Dysphagia: Dysphagia Pureed
What is a pureed diet?
A pureed diet consists of foods with a “pudding-like” texture. Food is smooth and moist and should not be runny or sticky. There should be no lumps, no chunks, no seeds, and no pulp. It is easy to swallow, does not need to be chewed, and is easy for you to control in your mouth. Foods should not be coarse, dry, crunchy, sticky, or chewy.
Why is a Dysphagia Pureed diet safer for me?
Your doctor suggests a pureed diet to help prevent food from “going down the wrong pipe”. As the result of a stroke, injury, or disease some people have problems safely swallowing. This is known as dysphagia. Eating a pureed diet and having someone with you as you eat will help you to protect your airway. If problems occur you will have help right away.
Food Groups |
Safe Foods |
Foods to Avoid |
Thin liquids, if allowed |
Milk Products |
Tip: Use a blender to make smooth. |
Yogurts with fruit chunks; firm cheeses |
|
Meat and Protein |
Tip: Use a blender with some added liquid to make smooth |
Eggs, peanut butter, Junior baby foods, nuts |
|
Vegetables |
|
Raw vegetables, Junior baby foods, runny purees |
Tomato or vegetable juice |
Fruits |
|
Raw fruits, canned whole fruits, dried fruits |
|
Breads, Cereals, Starches |
|
Breads, rolls, buns, biscuits, muffins, crackers, dry cereal, pancakes, French toast, pasta, rice, old fashioned oats |
Milk or cream with cereals, well blended |
Let’s stop talking about food for a minute because I want real food!
The food on the Dysphagia Pureed menu is “real food”, but the texture has been made real smooth. Right now your body is showing signs that you are safer swallowing smooth foods that are pudding consistency. This will give you practice swallowing so you can move on to the next level of the dysphagia diets. Let’s continue the food tables.
Food Groups |
Safe Foods |
Foods to Avoid |
Thin liquids, if allowed |
Soup |
Tip: Soups may need to be thickened |
|
Broth and other thin, strained soups |
Desserts |
|
Popsicles, gelatin, frozen desserts, cookies, cakes, pies, textured pudding |
Malts, milk shakes, eggnog |
Beverages |
Tip: Drinks may need to be thickened. |
|
Milk, juices, coffee, tea, sodas, water, carbonated beverages, alcoholic beverages, nutritional supplements, ice chips |
Other |
|
Cream cheese, candy, sticky foods, horseradish, chili sauce |
|
Website with recipes for liquid foods: http://www.lucysrealfood.com/
"Adapted from the American Dietetic Association Nutrition Care Manual: National Dysphagia Diet Task Force. National Dysphagia Diet – Standardization for Optimal Care. Chicago, Ill: American Dietetic Association; 2002:10-12."
This diet is similar to the NDD1-Dysphagia Pureed Diet.
If you would like to make an appointment or are a UW Health patient with more questions please contact UW Health at one of the phone numbers listed below.
| University Station Nutrition Clinic Room L33 2880 University Avenue Madison, WI 53705 (608) 263-4360 appointments (608) 263-5012 |
UW Health West Clinic Nutrition Clinic Room 1296 451 Junction Road Madison, WI 53717 (608) 262-9181 appointments |
UW Health East Clinic Nutrition Clinic Room 2106 5249 East Terrace Drive Madison, WI 53718 (608) 265-7405 appointments |
| American Family Children’s Hospital, 1675 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792 Pediatric Specialty Clinics - Nutrition (608) 890-8298 or 263-6420 appts |
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: 08/14/2012
Copyright © 06/07/2012 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#458
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