Blending Meals

 I know its been months and months since I have posted here as I do most my posting on fb.  

Last weekend it was blending time and I blended enough meals to get us through the holidays.  I have gotten so many questions and comments about blending over the years so I thought I would take a few pictures while prepping blends to hopefully help others understand a blended diet.  

Junior has a feeding tube but that doesn't change his need for nutritious food.  The only difference between he and everyone else is how that food gets into him.  He is unable to safely swallow food so this little tube allows us to give him the food he needs.  

I focus on giving him a well balanced diet, full of fruits, vegetables, some non gluten grains, as well as various proteins.  He has several allergies and intolerances but by making his food myself its easy to work around those.  

As you can see that tube is quite small so the food has to be blended and smooth to go through it.  We used a Blendtech blender for many years but now use a Vitamix to get his food to a consistency to easily go through his tube.  

So on to the meal prep process for his blends.  I typically start by preparing a chicken/turkey/beans/liver, etc in my instant pot.  I get both pots going as well as cooking things on the stove top.  I also prep the grains and vegetables as well as fruit.  

A few of the items being prepared this round. We do a mix of grain free pastas as well as some gluten free grains and sweet potatoes for his carbs. 

I prep the blends in 2 meals a day.  One is a breakfast type blend consisting of fruit, grains/cereal, and either eggs or yogurt for protein.  The second meal is a dinner type which consists of a meat, carb, and vegetables. To thin the food for blending I typically use nut milk or bone broth. 

I like to give him a good variety of foods.  These are the fruits I was adding to his blends this time.  One is a mix of melons, one is berries, and the other is tropical(pineapple, mango, papaya, banana).  I use fresh or frozen fruits depending on what's in season. 

Greek Yogurt in the strainers.  He does not tolerate regular dairy but does fine with homemade yogurt.  

Rice cereal

Buckwheat (both the rice and buckwheat have flax meal and chopped dried fruit added which is why they appear to have dark spots in them). 

One of the pressure cookers, this one had liver in it, then after that a chicken.  The other one was full of veggies then a turkey followed.  

One of his "breakfast" blends was pancakes.  I used a Birchbenders grain free mix then also added nut butter and pure maple syrup to his blend as well as turkey bacon, eggs, and fruit.  

After all the prep the blending starts. My blender holds 2 meals at a time and it takes 3-4 minutes.  

Junior's blender for his meals. 

I also pour his blends through a strainer.  Because he gets his blends via feeding pump it really helps to strain. 

My freezer door with just a few of the 100+ meals from this round(I only mark them with the protein in each meal). I really don't like using ziplock bags but jars take up much too much space.  I am slowly adding reusable silicone bags which are a better then plastic option but they are costly so its taking time to get enough.  

And just for fun, this is what he occasionally gets if we have been out all day and I haven't prepped a meal for him. Smoothie bowl from the local smoothie shop.  I quick run in the blender and its a perfect meal for him and I love them to.  

Of course can't have a post without a picture of Junior.  Here he is watching a baking competition. 

Heading home after lab work, he is happy to be done. 

Update

 Wow, I am soooo far behind and haven't posted here for months.  We have had some crazy weather so Junior has had lots of ups and downs with his asthma/health but is overall doing well.  

He had a really nice Christmas and as usual, loved everything about it.  He and Yonder did lots of Christmas painting and their favorite was this Grinchy one. 

Then there were Christmas stories, movies, lights, baking, and so many other fun things.  

Of course one must have new Christmas pajamas

Yonder trying to help aunty Mellisa with the gift wrapping

Balloons are an essential part of any holiday

Junior and I got the sweetest blessing when a JAF church shared some wonderful gifts with us.  

Yonder ready for a walk on a cold day

Lol the exhausted aftermath

In January Junior's room got a full makeover including replacing his dresser which was falling apart.  He decided it was time to change from the Grinch to a classic tv/movie theme.  

A few days before decorating his room I also set up his new projector which he got for Christmas.  He loves it soooo much and it is the perfect thing for him.  When he isn't feeling well or is really tired it can be hard for him to focus over at his tv.  Now he can watch his shows on the ceiling while just chilling and doesn't have any trouble focusing.  

Chilling with his talker and his ceiling tv. 

Poor guy was so sick of the bad weather and was very happy when he asked Alexa about the weather and was told it was a sunny day. 

Random pics from the last month or so

Waiting at a doctors appointment and listening to his audiobook

Time for labwork, definitely not a fun thing.

Such a blessing that he can now independently tell me exactly what he needs or wants. 

Yonder getting a special treat. 

These pics are out of order since they are from back in December but Junior is so pleased to share that his running/off road stroller arrived.  He had to head right out for a test run and it is so nice and easy to use even on rough terrain.  

Today we have had the crazy wind and rain move back in which means low energy for the dude.  He is chilling with his lights and audiobook.