Could You Eat a Grasshopper?
The Grasshopper Story, by Marsha Dunn Klein, MEd, OTR/L
Some children are very adventuresome in trying new foods; others are not. Children “check out” new foods in different ways. More cautious children may first watch us eating the foods, may pick it up and drop it on the floor or feed the dog. They may squish it between their fingers or put it in their mouth and spit it out. To get to a personal comfort level with new flavors and textures, children follow their own individualized exploration techniques. They are much more willing to try new things if they are allowed to explore at their own pace.
Have you told this story to families you know or work with? If you help support Nourish and would like grasshopper magnets, please visit our page about how you can help.
What We're Reading
Anxious Eaters Anxious Mealtimes
Many children demonstrate anxiousness around mealtimes and their anxiousness can create a challenge for the WHOLE family. Some of these children have diagnosed or undiagnosed anxiety issues, some may be diagnosed with autism or on the autism spectrum. Others may have been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) or food neophobia. Still others have no actual diagnosis, but are rigid about their meals, anxious about change in foods or presentation.
by Marsha Dunn Klein, MEd.OTR/L
Anxious Eaters Anxious Mealtimes
Homemade Blended Formula Handbook by Marsha Dunn Klein and Suzanne Evans Morris
For sale on Amazon - Click Here
My Tubey Books
www.mytubeybooks.com
RECOMMENDED LINKS
Mealtime Connections, LLC
Mealtime Connections, LLC brings together a group of therapy professionals who are passionate about understanding and treating infants and young children with developmental delays and feeding difficulties. We specialize in working with families and children with complicated medical and feeding concerns which may be related to diagnoses such as cerebral palsy, autism, prematurity, genetic disorders, Down syndrome, and general developmental delays. We also provide comprehensive treatment for medically based challenges such as oral aversion, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, swallowing difficulties, gastrointestinal concerns, and G-tube transitions. We are located in Tucson, Arizona.
www.mealtimeconnections.com
Milk & Honey
Milk and Honey brings together unique and overlapping skill sets to provide families with optimal breastfeeding support and education, while nurturing the mom, baby and family as a whole.
www.milkandhoneytucson.com
Get Permission Institute
The Get Permission Approach is a responsive, sensitive, and supportive approach to feeding. Get Permission strategies lovingly support children and their families. The Get Permission Approach will enable you to view children and families holistically and collaborate with caregivers to create positive change at mealtimes. Offering classes for professionals and parents.
www.getpermissioninstitute.com
You Start With a Tube
Blenderized diet, tube feeding and related stuff. For everyone who might want to know more
www.youstartwithatube.blogspot.com
Tummy Tunnels
Check out the iron on patch that provides access to G-tubes without damage to clothing.
www.tummytunnels.com
New Visions
New Visions provides continuing education and therapy services to professionals and parents working with infants and children with feeding, swallowing, oral-motor, and pre-speech problems.
by Suzanne Evans Morris, PhD
www.new-vis.com
Kozie Clothes
Kozie Clothes produces special clothing for special children increasing the sense of ease for caretakers and offering comfort and adorable styles for children. The clothing is designed specifically to promote dignity and independence for children with special needs…
www.kozieclothes.com
Tubie Friends
Taking the fear out of feeding tubes, one friend at a time…
www.tubiefriends.com
The Oley Foundation
Tube feeding consumer support.
www.oley.org
RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
Blenderized Tube Feeding Clinical Perspectives on Homemade Tube Feeding
Homemade tube feeding (HMTF) is food liquefied in a blender and bolus fed through a gastrostomy tube (g-tube) as an alternative to commercial formula.
Submitted by Melissa J Mortensen, RD, CD Graduate Student, University of Washington Nutritional Science Program. Published in PNPG Post, Fall 2006, Vol. 17, Number 1
Blenderized Tube Feeding Clinical Perspectives on Homemade Tube Feeding
Homemade Blended Formula
Many families who nourish their children by feeding tube are asking if they can put “real “ food into the tube. Can they make homemade food to use with or instead of the commercial formula? These families want to nurture their tube fed children with meals just like their orally fed children. Many parents are providing some type of homemade formula successfully by tube every day.
by Marsha Dunn Klein, MEd, OTR/L, Ellen Duperret, RD and Jude Trautlein, RD. (Reprinted with permission from Exceptional Parent Magazine Vol. 36 Issue 2)
Homemade Blended Formula
Homemade Blended Formula Handbook – Introduction
Many families who are providing tube feedings for their children have asked,“Why can’t I feed this child the nutrition I feed my other children?”
by Marsha Dunn Klein, MEd, OTR/L and Suzanne Evans Morris, PhD, CCC-SLP
Homemade Blended Formula Handbook – Introduction
Homemade Blended Tube Feeding
By Ellen Duperret, RD, Jude Trautlein, RD and Marsha Dunn Klein MEd, OTR/L, Published in Nutrition Focus Newsletter, September/October 2004 Volume 19 #5. Click on the link to order your copy.
http://depts.washington.edu/chdd/ucedd/ctu_5/nutritionnews_5.html
Homemade Tube Feeding Formula…Two Dietitians’ Perspective
Ellen Duperret, R.D. and Jude Trautlein, R.D. are pediatric dietitians currently practicing in Tucson, Arizona. Here are their thoughts on homemade tube feeding formulas.
by Ellen Duperret, RD and Jude Trautlein, RD
Homemade Tube Feeding Formula Two Dietitians’ Perspective
Make Your Own Food for Tube Feeding
By Roslyn Dahl, Oley Foundation
www.oley.org/lifeline/TubetalkSO07.html
Why Seek the Help of a Registered Dietitian When Using Homemade Blended Formula?
Families who are using homemade blended formula (HBF) for their g-tube fed children are reporting exciting successes. I have personally seen improvements in volume tolerance, bowel health and most importantly in growth, development and weight gain when children use HBF.
by Jude Trautlein, RD
Why Seek the Help of a Registered Dietitian When Using Homemade Blended Formula?
Children with Feeding Tubes
by Suzanne Evans Morris, PhD
Children with Feeding Tubes
Tube Feeding Terminology
The words we use reflect our attitudes. The terminology used in tube transitions is very important. Let us think about the words we use when we offer tube feedings to children…
by Marsha Dunn Klein, MEd.OTR/L
Tube Feeding Terminology
Tube Feeding Transition Plateaus
The journey children make from tube feeding to oral feeding is personal for each child and family. However, there are some predictable plateaus that children reach in this transition. Understanding the transition plateaus and the reasons children spend time on them can help professionals to better support parents and children in the process…
by Marsha Dunn Klein, MEd.OTR/L
Tube Feeding Transition Plateaus
Turn Those Tube Feedings into Mealtimes!
Tube feedings are used to nourish children who are otherwise unable to take in enough calories to grow. When tubes are first placed, many families describe feeling overwhelmed. There is a whole new language and new equipment, none of which parents really wanted to learn. And then there is the responsibility of feeding their child through the tube. In the worry about “getting it right,” the tube feeding can easily turn into another procedure to follow, like taking a temperature or giving medicine. Instead of being a meal, the tube feeding becomes a dose!…
by Marsha Dunn Klein, MEd.OTR/L
Turn Those Tube Feedings into Mealtimes!