Meal Replacement Shakes (enteral nutrition / semi enteral nutrition)

I've been thinking about how to give my husband enough calories and all the essential nutrients when he doesn't want to eat a lot. In the past he used to be able to drink Ensure, but now Ensure just gives him a heck of a lot of gas (probably because it has way too much sugar). Also, he doesn't do well with any artificial sweeteners (splenda, aspertame, asulfame pottasium, etc).

Anything with sugar gives him gas, and it is very uncomfortable, not to mention horribly smelly. I checked out modulen, peptamen, Nutren, Ensure, Boost, Glucerna, vivonex, and a few others I can't remember and they all either have a lot of sugar, or artificial sweeteners.

The only one that was reasonable seems to be absorb plus, but gosh, is it mighty expensive compared to the other options. So, I've sort of come to the conclusion that I'm going to have to make my own shakes.

Can you folks who've tried this give me some recipes for a very low sugar, no artificial sweeteners, no lactose, no nut milk, and low residue shake recipes or suggestions for ingredients? (Can I add any more restrictions - gee!). It doesn't matter how it tastes - I'll just have him gulp it down every now and then, and then work on the taste as I get going with more experience.

Thanks so much for the help! I'd really appreciate all your input. And if you know a good meal replacement shake that doesn't have a ton of sugar or artificial sweeteners, let me know as well.

Thanks!
PV

I looked into Absorb Plus once and weeped gently for my sins when I saw the prices.

No. No, just no. It does look like a good, genuine product, but you would have to practically be a millionaire to use Absorb Plus as your only source of nourishment for an enteral nutrition diet.

Could you not just give your husband a multi-vitamin pill each day? I have a feeling that combining all the macro and micro nutrients in one drink isn't going to be a simple task. Also, this is probably a useless idea, but wondering if looking for recipes on a body building forum would work. They're all health nuts, so tend to avoid adding things like sugar, but also want to gain so they add calorific stuff like peanut butter (can get it w/o added sugar).

Like this:

forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=120595

Obviously, recipes can be tailored as required.

Ivy:

He's been feeling poorly for the past month. He isn't malnourished, he is tolerating some solid foods by mouth, but he never hungry and pecks at his food. He's lost a few pounds (his buffer), and I think we should try to prevent losing more weight - which would end up with him starting to be malnourished.

He takes multivitamins and other vitamins every day. I'm more concerned about getting more calories into him (without sugar or sugar substitutes - he does poorly on those), to try to maintain his weight as is at least. Also, he's fatigued, and tired, and I think it's because he's not getting enough calories into him.

That's why I need help with some simple meal replacement shakes to get him enough calories in a few gulps.

Thanks!
PV

You may wish to consider making SCD yogurt with half and half. It has no sugar and tastes great and is very high in calories. To this you might add vanilla, or even some bananas, or other cooked fruit. It can also be used as the base for smoothies if it would be easier for digestion.

Take care

Dave

hey pv. do you ever try kefir? I use it everyday, I couldn't drink ensure at all, big gas, and bloating. I use kefir and orange juice mixed with papaya, and blueberries, when I make shakes, I can't drink them very often, shakes really bloat me, so I have to wake up in morn. and eliminate, have totally empty stomach, then I can drink shake, can't eat and drink shake, either or type deal. have you guys tried the papyas yet? I felt the difference in gas smell by the next day, with only eating maybe 2oz slice, try it, but being in boston area I don't know how available they are, they're plentiful here in san diego, coming in from mexico. good luck