Supplement Your Tube Feeding by Adding Nutrients to Your Diet Shake

If you have a feeding tube, you want to take every measure possible to make sure that you get the proper nutrition whenever you can. If you are given nutrition shakes such as Ensure or Glucerna (for people with Diabetes), there are things you can add to your shake to add extra nutrition. This is always helpful, whether you're trying to gain weight or wanting to put every effort into getting the most out of your tube feeding.

When you have a feeding tube, it is important to keep up with how many cans of shakes you take per day to make sure you are getting all the calories and nutrients that you need because you do not rely on ingesting solid food. Listen to your Doctor and be sure to take as many cans a day every day as he/she tells you. You can get all that you need from these shakes, but alot of people prefer to add something extra. This could be for a multitude of different reasons. Different people have different reasons for wanting to do so.

Some examples of reasons to add to your shakes would be:
- to gain weight
- to add extra calories
- to aid in recovery from illness
- for extra nutrition
- to add variety to a liquid diet

These are 2 things that you can add to your liquid meals...
1. Stage 1 baby food such as carrots and peas. These are packed with vitamins and minerals because it's all natural. They have no clumps and are a cinch to mix with your shake. This will add around 25-30 calories for about 2.5 oz of baby food. I would recommend Gerber's Naturelock products for this as there is no sodium and extra additives.
2.Baby Cereal - This dry flake cereal comes in a plastic wrapped box. You will want to sprinkle small amounts at a time while stirring vigorously to eliminate lumps. This will add around 60 calories per 1/4 cup of dry cereal.
NOTE: Mixed Grain and Rice Cereal seem to be less likely to clump.

These are great ways to regularly incorporate extra calories without making yourself feel too full. You can adjust the amounts you add as you go. You may want to start out adding small amounts like a tablespoon of baby food or 1/8 cup of dry baby cereal. By doing this, you can build yourself up to take more at a time and not feel so full. Just add extra when you feel like you're ready to take more.

If you feel funny about taking baby food... you shouldn't. Baby food is the same as adults would eat, just in a thinner form. Most are healthier than what adults would eat. Take for example Gerber's Naturelock 1st Foods Carrots - Ingredients: Carrots, Water.

After all, it's good enough to start your life out on, so it's good enough to help you maintain it.

**Be sure to take your total prescribed cans per day. These suggestions are to supplement NOT replace.