It is a texture-modified diet that is often recommended for people who can’t eat solid foods.
This article will go over how a pureed diet works.
Benefits
When you eat food, digestion starts in your mouth as you’re chewing.
Angela Coppola / Getty Images
The food gets broken down more as it moves through yourdigestive system.
Many foods can be prepared in a way that does some of that breaking down for you.
One example is pureeing.
The main benefit of a pureed diet is that fureed foods are completely smooth.
Who Needs a Pureed Diet?
You may need to follow a pureed diet if you have trouble chewing or swallowing.
This can happed for a variety of reasons.
Dysphagia
Dysphagiais the medical term for swallowing problems.
It can be resulting from conditions that affect the function of the mouth, throat, oresophagus.
Diabetes is the most common cause of this condition.
A pureed diet can be a bridge between aliquid dietand getting back to your usual diet.
It can help prevent weight loss and give your body the nutrition it needs to heal.
You just need to cook them properly and have a good blender or food processor.
Once they’re soft, the next step is to make the foods smooth.
When you’re done, all foods should be completely smooth.
The consistency should be like pudding, very smooth mashed potatoes, or hummus.
There should be no solid chunks of food or lumps.
you’re free to also puree and eat each food separately.
Pureed Diet vs.
Mechanical Soft Diet
A pureed food diet does not require you to chew your food.
A mechanical soft food diet requires less chewing than a regular diet.
Most people only stay on a pureed diet until they can get back to eating solid food.
Meals do not have to be eaten on a timed schedule when you’re following a pureed diet.
you’re free to stick to your typical meal times if that works for you.
What to Eat
Any food that can be blended smooth is fair game on a pureed diet.
Allfruitsget soft when they’re cooked.
you’re able to also drink juices or nectar with no pulp.
Vegetables
It’s recommended that you eat at least 2.5 to 3 cups of vegetables each day.
Vegetables may be fresh, frozen, canned, or dried.
Anyvegetableswith tough skins need to be peeled before you cook them.
Always press vegetables with seeds or “strings” through a sieve to remove the tough parts.
you might also buy vegetable baby food in jars or squeezable packets.
They are convenient to have on hand; just look for products specifically made for babies.
The ones for toddlers tend to be thicker and chunkier, as they contain more solids.
Vegetable juices with no pulp are another option.
At least half the grains you eat should be whole grains.
Grain products include wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or other cereal grains.
Cooked cereals (like Cream of Wheat or Cream of Rice) and blended oatmeal are other easy options.
Dairy
confirm you get at least 3 cups of dairy every day.
You’ll find a variety of dairy products that are already the right consistency for a pureed diet.
Not only are they a good source of calories and fat, but milk also contains protein.
For example, a 6-ounce serving of Greek yogurt provides about 20 grams of protein.
it’s possible for you to add gravy, stock, or cream sauce to make them smoother.
before you roll cooking, press meats or fish through a sieve to remove any solid pieces.
Legumes
All legumes are high infiberandprotein, making them a healthy substitute for meat.
They also puree easily.
For example, silkentofuis already very soft.
It makes a good base for creamy desserts or soups.
Smooth bean dips or hummus are other options.
If you have trouble swallowing, you’ll need to be careful with nut butter.
Fats
Eating healthy fats (unsaturated fats) is also important for a balanced diet.
Foods that contain healthy fats include avocado, nuts, fatty fish, and certain oils.
Soups
Soups are a flavorful and versatile meal option.
Pureed soups are a great way to enjoy your vegetables and other food items, like protein.
Soups may consist of broth, pureed or strained vegetables, and cooked grains and meats.
That said, you’re free to even puree chicken noodle or chicken and rice soup.
To maintain a healthy diet, limit added sugars to less than 10% of total calories per day.
Extras
Most herbs and spices are fine to add to pureed meals.
In that case, be careful about using cayenne pepper and other hot spices or condiments.
Meal Replacement Options
Meal replacement products are nutrient-filled food supplements designed to replace a regular meal.
For an easy, homemade, and nutritious meal replacement, try smoothies.
You have a lot of choices when crafting a smoothie.
Start by mixing milk, water, or juice with fruit and/or leafy greens.
A pureed diet can be a safer way to get the nutrition you need.
It’s important to talk to anutritionistand your regular healthcare provider about your personal goals and needs.
Most foods can be part of a pureed diet as long as they’re prepared the right way.
That said, some people still find it hard to stick with a diet of only pureed foods.
Even if it’s nutritionally sufficient, pureed foods can look odd and be unappetizing.
Learning different ways to prepare pureed meals can help make it easier to stick with the diet.
It also helps to have the right tools, like a good blender.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Eating guide for pureed and mechanical soft diets.
Stanford Medicine.Clear liquid diet guidelines.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
2015;66(1):1319.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture.2020 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
2014;75(3):145-7. doi:10.3148/cjdpr-2014-004
