Therapeutic diet
Soft and texture-modified diet
Eat safely and comfortably with chewing or swallowing difficulty.
StrokeDementiaHead and neck cancerParkinson'sMouth ulcersPoor dentition
Principles
- Follow the exact texture level set by the speech and language therapist
- Moisten everything — sauces, gravy and custard are the workhorses
- Avoid mixed textures such as soup with lumps
- Fortify, because texture-modified food is easily under-nutritious
Include
- Smooth porridge, mashed potato, minced meat in gravy
- Well-cooked soft vegetables
- Custard, yoghurt, mousse, ice cream
- Smooth soups and blended stews
- Thickened fluids if prescribed
Avoid or limit
- Dry crumbly foods: biscuits, crackers, plain rice, bread with crusts
- Stringy, tough or fibrous foods
- Nuts, seeds, pips and skins
- Mixed-consistency foods such as cereal in milk
A sample day
- BreakfastSmooth fortified porridge
- Mid-morningThick yoghurt or milkshake
- LunchMinced chicken in gravy, mashed potato, soft carrots
- AfternoonCustard or smooth fruit purée
- DinnerSmooth fish pie, soft greens
Cautions
- · Sit fully upright to eat and stay upright for 30 minutes afterwards.
- · Coughing on food or drink means stop and request a swallow reassessment.
Recipes that fit
Afya Companion offers education and self-help support. It does not diagnose, treat or replace care from your doctor, nurse, psychologist or dietitian. If something in your health changes, speak to your care team.