Garrett's House is dedicated to the support, advice, and education of a genetic skin condition called Epidermolysis Bullosa or EB for short. Currently there is no cure or effective treatment for EB. Please take a moment to learn about EB, and how you can support others who struggle with EB everyday. Garrett's House also honors the memory of those who lost their brave fight against EB. Please check out the Garden of Angel to learn more about the precious butterfly angels.

January 22, 2015

blended diets

Instead of the pre-made commercial formula, we choose to give Joey a blended diet.  A blended diet is when you take real food and blended up to the consistency of a smoothie.  We then feed like a set volume at every meal. 

Here is a basic guide I came up with that would be easy for someone new to the blended diet world to follow. 



The main ingredient we use is Kefir (it is a yogurt drink)

32oz
Kefir  (560 calories 44g protein)

Next I use one 16oz serving of a fruit and one 16oz serving of a veggie.  I mix and match each time depending on what is available at the store and/or on sale.  Here are the fruits and veggies we have tried.

16oz servings:

FRUITS
3 large apples diced (288 calories 16.2g fiber 1.6g protein)
2 mangos diced (214 calories 6g fiber 3% iron)
3 large pears diced (288 calories 15g fiber 6% iron)
3 large peaches diced (114 calories 5.5g fiber 3% iron)
3 large bananas chopped (315 calories 9g fiber 3g protein)
1 pint of Blue Berries (194 calories, 8.2g Fiber 2.52g protein, 5% Iron)

VEGGIES
1 large sweet potato diced (480 calories 6g fiber 3g protein)
1 bag baby carrots chopped (159 calories 6g fiber 3g protein)
2 bunches kale (68 calories 3.9g fiber 6.6g protein)
2 Avocados (454 calories 12.9 fiber 4.2g protein)
Green Beans, Peas, Mixed Veggies, Squash, Pumpkin (canned or fresh) are other options we have used but I don’t have the nutritional value for.

Try to stay away from fruits and veggies that are acidic as they can irritate those with acid reflux.



GRAINS- I recently started experimenting with using a grain...this is what I have tried thus far.  I don't use it every time though

1 1/3 cups cooked minute rice multi grain medley (brown rice, red rice, wild rice, quinoa)
320 calories 4g fiber 8g protein 16% zinc 8% iron



I blend the fruits, veggies and Kefir with 8oz prune juice (180 calories 3g fiber 4% iron 4% zinc)

Once this is all blended it makes about 72 oz of blended food.  I then divide it into five 16oz glass mason jars. I then add the following to EACH mason jar:

3 tablespoon Happy Bellies Organic Baby Oatmeal (60 calories 2g fiber 10% zinc 80% iron.)

1 tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil (120 calories)

1 tray (1.5oz) of Benecalorie (330 calories.)

Each container comes out to around 1300 calories each.  He gets 7-8oz servings 4 times a day depending on how much he each on his own by mouth.  I make his blended food about 3 times a week.  

In addition to the blended diet he also gets 7oz of 30cal/oz Elecare Jr. Formula and 120 cc of free water per day.


The doctor wants him between 1800-2000 calories a day when possible :)  He needs those calories for wound healing, energy (which he had a TON of) and to gain/grow.    

There are many blended diet recipes out there and this is just an example of what we use!  Yes this is a lot of work, but I think Joey is healthier because of it!


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