what would it be? My daughter has had a feeding tube for about one year. She eats some by mouth, but not enough to sustain her. She has always had challenges eating because of her special needs (very similar to cerebral palsy)
Anyway, as long as it's puree' able (new word) I can put about anything through her tube. What we feed her now is Pediasure, about 3 to 5 cans a day, depending on what she eats by mouth. And we give her lots of water. I have just felt that as much as I hate that she needs the tube, I also have an opportunity here. I love that I can give her so much water. But I'm wondering if there is something more natural or "healthful" that I should be trying, than the Pediasure.
Thanks

I personally think pediasure is great! I am so sorry she has to have the tube but, you are looking at it in such a wonderful way! I will be praying for the both of you!!

Cooked carrots and peas? Banana mixed w/avocado tastes great and provides nutrients, including healthy, brain-developing fat. HTH :)

I know it's expensive, but enfamil makes a formula "pregestimil". I'm not sure how old your daughter is, she may be too old for that. Just a thought.

Cooked carrots and peas? Banana mixed w/avocado tastes great and provides nutrients, including healthy, brain-developing fat. HTH :)

I agree - there are lots of fresh fruits that can be mixed with veggies or meats and pureed to make yummy healthy soft food for a variety of tastes just to give dd nutrients in a different way and expose her to different tastes. Before he could eat solids, my son used to love apples mixed with boiled chicken breast with a dash of cinnamon all blended up - he'd eat almost any meat or veggie as long as it was mixed with apples or sweet potatoes.

There is this website http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/. I know your child is not an infant, but they have lots of recipies for healthy pureed foods you might be able to try with the tube.

Thanks Ladies,
My daughter is 7 and my prayer is that the tube is temporary! I just worry about her eating the same Pediasure everyday. I would feel better with some variations. Maybe we could do fruits and veggies for one week (that I puree on the weekends) then Pediasure the next week. I just wonder is there are some "super health foods" out there that I'm missing. Maybe sea weed :lol: I'm from KY so I was raised on Fried Chicken and cornbread(the stereotype fits, but I do have all my teeth TYVM) so I'm not real sure about what health foods are out there that we could be trying. I'm wondering if she needs some omega 3? Her Pediasure actually has vitamins and minerals that I've never even heard of. Are you all getting your daily requirement of Taurine? Pantothenic Acid? How about Molybdenum? Those are minerals listed in Pediasure.

I have heard about taurine before, but not the other 2 before now. I googled one and according to this site pantotheic acid is vitamin B5:
http://www.anyvitamins.com/vitamin-info.htm#vitamins

They have a little info on each of the vitamins you mentioned. I've given ds Pediasure before when he's gone thru periods where he wouldn't eat anything.

hmmm

well, I ditto the pureed fruits/veggies idea
what about even V8 juice and the like ?

I really don't know since it's for nutritional purposes only, she isn't tasting any of it. No 'sense' in fixing up a smoothie KWIM?

My MIL has a foster daughter, has had her almost since birth I believe, now early 20s or thereabouts ?? Anyway, she has severe CP and has always had a feeding tube. She's only given her pediasure, so, I just don't have any other experience or thoughts to give.

I, too, will pray this is only temporary for your daughter :)

Well.. if I could feed my kids anything these are some things that would be on the top of my list... wild caught salmon (sockeye), garlic, tomato, avacado, berries, spinach. There are a lot of really healthy foods but those are some that come to mind right away. Pretty much any fruit or vegetable has its benefits. I think its good to incorporate read meats in your diet too.. preferably beef raised without growth hormones and antibiotics. We try to eat as much organic as we can and we never eat anything artificial!

You are right Tara, she doesn't taste it so I could give her anything! I could make a garlic, fresh berry olive oil, soy bean smoothie and she wouldn't mind. Her burps would be quite potent.[whatblah] I'm going to read the V8 label and see what it includes. That would be easy because I wouldn't have to puree. The Pediasure is definately the easiest and it's a complete meal. I just can't help but think she needs some variety. No one should eat the same food every single day should they?

Oh my hehehe had to chuckle at the burp comment

I totally see what you're saying...I have no answer for ya...but I share the same line of thought - certainly one shouldn't eat the same thing day after day - it just doesn't seem 'right'. Even if it *is* nutritionally complete.

I'll be giving this one some more thought. You have me intrigued now. I do like the idea of more red meat though. The Pediasure may very well be 'lacking' in the protein department. Am I thinking correctly here? That that sort of supplement is focused a bit more towards carbs ie. weight gain ? I mean, yes, it says 'complete meal' or whatever, but, I don't know, I guess I'm just questioning complete to whose standards ? KWIM?

I dunno. You just have me thinking now ;) Maybe I'll try some searching, if I come up with anything I'll let ya know

just a thought, when you do start to introduce new foods you should start little bit by little bit, her system is used to only digesting the pediasure which I am sure is pretty easy to digest you could shock her system with red meat or even V8, with out a gradual increase, like maybe 5 cc to start out with (you might want to talk to her MD) just a thought...also just a little trick, you probably already know this, but if and when you start this if her tube gets cloged (if it doesn't sometimes already) and it is hard to get the formual down coke helps eat the stickies that are clogging the tube. Hope that helps, and good luck on the change of diet.

I am so sorry she has to suffer like this.

When my little one was on the "purè stage" I would cook up various vegetables, meat, chicken and purify them. I would freeze them in a ice tray, and then put all the "ice" blocks in a bag - a bag for chicken, a bag for mince, a bag for carrots, a bag for potato, a bag for peas etc..
Then i would take out as many "ice blocks" i would think she would eat for the day. (but she was under a year or so then..)

You could always do that in bigger quantities.
How about soup. a lovely butternut soup.
I have a lovley Brocoli, bacon & fetta soup. (my husband who HATES brocoli in CAPITAL LETTERS - LOVES this soup and will eat 3 bowls! )
or even a pizza soup. - Yip. he had an operation and for 6 weeks could not put anything solid down. everything had to be purified. and we love pizza. so we took all the pizza toppings, added lots of cheese source, and make a delicious soup out of it. :)
let me know if you would like the recipe.
At least it is something taste - and you getting in a variety of food in.

All the best.
I will be praying for her (and you! )