Are you facing troubles in chewing or digesting regular meals and solid food? No worries, Pureed Diet is here to the rescue.
Pureed diet consists of pureed food which is soft to swallow and smooth in texture. Solid foods are ground into a smoother and softer consistency like that of a thick pudding. These pureed foods are easy to swallow and digest, and require no chewing. This soft diet is ideal for people who have had a mouth, jaw or gastrointestinal tract surgery, adjustment of dental braces or are suffering from dysphagia. This form of the dysphagia pureed diet is suggested by doctors and medical experts throughout the globe.
This diet excludes foods that need to be chewed. Usage of raw vegetables and fruits, hard nuts, chicken chunks, dried food etc. should be strictly avoided. Gelatin being a slippery food is also restricted. Sticky foods like peanut butter, taffy, caramel etc. should also be avoided. Commercially produced foods like smooth custard, apple sauce, baby food etc. are allowed for consumption in this diet. Foods like pasta, breads, soups, meats etc. should be properly cooked and processed before making a pureed diet.
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To make the right pureed food, the ingredients should be deboned, skinless, tender and de-seeded etc. It should then be softened applying moist cooking techniques like baking, boiling, braising etc. These should then be ground into a pureed form with the help of appropriate techniques and appliances. It should be ensured that the tools and appliances used in the process are clean and sterilized to ensure proper hygiene. Fluids like milk, water and broth can be added while grinding the food. It is to ensure that the end product is of a smooth and cohesive consistency. Stringy, seeded and thick skinned foods like celery, onions, nuts etc. should be avoided in this diet since it’s difficult to effectively convert them into a puree. The tender consistency makes the food easy to swallow and digest. It helps to form food balls or boluses in the mouth to remain intact in the process of swallowing. This helps to avoid the disintegration of food and prevents it from entering the lungs etc. Thus, it prevents hindrance in the essential body functions like breathing. The consistency of the pureed food should be smooth enough to be picked using a fork.
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However, one should ensure that pureed diet recipes consists of the right blend of vital nutrients essential for promoting general health of the individual. This diet is enriched with essential proteins, vitamins, minerals and fibres, thus helps combat the causal disease effectively. It further strengthens the immune system of the body. Various fruits, vegetables and meat along with plenty of liquids like milk, juices, broth, soups and water constitute this tender diet.
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The time frame for consumption of this diet spans in accordance with the causal disease and its intensity. Diseases like stroke require patients to continue with this diet for a few days. On the other hand, people suffering from throat cancer would have to continue this diet for the life time. The time period for consumption of this diet should be ascertained based on the advice of the doctor.
It is essential to be mindful about the textures of the food being blended together. For example, it can be dangerous to mix chicken broth with chicken chunk and non pureed noodles. The food must be pureed well and no lumps or solid chunks of the food should be present in the puree. Sometimes, the food gets swallowed into the wrong pipe, i.e. the wind pipe, and can cause sensation-free choking. This silent choking can lead to potentially fatal diseases like pneumonia. This diet should be consumed only on the recommendation and under the guidance of a medical practitioner.
People on a pureed diet, you need not worry anymore. Neither, you have to sacrifice your love for your favorite foods. You can surely retain the tasteful flavors without struggling to chew or swallow your food. Just ensure to follow these simple steps and enjoy your healthy pureed food!