Homemade “Ripple” (Split Pea) Milk

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DIY Ripple Milk

  • Servings: 10-13
  • Difficulty: easy
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This recipe is more of an addendum to my split pea milk recipe.  I have had many more questions about it coming from Ripple drinkers.  Some of the struggles were:  separation, strong pea taste, watery taste and thickened texture.  My original recipe was written for g-tube feedings and oral eaters with limited taste experiences.  After fielding many of your questions, I set out to make a recipe that would work for Ripple drinkers.  Please keep in mind, nothing we make at home can match the process that Ripple can produce in the lab.  This recipe is creamier than my original recipe and does not separate.  Hopefully my adjustments will make it more palatable.  Please take note of the pictures above.  The picture in the top right corner show 2 mason jars.  The jar on the left is Ripple.  The jar on the right is the DIY Ripple.  Even after sitting overnight, it had not separated.

As always, my goal is not to just create and share new recipes but to educate:  To give information not opinions.  The pictures and notes are here to help you make the best choice for you.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of dry split peas (cooked in 3 cups of water)
  • 4 large Medjool dates (3oz)
  • 2-4 teaspoons of vanilla
  • 1/4 cup of Sunflower oil (or oil of choice)
  • 7-10 cups of water

 


Directions


Cooking the split peas:
Place 1 cup of dried peas into a bowl and cover with 3 cups of water. Let sit for 8 hours or overnight. Transfer the peas into a pot or into the pressure cooker. If cooking on the stove, cook peas about 1-1 1/2 hours or until the peas are completely soft and all of the water has been absorbed. Stir.  Note:  If using an electric pressure cooker, there is no need to soak the peas overnight.  Select “beans/lentils” and adjust the time setting to 30 minutes. Once the timer goes off, allow the pressure to release naturally. This may take up to 15 minutes. Remove lid and stir. Note, if using the pressure cooker it is important NOT to use the quick release. The starch in peas is very light. Using the quick release up and out of the pressure cooker through the valve making a mess:

Power Pressure Cooker XL (2)

Making the milk:

Place 1 1/2 cups of cooked peas into the large (64oz) Vitamix container. Add 3 1/2-5 cups of water, dates, 1/2 of the oil (5 teaspoons) and vanilla and let stand (to soften the dates) for 30 minutes. Blend on High for 1 minute or use the “Smoothie” setting.  Transfer first batch to mason jars and ice cube trays.  Repeat the process with the remaining ingredients.  If If the texture is not to your liking, you may want to run the milk through a nut milk bag to remove the starchy component of the peas.

DIY Ripple (11)

 Please keep in mind that, if you need it to have a higher caloric content, you will lose quite a few calories this way.  The milk will keep fresh for about 4 days in the refrigerator.  How quickly you use the milk will help you decide how much to freeze.  After I use what is in the refrigerator, I take out only what I will use the next day and let it thaw overnight.


Food tips: Although sunflower oil is listed, I used grape seed oil because I didn’t have any and couldn’t find any.  Other oils will work but I would hesitate using coconut oil.  Coconut oil is solid at room temperature and could clog g-tubes if the milk separates when chilled.   I put sunflower oil in the recipe because that is the oil listed on the Ripple label.  I don’t know if it would taste any different since vegetable oil is pretty tasteless.  I’m sure it’s better for you so use it if you can find it and afford it.  Be sure to pit the dates before putting them into the blender.  I don’t use pitted dates in my recipes because they are too dry and sometime the pits are not completely removed.   Calories/cup are 141.5.  The breakdown is in the Cronometer picture below. Because Ripple is making it’s milk from extracted pea protein and not whole peas, their protein content will be higher. Other than that, my DIY version of vanilla Ripple is pretty close  if it is consumed unfiltered:

Time tip:  If you have a pressure cooker, use it.  Time and clean up can be cut in half that way.  Freezing the extra milk in ice cube trays makes it easy to defrost exactly what you want. Each standard ice cube is 1 once.

Money Tip:  Buying your peas from a bulk food store like Winco Foods  is the best money saver.  Most of their bulk food items are 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of those bought prepackaged.  It also saves on waste because you only buy what you need.

