Pureed Diet

Introduction: Pureed Diet

The pureed diet is a medical diet developed for people who have difficulty chewing or swallowing food, such as people who have had a stroke or who are weak due to an illness. A pureed diet may also be prescribed as a part of a complete treatment plan after some types of surgery, such as surgery of the esophagus. A pureed diet can also be used as a stepping stone between a clear liquid diet and a mechanical soft diet or regular solid diet, such as after abdominal or oral surgery. Pureed diet guidelines vary depending on an individual's specific condition or procedure and what types of foods they can tolerate. Pureed diets generally eliminate all solid foods that have not been pureed into the consistency of a thick paste. Foods in a pureed diet often must be softened with liquid, cooked, and pureed in a blender or food processer before eating. Skins, seeds, pits, bones, tough membranes and other inedible parts of foods are eliminated before pureeing. Pureed foods should be thinned with milk, juice or other liquids to a drinkable consistency that is easy to swallow without any chewing. Liquids, such as milk, may need to be thickened with thickeners, such as potato flakes and baby cereal, if it is difficult to swallow liquids without choking.

It can be a challenge, but very possible, to eat a well-balanced nutritiously complete diet that contains enough calories when eating a pureed diet. A wide variety of foods from all of the food groups can be pureed to make a complete diet, but the guidance of a registered dietician is often recommended when planning a pureed diet at home. Any diet may have the potential to be harmful to some people, so consultation with a health care provider before starting any diet plan is recommended.

Pureed Diet: Other Names

Other names for this diet (Pureed Diet) include:

Soft Diet

Pureed Diet: Similar Diets

Other diets similar to Pureed Diet include:

Conditions Associated with Pureed Diet

Conditions associated with Pureed Diet include:

Surgical procedures
Difficulties with chewing
Difficulties with swallowing
Gastric bypass surgery
Abdominal surgery
Oral surgery
Esophageal surgery
Weakness

Foods Excluded Or Restricted From Pureed Diet

The following foods may be restricted or excluded from Pureed Diet:

All foods in solid form
Any foods that require chewing
Nuts
Seeds
Tough meats
Steaks
Hard, crusty breads
Skins
Seeds
Pits
Bones
Foods with tough fibers or membranes
Inedible parts of foods

Foods Focused On For Pureed Diet

The following foods may be focused on as part of Pureed Diet:

Foods that have been pureed into the consistency of a thick paste
Pureed cereals without nuts or dried fruits
Pureed white breads
Pureed rice
Pureed potatoes
Pureed vegetables without seeds or skins
Pureed fruits without seeds or skins
Pureed Bananas
Pureed cottage cheese
Plain yogurt or pureed yogurt if fruit chunks are present
Pureed dairy products
Pureed meats and fish without bones or tough membranes
Pureed eggs
Liquids, if not difficult to swallow without choking. Liquids may need to be thickened with thickeners
Meal replacement drinks or shakes
Milkshakes
Ice cream
Custard
Pudding
Vegetable juices
Sherbet
Soups

Pureed Diet: Potential Risks Or Complications

The following are potential risks or complications of the diet (Pureed Diet):

Insufficient calories or nutrition unless guided by a registered dietician
Consultation with a health care provider before starting any diet plan program is recommended