Modified Diet: Blenderized Diet HF#279

You may need a blenderized diet if you have mouth or throat problems or if your jaw is wired.  This diet consists of foods that have been blenderized and are thin enough to drink through a straw.  You may need to strain foods if your jaw is tightly wired.

 

This diet will provide all the protein, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients your body needs to heal if you plan carefully.  Use this guide to plan meals with all the calories and protein you need.

 

Tips to prepare food

 

Supplies

 

• Blender, food processor, or food mill
• Fine wire strainer
• Plastic straws
• Wire whip or fork
• Plastic container
• Plastic spoons

 

Tips

• Use cooked foods.  Avoid fresh fruits and vegetables and tough or gristly meats, they are hard to puree.

 

• Avoid nuts, seeds, whole grain or bran cereals, starches, and foods with tough skins or hulls.  These foods leave small pieces that can get trapped in the wires.

 

• To liquefy in a blender:

 

• Put small pieces of solid food in a blender (1 serving = ½ cup)

 

• Add a small amount (1/4 cup) of fluid
  • Liquids to use:  milk, cream, cream soups, sour cream, half & half, broth, fruit juice, tomato, or vegetable juice
  • Other items to try:  cottage cheese, smooth yogurt (without seeds or skins of fruit), ice cream (without nuts or chunks of fruit or candy),

 

• Blend until pureed

 

• Strained baby food and baby cereal may be used from the jar without further blending or straining.  Junior foods should be blenderized.

 

• Solid fats and cheese blend more easily if melted. 

 

• Oil, salad dressing and cream can be added directly to the puree.

 

• Do not use raw eggs.  Frozen or pasteurized eggs, such as egg substitutes, reduce the risk of food poisoning.

 

• Frozen desserts and gelatin must melt before they can be eaten.

 

• Liquid foods should be lukewarm to prevent burning your mouth.  You may find that you are not able to handle foods that are very cold.

 

• If you have been told that it is OK to use a straw you will want to use straws.  They are wider and easier to use.  Cutting the bottom 2 inches off the straw can decrease the amount of suction needed. 

 

• If straws are not allowed, plastic spoons may work better than metal ones.

 

• Eat balanced meals.  Your body needs the calories, protein, vitamins, minerals, and fluid to heal.  This is not a time to lose extra weight.  Surgery is a stress that causes extra work for your body.  Extra calories and protein are needed to fight infection and heal wounds.

 

How much and what should I be eating?

 

Milk and Beverages:  (3 cups per day)

• Use milk as a beverage or to thin foods in cooking. 
• Whole milk products can boost your calorie intake.  If you notice unwanted weight gain, switch to low-fat or non-fat dairy foods. 
• If you are cannot digest milk, try lactose free milk, like LactAid® or DairyEase®.  You could also try non-dairy drinks such as fortified soy milk or fortified rice milk.

 

Ideas

Milk, eggnog, milk shake, milk drinks Puddings and custards thinned with milk All beverages: hot cocoa, coffee, tea, etc Yogurt or smoothies without seeds or fruit

 

 

Meat and Other Protein Foods: (1½ cup strained pureed meat/day)

• Meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and tofu are part of the protein group. 
  • Cook all protein foods until soft.
  • Liquefy in a blender until the desired consistency.
• Blended protein foods may be added to soups.
• Melt pasteurized processed cheese, cream, Parmesan or cheddar cheese before serving.  Some cheeses can be too stringy when melted to pass through the straw. 

 

Ideas

Pureed meats and poultry (baby strained), thinned with broth Try mixing vegetables or fruits with meats for different flavors: Ham with pineapple Pork with applesauce Beef with sweet potatoes

 

Vegetables and Fruits: (2 cups or more/day)

• Fruit juices are the easiest way to include fruit in the diet. 
• Include 1 serving (1/2 cup) of orange, grapefruit or tomato juice each day for vitamin C.  Liquefy soft fruits in a blender. 
• Cook vegetables until tender. 
• Avoid fruits and vegetables with seeds, such as berries and tomatoes. 

 

Ideas

Fruit juices or pureed fruit thinned with fruit juice Juices may need to be strained to remove excess pulp for straw or syringe feedings Mashed white or sweet potato, thinned with soup Vegetable juices or purees thinned with soups

 

Breads, Cereals and Pasta

• Prepare cooked cereal with milk instead of water.  This will increase calories and protein. 
• Add brown sugar, cinnamon, or table sugar for flavor and calories. 
• If more calories are needed, add margarine, vegetable oils, or melt in chocolate chips! 

 

Ideas

Hot cereal of farina, cream of rice, grits such as Cream of Rice®, Cream of Wheat®, Malt-O-Meal®, Ralston®, or Coco Wheats®.  Make with equal parts milk and cereal. Gravy, strained sauces, or soup

 

Supplements

• If you need high calories try one of the supplements listed below. They are available in most grocery or drug stores.  They can also be ordered on-line and delivered to your door.

 

Ensure® or Ensure Plus®	Nutren®
Boost Breeze®	Carnation Instant Breakfast®
Carnation Instant Breakfast Juice®	Pediasure®
Boost® or Boost Plus®	ProBalance®

 

 

Dental Care

• Drink 2 to 4 glasses of plain water each day.  This is in addition to your other beverages. 
• Rinse your mouth with water several times after every meal to wash away small pieces of food.  This is even more important if you are not able to clean your teeth with a toothbrush.

 

Storage

 

• You may want to blend larger portions of foods for extra meals at home or away.
• Be sure to date and label all containers.
• Be sure to clean the blender completely and refrigerate all foods. 
• Refrigerated foods should be used within 48 hours.

 

Shopping List

Carnation Instant Breakfast®	powdered milk	fluid milk
yogurt	egg substitute	canned pasta
canned refried beans	chicken broth	beef broth
gravy	tomato or V8® juice	tomato sauces, salsa
cheese sauce	fruit juice	canned fruits
frozen fruits	canned vegetables	frozen vegetables
canned soups	rice	instant potatoes
instant oatmeal	cream of wheat	Saltines
vanilla wafers, gingersnaps	graham crackers	wheat germ
peanut butter (smooth)	pudding cups/mix	Jell-O® cups/mix
plastic spoons	straws (large diameter)
other

 

 

 

 

 

Great resource for ideas and recipes:     http://www.lucysrealfood.com/

 

If you are a patient of UW Health and have more questions, or would like to make an appointment, please contact us at one of the phone numbers listed below.

 

Nutrition Clinic  University Station 2880 University Avenue Madison, WI  53705

Nutrition Clinic  UW Health West Clinic 451 Junction Road Madison, WI  53717

Nutrition Clinic  UW Health East Clinic 5249 East Terrace Drive Madison, WI  53718

The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 07/24/2012

Copyright © 10/27/2011 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#279

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