Another Testimonial

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Blenderized RN. I love this Facebook group! So much support and encouragement for anyone interested in getting their loved one with a g-tube off formula and on to what the rest of us eat…FOOD! With every testimonial comes the oppurtunity to help the Healthcare system know that blenderized diets for people with gastric tubes works. Here is one such testimony from the group:

Our son’s check up today was absolute 360 from the clinic visit he had one year ago: he jumped from ~10-20th percentile to ~50-60th for height and weight, went from vomiting multiple times a week to rarely in a month, and instead of his doctors recommending more fluids to get his numbers down and more calories to get his growth up (both usually resulting in tolerance issues) they said everything is going so great; don’t change anything! The cherry on top was when the head of his team (nephrology) said: “We should really be encouraging families to start a blended diet sooner.” 👏🏻🙌🏻

One year ago, 100% of our son’s nutrition came from a formula. Today, all of his daily intake is real food. He still gets an overnight pump of a water/formula mix, and that balance works for him and our family. For anyone on the fence, give it a try. You don’t have to go all in right away. Every little bit can make a positive difference. It seems overwhelming but soon, like everything else, it will be second nature.

We had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. And gain, and gain, and gain he did!!! 💪🏻🍅🍊🍋🍏🍆🍗

Meet Sawyer

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This testimonial is 1 of hundreds (if not thousands) listed in the Facebook group Blenderized RN. I only share these testimonials with the the permission of the original poster. Each one has a different background, diagnosis and journey but they all say the same thing…BLENDING REAL FOOD WORKS FOR TUBIES!

  • Before
  • After

Just want to give our “testimony” about blended foods, if anyone is hesitant about it. Sorry for the length.
I was super hesitant myself but my wonderful friend Kristen Nichole Leverett helped me SO MUCH.
My daughter is 2. She was born weighing 2 pounds 6 oz in May 2017. She’s had two open heart surgeries and her g tube placement surgery.
She was on Elecare as an infant and then switched to Elecare JR at around 18 months old. She was throwing up constantly. Could barely tolerate 100 ml of Elecare JR ran over an hour through our pump. Finally this past June, I had had enough and knew that Kristen blended real food for her son, so I reached out to her. She talked me through it all for weeks until I figured out what worked for us. We started blending that day and we haven’t looked back to formula at all.
On formula, she wasn’t walking, her hair was so short, she could barely fit in infant shoes, and was constantly vomiting like I mentioned.
Now, 4 months later, she’s almost running everywhere, her hair is growing, she wear a size 5-6 in toddler shoes, and I can’t remember the last time she threw up. She’s also blossoming mentally! She knows her ABCs, can count to 15, and knows most of her colors.
I’m so thankful for this group.
The first picture was sometime in June. She was scooting on her bottom to get around and was wearing walking shoes (size 2 in infants). The second picture was about an hour ago while playing soccer and throwing balls with her brother & me outside (the shoes in this picture are a size 6).

Transition Charts

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The weight and bowel movement chart is vital for transitioning babies, toddlers and children because their bodies respond differently to food and formula differently. For Matthew, because of his Hirschsprung’s Disease diagnosis, he has slow motility. The chart has helped me track how well his current regimen is working. Some babies and toddlers will have difficulty maintaining their weight on a blended diet. That is because a lot of the calories in formula is sugar which is easily stored while whole foods tend to burn as more efficient fuel for the body so more food is necessary. An example would be how much easier it is to gain weight drinking milk shakes as apposed to a balanced diet. The other reason why this chart is vital is for bowel management. Put simply, what goes in must come out. How it comes out will tell how your child is handling certain foods. It will allow you to adjust fiber and water content as you go along. Without the chart it is a shot in the dark. It will be hard to track if your child is gaining, maintaining or losing weight on the new diet as well as what foods are causing constipation. In a nut shell, using this chart will help you see any changes from day to day and show the doctors a your transitioning progress.

Our Transition Story

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This post is under construction. If you are currently working with me on transitioning your loved one to a blenderized diet from formula, this is the button to purchase the weight and bowel chart.

