Why Aren’t We Talking More About Blended Meals in Adult Tube Feeding?

Why Aren’t We Talking More About Blended Meals in Adult Tube Feeding?

For decades, adult tube feeding has been largely dominated by standard commercial formulas, convenient, regulated, and clinically backed. But a quiet shift is happening.

More adults (and their caregivers) are exploring blended diets, meals made from real, whole foods prepared for use through a feeding tube. While the practice is common and well-supported in paediatrics, it’s still underused, and often misunderstood, in adult care.

So what’s holding us back?

What the Research Says

Recent studies are starting to shine a light on the potential benefits of blended diets for adults:

• Improved GI symptoms such as reflux, constipation, and vomiting
• Greater patient satisfaction and emotional wellbeing
• Lower incidence of diarrhoea and improved stool consistency
• Closer alignment with personal and cultural food preferences

A 2020 study published in Nutrition in Clinical Practice found that adults who received even partial blended diets reported higher satisfaction and fewer gastrointestinal complaints than those exclusively on commercial formula.

Another study in Frontline Gastroenterology (2022) concluded that blended diets may offer better microbiome diversity, which we now understand is critical to immune and digestive health.

Where the Gaps Are

While early findings are encouraging, there’s still a long way to go:

• More large-scale studies are needed, particularly in long-term adult care settings.
• Nutritional adequacy remains a concern without formal support or monitoring.
• There is little consensus on best practices for preparing, storing, and delivering safe home blends.
• Inclusion in policy and official guidelines is still patchy, many adults simply aren’t offered this option.

Why It Matters

Tube-fed adults deserve the same dignity, variety, and choice as anyone else. Real food is about more than just calories, it's about identity, joy, and connection.

As we increasingly prioritise personalised care and better quality of life in health systems, blended diets need to be on the table, literally.