Blended diet (BD), also known as blended food for enteral feeding, has become increasingly accepted as an alternative to commercial enteral formula for patients requiring long-term tube feeding. BD consists of ordinary foods that are cooked, blended with fluids to an appropriate consistency and administered through a feeding tube. These may be homemade, commercial real food blended formulas or combination regimens using both homemade and commercial formulas and blended.

  1. British Dietetic Association (2021). Practice Toolkit: The Use of Blended Diet with Enteral Feeding Tubes. https://www.bda.uk.com/static/33331d33-21d4-47a5-bbb79142980766a7/FINAL-Practice-Toolkit-The-Use-of-Blended-Diet-with-Enteral-Feeding-Tubes-NOV-2021.pdf
  2. Peers E, Boocock RC & Burn N (2022). A systematic review examining the impact of blended diets on the gastrointestinal symptoms of people who are enterally fed. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13090
  3. McCormack S, Patel K & Smith C (2023). Blended diet for enteral tube feeding in young people: A systematic review of the benefits and complications. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13143
  4. Joosten K & Niseteo T (2024). Better understanding of use of blended diets and its benefits. Evidence-Based Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1136/ebnurs-2023-103859
  5. Fifi AC, Gardner C & Palorath A (2026). Nutritional Adequacy of Commercially Available Blenderised Tube Feeds in Pediatric Patients. Clinical Pediatrics, 65(2), 158–168. https://doi.org/10.1177/00099228251346040
  6. Breik L, Barker L, Bauer J & Davidson ZE (2024). The effect of blended tube feeding compared to conventional formula on clinical outcomes in adults: A systematic review. Nutrition & Dietetics. https://doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12912
  7. O’Connor G, Cleghorn S, Salam M & Watson K (2025). Exploring Dietitians’ Experience of Blended Tube Feed in Paediatric Inpatient Settings: National Cross-Sectional Survey, United Kingdom. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics: The Official Journal of the British Dietetic Association, 38(1), e70016. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.70016
  8. Gallagher K, Flint A, Mouzaki M, Carpenter A, Haliburton B et al (2018). Blenderised Enteral Nutrition Diet Study: Feasibility, Clinical, and Microbiome Outcomes of Providing Blenderised Feeds Through a Gastric Tube in a Medically Complex Pediatric Population. JPEN. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 42(6), 1046–1060. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpen.1049
  9. Phillips G, Coad J, Hickson M & Manning JC (2026). Exploring factors affecting the use of blended diets for children and young people in health, education and social care settings in the UK: The protocol for a realist mixed methods study. Nutrition and Health. https://doi.org/10.1177/02601060261439096
  10. Weston S, Anushree Algotar, Karjoo S, Gabel M, Kruszewski P et al (2025). State‐of‐the‐art review of blenderised diets–Status and future directions. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 81(2), 376–386. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpn3.70048
  11. Phillips G & Coad J (2023). Blended diets for tube-fed children and young people: a rapid review update. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 108(12), 1014–1018. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2023-325929

About the Author: Aqsa Mahmood, RD

Aqsa graduated from the University of Westminster with a BSc in Human Nutrition, the University of Lancashire with an MSc in Dietetics and recently completed her placement at Wirral University Hospital Trust.

Leave A Comment

Blended diet (BD), also known as blended food for enteral feeding, has become increasingly accepted as an alternative to commercial enteral formula for patients requiring long-term tube feeding. BD consists of ordinary foods that are cooked, blended with fluids to an appropriate consistency and administered through a feeding tube. These may be homemade, commercial real food blended formulas or combination regimens using both homemade and commercial formulas and blended.

  1. British Dietetic Association (2021). Practice Toolkit: The Use of Blended Diet with Enteral Feeding Tubes. https://www.bda.uk.com/static/33331d33-21d4-47a5-bbb79142980766a7/FINAL-Practice-Toolkit-The-Use-of-Blended-Diet-with-Enteral-Feeding-Tubes-NOV-2021.pdf
  2. Peers E, Boocock RC & Burn N (2022). A systematic review examining the impact of blended diets on the gastrointestinal symptoms of people who are enterally fed. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13090
  3. McCormack S, Patel K & Smith C (2023). Blended diet for enteral tube feeding in young people: A systematic review of the benefits and complications. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13143
  4. Joosten K & Niseteo T (2024). Better understanding of use of blended diets and its benefits. Evidence-Based Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1136/ebnurs-2023-103859
  5. Fifi AC, Gardner C & Palorath A (2026). Nutritional Adequacy of Commercially Available Blenderised Tube Feeds in Pediatric Patients. Clinical Pediatrics, 65(2), 158–168. https://doi.org/10.1177/00099228251346040
  6. Breik L, Barker L, Bauer J & Davidson ZE (2024). The effect of blended tube feeding compared to conventional formula on clinical outcomes in adults: A systematic review. Nutrition & Dietetics. https://doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12912
  7. O’Connor G, Cleghorn S, Salam M & Watson K (2025). Exploring Dietitians’ Experience of Blended Tube Feed in Paediatric Inpatient Settings: National Cross-Sectional Survey, United Kingdom. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics: The Official Journal of the British Dietetic Association, 38(1), e70016. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.70016
  8. Gallagher K, Flint A, Mouzaki M, Carpenter A, Haliburton B et al (2018). Blenderised Enteral Nutrition Diet Study: Feasibility, Clinical, and Microbiome Outcomes of Providing Blenderised Feeds Through a Gastric Tube in a Medically Complex Pediatric Population. JPEN. Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 42(6), 1046–1060. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpen.1049
  9. Phillips G, Coad J, Hickson M & Manning JC (2026). Exploring factors affecting the use of blended diets for children and young people in health, education and social care settings in the UK: The protocol for a realist mixed methods study. Nutrition and Health. https://doi.org/10.1177/02601060261439096
  10. Weston S, Anushree Algotar, Karjoo S, Gabel M, Kruszewski P et al (2025). State‐of‐the‐art review of blenderised diets–Status and future directions. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 81(2), 376–386. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpn3.70048
  11. Phillips G & Coad J (2023). Blended diets for tube-fed children and young people: a rapid review update. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 108(12), 1014–1018. https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2023-325929

About the Author: Aqsa Mahmood, RD

Aqsa graduated from the University of Westminster with a BSc in Human Nutrition, the University of Lancashire with an MSc in Dietetics and recently completed her placement at Wirral University Hospital Trust.

Leave A Comment

You may also like