Each spring, a family of hummingbirds returns to our yard. At the first sighting of these tube-fed tummy buddies, Kyra and I quickly clean up our feeder and whip up a batch of hummingbird food. We know that fresh food for tube-fed tummies is best.
If we sit still enough, and remain patient enough, the hummingbirds will greet us with a quick fly-by. First we hear a warm buzzing. Then, if we’re lucky, we catch sight of a shimmer as the tiny birds dart around us and toward their freshly-made meal.
Fresh is Best
As I watch a hummingbird’s tube-like beak slurping nectar, it occurs to me that the general attitude toward feeding hummingbirds is remarkably similar to the general attitude toward feeding someone with a feeding tube. During the spring and summer, grocery and garden stores stock special “Hummingbird Nectar” in ready-to-feed bottles or instant-mix packets. A lot like the way feeding tube meals are packaged.
Do those garden stores really expect me to purchase tiny packets of sugar or jars of colored sugar water for twice the price of an entire bag of sugar? We know from experience that hummingbirds fill their tummies quite happily with our less expensive freshly prepared mixture. In the same way, medical supply stores sell sugar-laden, artificially-flavored, preservative-packed feeding tube formula for prices that far exceed the cost of fresh meats, veggies, nuts, and fruits. And again, we know from experience that Kyra’s tummy thrives so much better on freshly prepared meals.
Transitioning to fresh tube meals
made a huge difference in Kyra’s health.
Our Formula-To-Food Transition
I admit, it was kind of scary to get off the doctor-approved insurance-funded formulas, but with the help of Kyra’s pediatrician we were able to make the transition, one step at a time. When we finally eliminated all processed feeding tube formula from Kyra’s diet, her digestive health as well as her general health and energy improved dramatically. In addition, just a few weeks after feeding her only carefully-chosen foods we cooked and blended at home (we originally only used foods from the Specific Carbohydrate Diet), her seizures, which had occurred up to several times per week, disappeared.
Now, several years later, we have ** slowly ** added some whole, nutritious foods back into her diet, with no return of seizure activity. Even though many people dispute our claim that the drastic diet change stopped Kyra’s seizures in their tracks, we know it played a major role. We are certain that fresh food for tube-fed tummies is best.
To get started on your freedom from packaged formulas, find a doctor or registered dietitian that will work with you. Go slow. Track your progress. Then take the next step. For help making your case, and to find community, take a peek at the Oley Foundation. They’re a great resource for all sorts of tube-fed tummies.
Fresh Food for Hummingbird Tummies
If you want to feed your local hummingbirds fresh tummy food, try this simple recipe: Bring one cup of sugar to a boil in two cups of water. Then, stir to dissolve the sugar. Once all the sugar is dissolved, allow the mixture to cool, and fill your hummingbird feeder. You can use a purchased feeder, or make your own out of soda or water bottles. This YouTube video shows you how:
To increase your chance of hummingbird visits, add a bit of red near the site. For example, you might tie a red ribbon nearby, or plant a few red geraniums near your feeder. Nothing special. Nothing fancy. Nothing artificial.
Finally, sit quietly near your feeder in the early morning and late afternoon, and wait patiently. If the hummingbirds choose not to visit you, perhaps peace will.
Peace,
Sara & Kyra