This chart is vital for transitioning babies, toddlers and children because their bodies respond differently to food and formula differently. Some will have difficulty maintaining their weight on a blended diet. That is because a lot of the calories in formula is sugar which is easily stored while whole foods tend to burn as more efficient fuel for the body so more food is necessary. An example would be how much easier it is to gain weight drinking milk shakes as apposed to a balanced diet. The other reason why this chart is vital is for bowel management. Put simply, what goes in must come out. How it comes out will tell how your child is handling certain foods. It will allow you to adjust fiber and water content as you go along. Without the chart it is a shot in the dark. It will be hard to track if your child is gaining, maintaining or losing weight on the new diet as well as what foods are causing constipation.

If you are interested in purchasing my template, just click the “Buy Now” button below. Once you’ve made the purchase, feel free to make as many copies as you need.

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Weight and Bowel Movement Chart

Meet Raiden

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Working with Raiden’s mom was an amazing experience. She was highly motivated which was crucial in taking on a blended diet for Raiden. A blenderized diet takes time and commitment and we were working together with 3000 mile and 2 time zones in between us. The fact that we both owned a Vitamix made it easier for me to create a blend for her and have her repeat it seamlessly step by step. My joy comes from seeing little ones with g-tubes grow and thrive on real food and helping other families experience the same success. So, without further ado, here’s Raiden’s story:

Raiden at 1 year

Brechae and Raiden’s Testimonial:

My son Raiden has been tube fed since he was 4 months old. He was fed breast milk fortified with formula for extra calories. As he got closer to a year old and my milk supply began to decrease I sought out his options for nutrition. I spoke to his G.I. and he wanted to put him on Pediatric Compleat. I’m the kind of person who does her research, especially with regard to my child, so I looked up the formula. Upon reading the ingredient list I quickly discovered that the product was mostly sugar. I didn’t want that for him. I remembered reading about a blended diet in a feeding tube group on Facebook. At the time I had no idea what it was but I wanted to learn more. I was directed to “Blenderized RN” group on Facebook and that is where I met Tina!

We bonded over both having tubie sons who also have Down syndrome. She helped/taught me to slowly start the transition from fortified breast milk to real food through his tube. Raiden doesn’t have dietary restrictions/sensitivities or G.I. issues. His aversion to food is mostly sensory so I was able to trial all kinds of baby food, baby cereal, eggs, whole milk, etc. with no problem. Once we learned what he tolerated, Tina created a breakfast blend just for Raiden (Raiden’s Breakfast Blend)! It had oatmeal, eggs, an apple and whole milk. It was my go to meal and gave me the confidence to create blends for him on my own with my Vitamix.

Initially he was fed via Infinity pump and could only handle small amounts at a time. I was worried it would always take hours and hours of him being connected to his feeding pump to get him to grow. Tina assured me that based on his medical history we would one day be able to bolus feed via syringe and that he would be able to handle more volume and she was right! When I started blending Raiden was 18lbs. Now he is 27 lbs! We are two years into our blenderized diet journey and I can honestly say that it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made for my son. Tina’s wisdom and guidance along the way has been such a blessing!

Raiden at 33 months

Meet Zoe

Testimonials, , , ,

I met Tina in 2018 not long after my family and I had relocated from Washington to Southern California. My daughter Zoe has a rare syndrome and is g-tube fed. When we moved, Zoe was 100% formula fed and as we later found out, she was not tolerating it well. Tina was invaluable to me as I decided to change Zoe’s diet to blended real foods. She is always so encouraging and knowledgeable. So readily available to answer my texts or calls about calorie counts, g-tube tricks, blended recipes or really just about anything! She has met with me, taken me to the grocery store to show me what to purchase and how to prepare it, she is always willing to help.  It was daunting for me to start this journey, because Zoe has so many medical issues and allergies, but Tina is always so encouraging and reassuring that I can do this! She truly has a heart to help other families and a passion to keep our fragile kiddos healthy and thriving. I’m so blessed to know her!Brooke Maxwell

The Maxwell Family
Zoe Maxwell

For an “In Person” 1 on 1 consultation, click the “Buy Now” button below or “Book Me” in the blogroll.

