Also, if you're worried, you can always exercise your jaw! Just, not with food in it.

That's what he said.

what?

Snerk.

Polgara, we love our vitamix. I could also just blend a week of food for you if you want. I'll even use a different container than Grace's for you.

One yummy smoothie that will give you more caloric oomph is oatmeal + juice + honey + fruit of your choice. Totally good.

Kat, my plan for right now is to see what my woefully unused blender can do. I'm going to start slow and easy--smoothies and pureed soups. Once I get bored with those, I'll be more motivated to branch out.

One yummy smoothie that will give you more caloric oomph is oatmeal + juice + honey + fruit of your choice.

What kind of oatmeal? Cooked or uncooked?

We used uncooked instant oatmeal because our vitamix heats up enough fast enough that it will be cooked. I'd use cooked, though, if I were using a regular blender.

All of Grace's blends have a grain which adds enough substance. Sometimes rice, sometimes quinoa, sometimes another grain like farro or millet. I think the grains make them more filling, frankly. Smoothies can feel not...heavy. Like even though they are X calories they have a low satiety point. Yogurt can help with that (is yogurt a food you eat?).

Some of our blends are more soup than smoothies. Blended food is better overall than pureed just because it's more fibrous and can have started raw. We blend stuff and the vitamix heats and cooks it. But you could blend with a regular blender then heat it up.

Also, FYI, a Vitamix, even with a doctor's note, still costs $300. Which for our family is totally worth it, but might not be worth it in your case.

(Also, we can do whatever OTHER foods you want... you want pie? I can blend that for you. Craving steak? I could make steak into pudding (blech!)

Yeah, I don't think I could make myself eat steak pudding. *g* Yogurt, however, is definitely on my approved list.

What's the difference between blended and pureed?

Pureed often has to be cooked and might have more chunks and is thicker. People will steam carrots, for example, and puree them. IT's also usually one food.

Blended is taking the carrot putting it in the blender with apple juice or another liquid. More whole foods.

This is strictly a tubie feeding person, definition though. I think puree is cooked foods blended until smooth. Blended foods to tubie folks is more than one together, not necessarily cooked.

Steak pudding just sounds awful. Grace had an argument with a doctor at UCLA's recovery room yesterday about pudding, but of the chocolate variety.

I might be okay with steak pudding. I made something like a creme brûlée out if beef stroganoff and quite liked it. Chunky, though.

I think Grace arguing with Drs might be my favorite thing EVER.

ION, I should have my draft of the thank you letter to Kirk Douglas ready soon. Still time for someone to step forward, ijs.

If any gifters have still not been able to get packages off, please let me know.