Suzanne Brown explains how one hospice has helped families to provide their children with a blended diet, while ensuring they are aware of the risk factors

A blended diet for enteral nutrition is defined as home-made everyday food blended to a smooth ‘single cream’ consistency. At present, blended food is not recommended as a first choice. However, the wishes of parents who prefer to use blended food for their child need to be respected, and hospice policy for Children’s Hospice South West is to replicate home conditions as far as possible. Therefore guidelines have been created for use of a blended diet. However, benefits in physical and emotional health need to be balanced against risks of tube blockage, contamination and digestive upsets.