<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> On Valentine's Day, I was feeling a little (well, perhaps a lot) sorry for myself as there was lots of special baking being shared around the workplace (I work at a high school). A little later in the day, one of our teachers came to my office to arrange registration for a course called "Non-nutriative Mealtime Experience". I asked her what that was. She explained that people who are tube-fed need to chew on non-foods to keep the muscles in their mouths and throats exercised. It is necessary to keep these muscles 'in shape' to lessen the likelihood of aspirating saliva, which can lead to unpleasant things like pneumonia, etc. Gluten-free things sure 'kick-butt' on tube-fed!!! That exchange put a quick end to my private pity-party.