She can only eat pureed food. Does anyone have any ideas as to something I can puree with good flavor. I am going to take in the broth of lobster soup- but was trying to think of other foods also.
Hopefully someone has been thru the same situation and can help with ideas. There has to be something other than the nursing home food that would be appetizing for her.
Thanks
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https://www.agingcare.com/search?term=dysphagia+diets
As you can tell, a lot of folks here have had experience with dysphagia and pureeing foods.
Not all posts will address recipes, but you might get some ideas.
I do have some information to share on the various levels of dysphagia diets, so I would suggest that you first ask the staff Speech Therapist or Speech Pathologist what level your mother has:
Level 1: Pureed Nutrition Therapy
Level 2: Mechanical Soft, or
Level 3: Advanced.
Levels for liquids also apply: Nectar-like, Honey-like and Spoon-thick.
I received printouts published by the American Dietetic Assn. and very good publications apparently produced by a rehab center locally.
This is an example of what commercial pureed foods might offer; it gives you some ideas how creative one can be.
https://swallowingdisorderfoundation.com/easy-pureed-meals/
Notwithstanding their creativity, I had a difficult time pureeing meat. I gave up on ham; just too tough. Beef is easier if it's already been mechanically treated, such as hamburger (say, vs. roast). Chicken can be pureed with chicken gravy.
I used a Kitchen-Aid Mini-Food Processor; blenders were just too large and it was too difficult to get the blended food out.
https://www.kitchenaid.com/countertop-appliances/food-processors/choppers/p.3.5-cup-food-chopper.kfc3516er.html
I'll be back later after my computer and I have a heart-to-processor discussion about its deleting my posts. Feel free to ask more questions and/or details.
ETA: another quick thought: you can take most foods and puree them down to the level required. Gravy, juices and other liquids can be used to reduce the bulk and, sometimes the tough areas and still add flavor.
Perhaps you could share what some of her favorite foods are and we can make suggestions on what could compliment them to bring them to one of the 3 dysphagia levels? Lobster soup is not something in my diet, so I'm kind of lost there, although you might try Thick-it (as Barb mentioned).
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Liquids like broth may need to be thickened with something called Thick-it. In general, mashed potatoes, pureed soups, are good. My brother had the NH puree prime rib!! Mom loved it!
This may be a temporary measure until she starts getting speech therapy to improve her swallowing.