What piqued your interest in blenderised tube feeding ( BTF )?
After venturing into community dietetics two years ago to work with people who are home tube fed , I quickly realised I was going to have to learn all about BTF – and even be an advocate for it . Within the first two months of my website going live , someone with cancer and a feeding tube contacted me for a vegan-friendly , nutritionally adequate BTF . I felt like a new graduate all over again after working in the acute setting for 10 years , so I approached Claire Kariya , a Canadian dietitian and expert in blenderised tube feeding , to be my mentor .
Food is a love language , it defines cultures , it ’ s a part of all our social interactions . Tube food is no different .
Is BTF for everyone ?
I want to make it very clear that I don ’ t think BTF is better than commercial formula , and I don ’ t think commercial formula is better than BTF . Commercial formulas were my bread and butter when I was a clinical dietitian in critical care and surgical wards , but people living at home on a feeding tube want to sit at the dinner table with the rest of the family and blend dinner down their tube , and there is nothing wrong with that . Common reasons for BTF are :
• It is more natural
• People like eating what their family eats
• It is better tolerated
© Dietitian Connection 27 Infuse | October 2022