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Special Angels Foundation

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Just recently I had the privilege of attending the fundraiser kick off for Special Angels Foundation.  I had been invited by our pediatrician who is the medical advisor.  Since he had been taking care of our 6 children for over 20 years, I knew that this had to be something close to his heart to ask me to come along.  He knew my heart.  The heart of a mother with a child with special needs who’s mission was to help as many families get over the hurdles I had been dealing with for 16 years.

GE
GE

The fundraiser was amazing.  There were so many stories of trials and triumph.  So often those of us with special needs children feel alone, frustrated and exhausted.  It was a relief to be in a room full of people who “get it”.

The focus of the foundation is to meet the needs that often go unmet.  As insurance companies cover less and less, many who are in need of equipment and therapies go without.  If you are interested in learning more about the foundation, joining us for events or supporting SAF, please visit the Special Angels Foundation website.  No gift is too small.  Every gift is a blessing.

Thank You!

How Is Ripple Milk Made?

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Ripple
Store Bought vs Homemade

“HELP!  My DYI Ripple doesn’t taste, look or feel like the store bought one!”  And, it won’t.  Ripple is made in a lab where they are able to isolate the pea protein from split peas while our home versions are, well, made in our kitchens.  We do not have machines that can do that.  Also they add oil and different gums that keep it homogenized and smooth.  Last time I checked I could not just walk into the grocery store and buy guar gum.  Don’t get me wrong.  I have nothing against Ripple.  In fact, now that I have tried it, I think it’s pretty good.

So why bother making my own?  Certainly going to the store and buying a bottle is far more convenient and less time consuming.  I’ll be honest.  It’s the cost.  In fact that’s why I choose to make my own hemp , coconut and almond  milks.  When the doctor says Matthew’s calories need to increase by 200 calories a day, the cash register goes off in my head.  Let’s do the math.  Each 48oz bottle of Ripple costs $4.99.  That’s 6 cups.  If each cup is 70 calories, I am going to need to add almost 3 cups a day to his current diet.  So the bottle will only last about 2 days.  Lets’ say I buy 3 bottles a week.  That’s $15 a week or $60 a month just on Ripple!  Since that is not an option for me (and I’m guessing not for you either) getting as close to taste, consistency and texture is my goal.  I have made a new batch that is much closer and it does not separate.  That post is coming soon.

In the mean time, if you are interested in seeing how Ripple is made, I found an interview sheds some light on how it’s made.  Obviously the cost is somewhat justifiable with all that they have to do to make it taste the way it does.  Personally, I’d rather adjust my taste buds a bit and spend the money elsewhere.  But, if I’m in a pinch, I will not feel guilty about buying a bottle now and then.

Fig Butter

Dips and Spreads, Blenderized, Pureed, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, , , , , , , , , , ,

Fig Butter

  • Servings: 16
  • Difficulty: easy
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Fig Butter (5)

This was an unexpected surprise!  I was originally trying to add more fiber to the Poopinator Plus because we are still waiting on a referral to UCLA Children’s Hospital for a more in depth motility.  I also thought it would help his weight loss issue due his currently very limited diet.  Sadly the fig gave him too much gas so I had to pull it out.  But, as always, I try all of his blends to make sure they taste good and this was amazing!  So far, with only 2 calorie dense ingredients an zero prep time this is by far the easiest, highest fiber calorie booster I have made to date.

Ingredients

-8oz Hemp Milk

-8oz Dried Adriatic Figs

Directions

  1. Place the ingredients to the 32oz  Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
  2. Let sit for 20 minutes to soften the figs.
  3. Select Variable 1.
  4. Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High.
  5. Blend until completely smooth (approximately 1-2 minutes), using the tamper to press the ingredients into the blades.

Food Tips:  This recipe packs 56.8 calories per 1 ounce serving.  That makes it a good calorie booster without added sugars and/or syrup.  Because it’s important for oral eaters, I always taste my recipes.  This tastes amazing on toast (as seen in the picture).  By itself it’s pretty sweet but added to other pureed dessert or snack recipes, I think it would tastes great.

Time tip:  Freeze this butter in ice cube trays then pop them out into freezer bags for easy storage and quick defrost.

Money Tip:  As with most of my ingredients, the figs and hemp seed are best purchased at a bulk food store  like Winco.  The prices are always much lower and you can by just what you need so there’s no waste.