30/08/2026
BLENDERIZED FOOD / TUBE FEEDING
Do’s and Don’ts for Safe Feeding
✅ DO’S
1. Choose a variety of nutritious foods
Include foods from different food groups:
🍚 Carbohydrates
* Rice/lugaw
* Potato
* Sweet potato
* Squash
🍗 Protein-rich foods
* Chicken
* Fish
* Lean pork or beef
* Well-cooked egg
* Tofu
🥬 Vegetables
* Carrot
* Squash
* Sayote
* Broccoli
🍌 Fruits
* Banana
* Papaya
* Mango
* Avocado
* Pear
* Cooked/softened apple
🫒 Healthy fats
* Canola oil
* Vegetable oil
* Olive oil
* Avocado
2. Cook foods thoroughly
* Cook meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables until soft and thoroughly cooked.
* Remove bones, skin, seeds, and tough or fibrous portions before blending.
3. Blend food until completely smooth
* Blend thoroughly with the prescribed amount of water or other appropriate liquid.
* The consistency should be smooth enough to pass through the feeding tube.
* Strain only when necessary and according to the nutrition plan, since excessive straining can reduce nutrient and calorie content.
4. Follow the prescribed feeding plan
Follow the recommended:
* Calories
* Protein
* Amount per feeding
* Feeding frequency
* Fluid and water requirements
5. Practice proper food hygiene
* Wash hands before preparing and handling feeds.
* Use clean utensils, blender, and feeding equipment.
* Use safe drinking water.
* Prepare feeds in a clean area.
* Refrigerate prepared feeds promptly if not used immediately.
* Follow recommended storage and discard times.
6. Flush the feeding tube as instructed
* Flush the tube with the prescribed amount of water before and after feeding and medications.
* This helps maintain tube patency and reduce the risk of clogging.
⸻
❌ DON’TS
Avoid foods that may clog the feeding tube
* Whole nuts and seeds
* Corn kernels
* Coconut meat
* Fruit seeds and skins
* Tough vegetable stems
* Stringy or fibrous vegetables
* Food containing bones or cartilage
* Coarse grains or unblended cereals
Avoid foods that are difficult to blend
* Tough or dry meat
* Very fibrous vegetables
* Sticky foods in large amounts
* Very thick mixtures without adequate dilution
Avoid unsafe foods
* Raw or undercooked eggs
* Raw or undercooked meat and fish
* Spoiled food
* Food kept at room temperature beyond recommended safe limits
* Alcohol
❌ DO NOT
* Do not put large or unblended food particles into the feeding tube.
* Do not force the feed if the tube is blocked.
* Do not add medications directly to the blenderized food unless specifically instructed.
* Do not change the prescribed feeding volume or concentration without consulting the healthcare team.
* Do not use blenderized feeding without appropriate assessment when the patient has significant gastrointestinal, renal, metabolic, or fluid restrictions.
⸻
⚠️ WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE
Inform the healthcare team if the patient develops:
* Persistent vomiting
* Abdominal distension or severe abdominal pain
* Persistent diarrhea
* Severe constipation
* Coughing or choking during feeding
* Difficulty breathing
* Repeated feeding tube blockage
* Signs of dehydration
Important: Blenderized tube feeding should be individualized according to the patient’s medical condition, feeding tube type, nutritional requirements, and tolerance. A registered dietitian/medical nutrition professional should guide the formulation whenever possible.
References
1. Boullata JI, Carrera AL, Harvey L, et al. ASPEN Safe Practices for Enteral Nutrition Therapy. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. 2017;41(1):15–103.
2. Bischoff SC, Austin P, Boeykens K, et al. ESPEN practical guideline: Home enteral nutrition. Clinical Nutrition. 2022;41(2):468–488.
3. O’Keefe SJD. A guide to enteral feeding in the intensive care unit. Clinical Nutrition. 2009;28(6):643–649.
4. World Health Organization. Five Keys to Safer Food Manual. WHO; 2006.
5. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Nutrition Care Manual: Enteral Nutrition and Home Tube Feeding.
