Making Multiple Meals


(Makes 2-3 servings, about 300-350 calories each. Blend thoroughly between each ingredient; strain through fine mesh food strainer before feeding.)

  •  2 handfuls leafy greens. Rinse, chop, and toss a couple of handfuls of leafy greens into your empty blender jar, so it is at least 2/3 full. Use a variety of greens, such as spinach, kale, Swiss chard, radish and beet seedlings, red leaf lettuce, and romaine lettuce. Avoid iceberg lettuce, which has less nutritional value than other greens.
  • 1 cup liquid. If you made dinner in the slow-cooker, scoop out a cup or so of the liquid and add it to the greens. Otherwise, use nutrition-packed liquid such as tomato juice, chicken or vegetable broth, coconut milk, or plain yogurt. Because of my daughter’s dietary restrictions, I make my own yogurt, and avoid using milk and soy milk. But, these might be options for you.  Blend well. You will notice that the greens add very little volume to the liquid measurement of your meal.
  • 2 Tablespoons oil. My daughter’s high muscle tone and metabolism, combined with her intolerance for large quantities of food at one time, mean that I have to pack as many calories into 1 ½ cups of g-tube food as possible. At 120 calories per Tablespoon, high-quality oil is the easiest, lowest-bulk way to increase those calories. So, I include olive oil, coconut oil, walnut oil, or chopped avocado in every meal. 
  • 1 heaping cup cruciferous veggies. If you made dinner in the slow-cooker, scoop out a heaping cup of stew, with as many vegetables as possible. Otherwise, try to include a cup of cruciferous veggies (that’s veggies with lots of sulpher-based chemicals, like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, asparagus, radishes, bok choy, and brussel sprouts) in every g-tube meal. These veggies contain properties that help fight off cancer, maintain liver function, and aid digestion. Blend well. Depending on the moisture content and density of the veggies, you may need to add a Tablespoon or two of liquid to the mix.  
  • 1 heaping cup colorful veggies.  If you made dinner in the slow-cooker, simply scoop out another heaping cup of stew, containing mostly vegetables. Otherwise, try to include a cup of colorful veggies (like carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, beets, tomatoes, red and yellow peppers) in every g-tube meal. These veggies contain beta-carotene and other powerful antioxidants that improve mood, and strengthen the immune system.  Blend well. Depending on the moisture content and density of the veggies, you may need to add a Tablespoon or two of liquid to the mix. 
  • 1 heaping cup protein. If you made dinner in the slow-cooker, simply scoop out a heaping cup of stew, containing mostly shredded protein (meat, chicken, lentils, beans). Otherwise, try poaching or steaming, then chopping or shredding meats or salmon. Or, use scrambled eggs, 2 per serving (that’s 6 eggs for the basic meal mixture). Protein at every meal helps heal and build muscle, ward off fatigue, and balance body systems.  Blend well. Depending on the moisture content and density of the protein, you may need to add a Tablespoon or two of liquid to the mix.

After thoroughly blending all ingredients, place your fine mesh food strainer over a 6-8 cup measuring bowl and pour in some food.  Tap the strainer against the top of the bowl to strain the food; do not use a spatula or the back of a spoon to push the food through, or you might force food particles too large for the g-tube through the strainer.

Empty and rinse the strainer between each batch of food. If you live on an acreage, like we do, collect the “tapped out” bits of food in a bowl to serve to the barn cats. They’ll love your g-tube meals as much as the rest of your family!