Mended Little Hearts Open Forum

 View Only
  • 1.  Blended Diet

    Posted 08-27-2017 11:50

    Hi Everyone,

    My daughter Raygen, 6 years old HLHS, is completely g-tube fed.  I currently make her blend everyday, but I wanted to go to a more plant based diet for her.  I know how important what we put in our body is and I want to make sure I give Raygen everything she needs to be as healthy as possible, but at the same time avoiding the things she don't.  I was just wondering if there were any other parents feeding their children on a whole food plant based diet and how their kids are responding to it? 

    Thanks,

    Erin Due



    ------------------------------
    Erin Due
    Onalaska WA
    (360) 978-6175
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Blended Diet

    Posted 08-28-2017 09:40
    Hi Erin, 

    I don't have any experience with whole plant based diet but I'm going to ask around my circle to see if I have any resources for you. I"m sure there are others that have experience and would be willing to share. Good luck!

    ------------------------------
    Andrea Baer
    Director of Patient Advocacy
    Mended Hearts/Mended Little Hearts
    Grapeville PA
    7243967820
    Director of Patient Advocacy
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Blended Diet

    Posted 08-29-2017 04:30
    Hi
    I personally do not have experience with this situation but I heard a guy talk about how to do it. He suffered from brain damage and he got tired of what was put in his peg tube. He changed over to a certain liquid diet that helped him recover from brain injury. It may have been plant based. Www.feedabrain.com. He's publishing a book.

    Hope this helps

    Nancy Leftwich
    Mom to Zeke, single ventricle etc
    Virginia




  • 4.  RE: Blended Diet

    Posted 08-29-2017 08:44
    Thank you so much.  Any help is appreciated.

    Erin

    ------------------------------
    Erin Due
    Onalaska WA
    (360) 978-6175
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Blended Diet

    Posted 08-29-2017 09:18
    Hi Erin, 

    I found this study (It's an easy read) from the American College of Cardiology. It has a lot of great information in it about healthy versus non healthy plant based diets. I thought you might be interested. It talks about the plant based diet and heart disease. I realize that our kids don't have the typical heart disease, but I think that heart healthy eating is beneficial, especially since the future risks are not fully known.


     Not all plant-based diets are created equal: Plant-based diets with high intake of sweets, refined grains may increase heart disease risk
    ScienceDaily remove preview
    Not all plant-based diets are created equal: Plant-based diets with high intake of sweets, refined grains may increase heart disease risk
    Plant-based diets are recommended to reduce the risk of heart disease; however, some plant-based diets are associated with a higher risk of heart disease, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. In prior studies of the impact of a plant-based diet, there were several limitations.
    View this on ScienceDaily >


    ------------------------------
    Andrea Baer
    Director of Patient Advocacy
    Mended Hearts/Mended Little Hearts
    Grapeville PA
    7243967820
    Director of Patient Advocacy
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Blended Diet

    Posted 08-30-2017 12:30
    Hi, Erin - 

    My son is only 2 and is no longer g-tube fed, but when he was we used a product called Nourish by Functional Formularies (http://www.functionalformularies.com/nourish-medical.html). He did great on it.  It's the only thing that I could get him to keep down and helped a lot with growth.  It can get a little pricey, but the company was very helpful in working with me and my insurance to find a home health care company to supply it for me.  It's definitely a plant based option worth checking out. 

    I have some left that we don't need any more if you'd like me to send some samples!