)
3-4 kinds of fresh or frozen fruits (strawberries, blueberries, peaches, pears, raspberries, mango, cantaloupe)

Total 1558 calories (plus the calories from the fresh/frozen fruit)

2 weeks after chemo/radiation is completely over, we will add anti-oxidents back into his diet, and the shake will additionally include:
2 Tblsp. *Noni juice
2 Tblsp. *Acai juice
1 packet Emergen-C powder (vitamin C powder)
1 Tblsp. *Green Vibrance (powdered organic greens, grasses, concentrated superfood)

What to eat.
My husband is on a feeding tube and he puts 2 eggs nuked in a microwave for about 20 seconds. This kills all the bacteria and they are still soupy. This has given him a lot of energy that he would never have had otherwise. You may even want to try powder eggs that they use for frosting.

jackrabbit said:

Feeding tube recipe please!
I know this is quite an old thread, so I don't know if I'll get a reply, but I'm on a feeding tube right now and am desperatly wanting something healthier to put down it than Ensure. Please send me your recipe, it sound great. I don't like posting my email address on message boards, can you just post the recipe here?

Feeding Tube Recipes Homemade Feeding Tube Food
I've got recipes posted at Lucys Real Food website. Hope they help! Lucy


lucysrealfood

I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in early September 2009. A stent in the esophagus was recommended in order NOT to have to have a feeding tube. For some reason, the stent isn't working as usual. Anything that goes through the stent doesn't pass on to the stomach. The surgeon thinks that there isn't enough muscle movement because the stent is long and the tumor is as well. During chemo & radiation treatment nothing could stop the nausea so a stomach tube was put in place, but the nausea continued, so the stomach tube could no longer be used, and a "j" tube was put in. I am on a 24/7 feeding through the "j" tube. It leaks almost all the time & I've developed a yeast buildup for 5 weeks now that no one has been able to find anything to block the gastric juices from eroding the exterior skin around the opening. If anyone has any thoughts or tips, they would be appreciated.

I also still have problematic thick whitish mucos that has to be coughed up. That usually starts a vomiting attack. The Radiation oncologist said that that should be out of my system a month after finishing Radiation therapy--it's been 7 weeks now.

I am extremely interested in the recipe you developed to be able to use more natural nutrients for feeding. Thank you, and thanks for sharing your experience.

RosieNurse said:

Food for tube feedings
My sister was diagnosed with mouth cancer in Sept 09, had her PEG placed a few weeks later. The family all decided we did not want to use the commercial preparation as it is nothing but junk. There is very little help out there if you don't want to use commercial but we found a site and started playing around a lot on our own. She is very tiny to begin with and with all the problems she had she went down to 80 lbs. Her last rad was 12/22/09 and she did not have the 3rd and final chemo because we were all convinced it would have killed her at the time.
She has been doing her food her self for the last couple of months and has found quite a few things to get into the tube and is now up to 102 lbs. She is feeling well, which is a miracle because of how sick she was and how many bouts of C-Diff she went through.
People need to take charge of their own health.
If anyone is interested I will give you some ideas on what to do and where to find more info.

Tube feeding
Just wanted to say the site we found that was very helpful was Lucy's Real Food. I saw Lucy had a couple of posts earlier. This was very helpful when we were starting out but most especially when my sister had "protein deficient edema". She was carrying about 20 lbs of fluid from her waist to her toes and because it was not the regular type of edema they could not give her diuretics. As usual, we had to do the research ourselves and find out about this edema. I had never come across it in my nursing and wasn't familiar with it. To get rid of it we had to severely increase her protein intake. On Lucy's site we discovered how to "boil" chicken to grind it fine enough to put through a feeding tube. Making your own food for a tube is somewhat tricky, you don't want to clog the tube because they will not usually jump to unclog it for you and you could go 24 hrs or more without nutrition, which is very bad if you're already battling cancer. (Please don't let that discourage you because you are not getting adequate nutrition through the commercial preparations) PLEASE research healthy nutrition from some good alternative sites that will explain what you really need to get healthy.

pinedog said:

If you decide to get the tube, which I would strongly advise, then to use this recipe you need strong support to help prepare it. It's a lot of work but worth it. If after reading this you are still interested I can email the whole recipe.

To do this you need a juicer and a blender. Through the juicer goes kale, broccoli, cauliflower, parsley, celery, carrot, spinach, beet, apple, grapes. In the blender goes tofu, almond butter, avocado, banana, pure fruit juice, prune juice, milk, protein powder, olive oil, herring fish oil, chicken broth, multi vitamins and what's called Green Formula. This is well mixed and seived to make enough to supply three feeds a day for three days. This provides 2000 calories a day of well balanced nutrition with lots of energy and protein. It takes an hour or so to prepare which I suppose is a lot less time than preparing nine separate meals.

more specific directions
Hey there pinedog-

I know this is a really old post, but I've been looking for a recipe like the one you describe. My husband is 4 weeks into his 7 weeks of chemo with concurrent radiation for tongue cancer and he is just starting to use his feeding tube. I am supplementing his Jevity with juicer and blender drinks, but would love to be replacing the Jevity with something like you describe.
Could you possibly email me the recipe with amounts? Any more info on the Green Formula you used would be appreciated too.

Thanks so much,
Hope you are doing well,
Kathi

Could you email me the
Could you email me the recipe? My 2 1/2 year old son is gonna get a G-tube placed in a couple of days. I would really appreciate it. My email address is jcontant80@aol.com

skydog said:

hello
can someone please send me this recipe that Pinedog has, thank you very much.

clarkisafterdark@gmail.com

Pine dog's recipe?
Aloha, Did anyone ever get the recipe for Pine Dog's mix. We'd like it too for my Dad who got a feeding tube two weeks ago, and is finding the Jevity lacking. Thank you so much, Ikamalie

My email is
ikamalie@gmail.com

Desperately seeking your recipie...
My father was recently diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer... had SX about six months or so ago and now this and he's going into his fourth week of chemo and radiation in a 7 week program. He had a feeding tube inserted at the onset and has been able to eat until this past week. Lost 6 lbs in less than a week. Must start on tube now. Will attempt to take in fluids orally still but dietitian is concerned. I read your comments about your recipe and please ask that you send me a copy at your earliest convenience. I am in NC and he is in IN. I am traveling home at the end of this month to help my folks out for a short stint and would love to spend my time there making him meals this way in addition to his canned diet. My email address is sheila.blake@hotmail.com .

Thank you sooooo very much in advance.

I'm a workaholic normally and make my own dog food supplements weekly for a pack of 4 Great Danes so this should be a snap for me! Thankfully I enjoy that sort of thing.

Thanks again for any help you can give.