Jen

“I love how the FreeArm can make life with tube feeding more mobile. Families don’t have to be tied down at home for their tube feeds”

Tell us your story!

I have been a clinical dietitian for almost 20 years but at the core of everything I’ve done has been tube feeds. I have worked in a variety of settings including in hospital, in long term care, in home and at grocery stores. 

My passion has always been helping people learn about tube feeds, teaching people how to use their feeding tubes and helping them feel ready for doing them independently at home.

Since the start of my career, I’ve worked with people that have head or neck cancer and esophageal cancers. Many of these patients will need tube feeds for at least a short time and often go home from hospital after surgery with a feeding tube.

In the recent few years, I’ve worked as an Integrated Care Coordinator and I coordinate patients' transition home after surgery, including managing their tube feeds at home and weaning off of their feeds. 

A few years ago, I had a patient’s daughter bring me into the world of blenderized tube feeding and it has become my passion within tube feeding. 

My goal is to help educate people about tube feeding, break the stigma around tube feeding, and help people who want to have more real food with blenderized tube feeding.

What do you love to do in your free time?

I’m a full time working wife and mom to 2 young kids, so I love to make the most of my free time with my family. We love anything outdoors like tent camping or playing a round of golf as a family.

When I am able to get self care time, I enjoy yoga, gardening, checking out a local restaurant with tasty food, or having coffee with a friend and catching up.

We recently shared your blog post "Flying With A Feeding Tube: Don't Be Scared, Be Prepared" tell us more about your website The Blending Dietitian.

My website has been my passion project. I love my job as a clinical dietitian and care coordinator but I wanted to make more of an impact in the tube feeding community.

My website aims to share evidence-based information, practical life tips for tube feeding and education on blenderized tube feeding.

Dietitians are experts in assessing and implementing nutrition care plans for healthy individuals and people with medical complexities. We manage people’s feeding regimens on tube feeding and IV nutrition (parenteral nutrition). But blenderized tube feeding is actually not something that dietitians were taught about when I did my training. 

A few years ago, a patient’s daughter opened my eyes to blenderized tube feeding and I haven’t looked back. I started studying, reading research, reaching out to other colleagues who were also using blenderized tube feeds, attending webinars and taking courses to become specialised in blenderized tube feeding. 

I’ve started a blog to share my knowledge and expertise on tube feedings and blenderized tube feeding and I’m going to open my virtual private practice soon.

I can’t wait to see where The Blending Dietitian will take me!

Why do you like to share the FreeArm with families?

I love how the FreeArm can make life with tube feeding more mobile. Families don’t have to be tied down at home for their tube feeds. Whether someone uses gravity feeding or pump feeding, they can take them on the go. It’s great because it can attach to anything around the house or to a stroller or wheelchair with ease. If families want to travel at all, even if just for an overnight at the grandparents’ house, it can go with them and make feeding set up super quick and easy. As I highlighted in my recent blog, it can even be used on an airplane flight!

I love that the FreeArm came from Misti’s own personal experience feeding her son at home. 

Anything else you would like to share or for us to know?

I’m a lifelong learner and I’d love to hear from readers that want to share their experiences with me. I think health professionals can learn a lot from their patients and the community around them.

People can follow me on Instagram at @theblendingdietitian and reach out via DM anytime.