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Nutrition – Texture Modified Diets

11 July 2020

Texture modified diets are incredibly important for individuals who suffer from swallowing and/or chewing difficulties. The level of modification is determined by a speech pathologist and is based on the size, moisture content and stickiness of the food item. Each texture modified diet (pureed, minced & moist, soft) has different requirements that must be followed to avoid choking.

To assist with the preparation of these special meals, please find a list of helpful resources below:

Pureed (Level 4)

If a client is placed on a pureed diet by their speech pathologist, they require food that does not require biting/chewing to eat (minimises fatigue). These clients will often suffer from pain and/or fatigue when chewing/swallowing, missing teeth, or poorly fitted dentures.

Food suitable for a Level 4 Pureed Diet must:

  • Be able to be eaten with a spoon (a fork may also be possible)
  • Not be able to be drunk from a cup – meaning it does not flow easily
  • Not have lumps
  • Not be sticky
  • Fall off a spoon in a single spoonful

To assist with the preparation of these special meals, please find a list of helpful resources below:

A fun way to make pureed meals more inviting for clients, is to use food moulds. For more information on food moulds, scroll to the bottom of the page. 

Minced & Moist (Level 5)

Minced & Moist diets are typically prescribed for clients who can use their tongue to breakdown food and who do not produce enough saliva. This makes food difficult to swallow and increases the likelihood of it getting stuck int their throat. Therefore, food must be moist and in small pieces.

Food suitable for a Level 5 Minced & Moist Diet must:

  • Not require biting
  • Require minimal chewing

To assist with the preparation of these special meals, please find a list of helpful resources below:

Soft (Level 6)

A Soft Diet is required for individuals who experience some difficulty chewing, but can still use their tongue, and a small amount of chewing, to effectively breakdown their food. If a client is placed on a soft diet by their speech pathologist, they require food that:

  • Does not require a lot of biting/chewing to eat (minimises fatigue)
  • Has small pieces to minimize choking risk
  • Can be broken down with tongue force

To assist with the preparation of these special meals, please find a list of helpful resources below:

Food Moulds

Food moulds are also a great way to make pureed food items look more appealing to clients. Clients on pureed diets often report a loss of dignity and struggles with eating socially as their meals look unappealing. By moudling the meal components to reflect the standard food item, it allows our clients some normality and makes their mealtimes just a little bit more like old times for them.

Flavour Creations offer a great range of food moulds, as well as products to assist with shaping the meals.

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