What type of food goes in a feeding tube? A Comprehensive Guide

January 9, 2026 •

5 min read

Enteral nutrition, which involves feeding tubes, is often the standard of care for patients who cannot eat or swallow safely, or cannot consume enough nutrients orally. A clear understanding of what type of food goes in a feeding tube is essential for ensuring proper nutrition, preventing complications, and improving patient outcomes. This guide explores the different options available for enteral feeding, detailing the benefits and considerations of each.

Quick Summary

Feeding tube diets can include commercial formulas, specialized formulas, and blenderized foods. The specific choice depends on the patient's nutritional needs, medical condition, and digestive function. A dietitian provides guidance to determine the best regimen for each individual.

Key Points

Commercial formulas are standard: Pre-packaged, nutritionally complete liquids are the safest option, especially in clinical settings.
Blenderized diets are an alternative: Homemade or commercial blends of real food can be used but require careful preparation and approval from a dietitian.
Dietitian supervision is essential: A registered dietitian should tailor the feeding plan to the patient's specific nutritional needs and monitor for tolerance.
Prevent tube clogging: For blenderized diets, use a high-powered blender and strain the mixture to ensure a smooth consistency, and always flush the tube with water.
Practice strict food safety: When preparing homemade blends, follow rigorous hygiene protocols to prevent bacterial contamination.
Water flushes are critical: Regular flushing with water is necessary for both hydration and to prevent the feeding tube from clogging.
Never mix meds with formula: Administer medications individually, flushing with water between each dose to avoid interactions and blockages.

Commercial Enteral Formulas: The Standard of Care

For many patients, commercially prepared liquid formulas are the primary source of nutrition delivered via a feeding tube. These formulas are formulated by dietitians and medical professionals to be nutritionally complete, providing a balanced mix of calories, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. They are sterile, shelf-stable, and designed to flow smoothly through various feeding tubes.

Types of Commercial Formulas

Standard (Polymeric) Formulas: These are the most common formulas and are suitable for patients with normal digestive function. They contain intact proteins, carbohydrates, and fats that the body can readily digest. Many standard formulas are lactose-free. Examples include Fibersource® and Isosource®.
Elemental and Semi-Elemental Formulas: These are designed for individuals with compromised digestive systems or malabsorption issues. The proteins and other nutrients are broken down, or "hydrolyzed," into smaller, more easily absorbed components like peptides and amino acids. They are often lower in fat and rely on medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) for easier absorption. Examples include Peptamen® and Vivonex®.
Disease-Specific Formulas: Specialized formulas are available for patients with specific medical conditions such as kidney disease, diabetes, or liver failure. These formulas are modified to meet the unique metabolic needs of the patient, such as controlling electrolyte levels or adjusting protein and carbohydrate content. Examples include Glytrol® and Novasource® Renal.
Blenderized Formulas: These are commercially produced formulas made from real food ingredients, such as chicken, fruits, and vegetables, along with added nutrients. They provide a middle ground between standard formulas and homemade blends, offering the nutritional benefits of whole foods with the convenience and safety of a pre-packaged product. Compleat® is a well-known brand in this category.

Blenderized Tube Feeding (BTF)

Blenderized tube feeding (BTF) involves pureeing whole foods into a liquid mixture that can be administered through a feeding tube. This method is gaining popularity for its perceived health benefits, inclusion of 'real food', and potential for improved tolerance and gut health. BTF can be either commercially prepared or homemade, though homemade BTF requires more careful preparation and planning.

Homemade Blenderized Diets

Creating a homemade BTF requires careful planning and execution with a dietitian's supervision to ensure nutritional adequacy. A high-powered blender is essential for achieving a smooth, consistent texture that won't clog the tube. Ingredients might include:

Proteins: Cooked meats, beans, lentils, eggs, and yogurt.
Fruits and Vegetables: A wide variety of cooked fruits and vegetables, like sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, peaches, and bananas.
Grains: Cooked oatmeal, quinoa, or brown rice.
Healthy Fats: Oils such as canola, olive, and flaxseed.
Liquids: Water, milk, broth, or juice to achieve the desired consistency.

Critical Considerations for BTF

Food Safety: The risk of bacterial contamination is higher with homemade blends, so strict hygiene protocols are crucial. Proper cleaning of equipment and safe food handling are paramount. Homemade blends should not hang at room temperature for more than two hours.
Nutritional Adequacy: Ensuring a balanced and complete diet requires careful meal planning and possibly adding modular supplements under the guidance of a dietitian. Unsupervised BTF can lead to macro- or micronutrient deficiencies.
Tube Clogging: The viscosity of blended foods can increase the risk of tube blockage. It's often recommended to use larger bore tubes (14 French or larger) for BTF.

