Recipes for Tube Feeding: Holiday & Seasonal Edition
The holiday season is a perfect time to bring some seasonal warmth to tube feeding! Whether you’re looking to add variety or include your loved one in the season’s meals, these four holiday-inspired blends make mealtime feel special for everyone.
From cozy flavors to wholesome ingredients, these recipes are nutritious and easy to prepare.
Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
I love fall and have been making pumpkin baked goods and drinking pumpkin spice creamer since Labor Day, so creating a pumpkin-inspired tube feeding recipe was a must.
This pumpkin pie smoothie has been a favorite of families using BlendBuddy, especially because it can be used for tube feeding, or to eat by mouth!
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup 100% pure pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, plain, whole milk
- 1/2 banana
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp chopped pecans
- 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 cup whole milk or plant-based alternative
Directions:
- Prepare and measure out food and liquids as listed above.
- Add food and liquid to the blender and blend on high for ~2-3+ minutes, or until completely liquified and with no chunks.
- Using a standard blender may require straining, but be aware that this can lead to nutrient loss. Because of this, using a high-powered blender is recommended to completely liquify the food.
Nutrition:
- This recipe yields approximately 420 mL and 465 calories (1.1 calorie per mL), 20 grams fat, 15 grams protein and 55 grams net carbohydrate, 4 grams fiber.
Simple Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and for families with a child on tube feeds, holiday gatherings can sometimes bring added stress and highlight the medical challenges you face.
For one family, making the switch to real food completely changed their holiday experience—giving them back the joy of shared meals and making gatherings feel more inclusive.
Inspired by that spirit, this simple Thanksgiving dinner blend includes classic holiday flavors that everyone can enjoy.
Ingredients:
- 3 oz turkey breast, cooked
- 1/4 cup mashed potatoes
- 1/4 cup green bean casserole
- 1 small dinner roll
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 cup broth or water
Directions:
- Prepare and measure out food and liquids as listed above.
- Add food and liquid to the blender and blend on high for ~2-3+ minutes, or until completely liquified and with no chunks.
- Using a standard blender may require straining, but be aware that this can lead to nutrient loss. Because of this, using a high-powered blender is recommended to completely liquify the food.
Nutrition:
- This recipe yields approximately 480 mL mL and 535 calories (1.1 calorie per mL), 30 grams fat, 32 grams protein, 31 grams net carbohydrate, and 3 grams fiber.
Crockpot While Chicken Chili
Have you ever thought, why can’t I just blend some of this soup up for my child’s tube feeds? Well, you can!
But if you’re like most families I work with, throwing food into the blender and hoping for the best is not ideal. That’s why families appreciate having BlendBuddy, an app with hundreds of recipes with calorie concentration like formula.
This easy chili recipe can be made for the whole family and a portion of it used for a tube fed meal. Here is the high calorie version, coming out to 1.5 calorie per mL.
Ingredients:
- 2 chicken breasts (~1.5 pounds)
- 1 can fire roasted corn, undrained (14.5 oz)
- 1 can diced tomato, undrained (14.5 oz)
- 1 can black beans, drained (15 oz)
- 1 can diced green chilis, undrained (4 oz)
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 Tbsp cumin
- 1 Tbsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 oz cream cheese
(Extra ingredients for blended meal) - 2/3 cup whole milk
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
Directions:
To make the chili:
- Place chicken on bottom of crockpot, then add all other ingredients as listed above except cream cheese, milk and olive oil. Mix together.
- After mixing, place 1-8oz package light cream cheese on top and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours. Once cooked, take out the chicken and shred it, then add it back into the chili.
To make a blended meal for tube feeding:
- Add 2 cups chili + 2/3 cup milk + 2 Tbsp olive oil to the blender and blend on high for ~2-3+ minutes, or until completely liquified and with no chunks.
- Using a standard blender may require straining, but be aware that this can lead to nutrient loss. Because of this, using a high-powered blender is recommended to completely liquify the food.
Nutrition:
This recipe yields approximately 660 mL and 1020 calories (1.5 calorie per mL), 60 grams fat, 70 grams protein, 43 grams net carb, and 10.5 grams fiber.
Fall Harvest Bowl
One of my favorite things to make for my family is a hearty grain bowl. I love how it brings together so many flavors and ingredients in one dish. Plus, grain bowls are easy to meal prep, making them perfect for lunch on busy days!
This fall-inspired bowl combines the peppery bite of arugula, the sweetness of apple, warm cinnamon, and a creamy tahini-maple dressing, all layered over quinoa and blended with vegetable broth for a comforting seasonal meal.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup arugula
- 1/4 cup apple, chopped
- 1/3 cup quinoa, cooked
- 3 Tbsp tahini
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp cinnamon, ground
- 3/4 cup vegetable broth
Directions:
- Prepare and measure out food and liquids as listed above.
- Add food and liquid to the blender and blend on high for ~2-3+ minutes, or until completely liquified and with no chunks.
- Using a standard blender may require straining, but be aware that this can lead to nutrient loss. Because of this, using a high-powered blender is recommended to completely liquify the food.
Nutrition:
- This recipe yields approximately 360 mL and 425 calories (1.2 calorie per mL), 26 grams fat, 11 grams protein, 36 grams net carbohydrate, 8 grams fiber.
Nutrition is so much more than fueling our bodies. It’s a way we connect with others, share love, and take care of ourselves. And this is possible when blending real food for tube feeding.
If you’re looking for more tube feeding recipes, check out BlendBuddy, our new blended diet recipe and nutrition tracking app. Designed to give you flexibility and structure, so you can provide real food with confidence.
Happy Holidays,
Hilarie, RD, CSP
*Disclaimer: The information and education provided here is not intended or implied to supplement or replace professional medical advice. Always check with your own medical professional before trying to implement any information provided here