Liquids and Medications

In addition to nutritional formulas, other liquids and medications can be administered via a feeding tube. It is critical to consult a healthcare provider or pharmacist before administering anything other than prescribed formula or water.

Water: Water flushes are vital for hydration, maintaining tube patency, and proper medication administration. A typical flush involves using 30-60 mL of warm water before and after feedings or medications.
Medications: Liquid medications are preferred. If a pill must be used, it should be crushed and dissolved in water, never mixed directly with formula. Each medication should be administered separately, with a water flush in between.

Commercial Formulas vs. Blenderized Diets: A Comparison


Feature	Commercial Formulas	Blenderized Diets (Homemade)
Nutritional Composition	Standardized, balanced, and nutritionally complete.	Variable and depends on recipe; requires dietitian oversight to ensure adequacy.
Preparation	Minimal preparation; ready-to-use liquid from a can or bag.	Time-consuming; requires shopping, chopping, cooking, and blending.
Cost	Typically covered by insurance or Medicare with a prescription, though potentially expensive.	Ingredient costs, but not often covered by insurance. High-powered blender can be a significant initial investment.
Food Safety	Aseptically packaged with reduced risk of contamination.	Higher risk of bacterial contamination if not prepared and stored with strict hygiene.
Intolerance/Tolerance	Some patients experience digestive issues; different formulas available for sensitive systems.	Often better tolerated by patients experiencing symptoms like bloating, constipation, or diarrhea.
Clogging Risk	Low risk due to precise, smooth consistency.	Higher risk, requiring proper blending, straining, and a larger tube size.

Conclusion

Deciding what type of food goes in a feeding tube is a decision made in collaboration with a healthcare team, including a physician and a registered dietitian. For most patients, particularly those in a clinical setting, commercial enteral formulas are the safest and most reliable option, offering complete nutrition with minimal preparation. However, blenderized diets—either commercial or homemade—may be a suitable alternative for long-term feeding, especially for patients who experience intolerance to commercial formulas or desire a 'real food' diet. Regardless of the chosen method, adhering to proper food safety, hygiene, and administration protocols is critical for preventing complications and ensuring optimal health. All feedings should be regularly monitored to ensure the patient's nutritional needs are consistently met. For more information, the Oley Foundation is an excellent resource for home parenteral and enteral nutrition users.

Keypoints

Commercial Formulas: Ready-to-use formulas are the most common and safest option for delivering complete, balanced nutrition through a feeding tube.
Blenderized Diets: Whole foods can be pureed for feeding tube use, but require a high-powered blender, strict food safety, and dietitian supervision.
Personalization is Key: The right feeding tube diet depends on the patient's individual medical needs, tolerance, and digestive function, determined by a healthcare team.
Safety First: The risk of bacterial contamination and tube clogging is higher with homemade blends, emphasizing the importance of proper hygiene and technique.
Don't Forget Water: Regular water flushes are essential for hydration and maintaining the cleanliness and function of the feeding tube.
Medication Protocols: Medications should be administered individually, flushed with water, and never mixed with formula to prevent tube blockages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, regular food can be pureed and put in a feeding tube, a practice known as a blenderized tube feeding (BTF). This should only be done under the supervision of a healthcare team, particularly a dietitian, to ensure nutritional balance and proper preparation to avoid clogging or contamination.

Standard formulas are used for patients with normal digestion and contain intact proteins and other nutrients. Elemental formulas, on the other hand, are for those with impaired digestive systems and contain nutrients already broken down into smaller components, making them easier to absorb.

Making your own formula at home is possible but comes with risks, including nutritional imbalance and bacterial contamination, if not done correctly. You must work closely with a dietitian to develop a safe, balanced recipe and follow strict food hygiene practices.

To prevent clogging, always flush the tube with the prescribed amount of warm water before and after every feeding and medication dose. Ensure homemade blends are smooth and well-strained, and consider a larger tube size if using blenderized diets.

Many medications can be given through a feeding tube, often in liquid form. Crushed pills must be dissolved thoroughly in water. Never mix medication with formula, and flush the tube with water between each medication.

Common issues include digestive problems like diarrhea, constipation, and bloating. Other problems can be a clogged tube, risk of infection from contamination, or refeeding syndrome if feeding is not introduced cautiously.

As long as there are no swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) or medical contraindications, a person can often still eat by mouth while using a feeding tube. This depends on their medical condition, and a healthcare provider will advise when it's safe.