Pureed food and beverages can be helpful if you are experiencing difficulty with chewing, swallowing, or fully digesting solid foods. If you recently had bariatric surgery, you may now require your food to be blended, ground, or pressed.
There are various reasons that you may need to either temporarily or permanently switch to pureed food. Many recipes exist to increase the flavors of puréed meals, making them more enjoyable and delicious. Pureed food doesn’t need to be bland!
What is Pureed Food?
The term purée refers to taking solid foods such as fruits, vegetables, and meats, blending them in a processor, adding a liquid such as broth or water, then passing through a sieve for a smooth consistency. Flavor can be improved by adding sauces and seasonings if your diet allows. Making your own puréed meals at home can be easy; however, there are many premade selections of pureed food that are flavorful and nutritious.
Useful Tips When Puréeing Foods
When you are looking to make your own puréed meals at home, choosing the right foods is key. One of the biggest challenges those on a puréed diet face is getting proper nutrition. Making sure to include enough protein, fiber, vitamins, and carbohydrates is important to remember when selecting the foods you’ll purée.
- First and foremost, be sure that you have a good blender or food processor. Hand-mixing ingredients can make puréeing very difficult, not to mention strenuous!
- Choose foods such as bananas, avocado, oatmeal, yogurt, and soups that easily purée.
- Cut or dice food into smaller pieces so they blend well and leave no remaining chunks. The final result will be a much more soft and smooth pureed food, allowing for pleasant consumption.
- Try adding liquids such as broth, gravy, vegetable and/or fruit juices, and nutritional supplements such as Ensure or Boost for added flavor and even consistency. Add more liquid to a thicker purée or more food to a thinner purée to achieve a pudding-like consistency. Make sure the final product of your pureed food is free from lumps, as this will allow for easier swallowing.
List of Foods for a Puréed Diet
Soft fruits like peaches, cantaloupe, and bananas- Vegetables such as potatoes, spinach, and green beans
- Beans
- Scrambled eggs
- Cottage and ricotta cheeses
- Soups
- Yogurt
- Canned tuna or chicken
- Oatmeal
- Applesauce
- Pudding or custard
- Fully cooked and diced meats and fish
These are just some of our suggestions but don’t forget to experiment. Try to avoid nuts and seeds as they may be difficult to pass through a strainer. We’ve put together a Sample Puréed Diet Menu that contains all the nutrients you’ll require in one day.
Personally Delivered carries a variety of puréed foods and beverages that are rich in nutrients to support those requiring a puréed diet. As always, speak to your doctor first about your symptoms to find out what nutritional needs are required. If you have any questions, our Product Experts are available at (800)777-1111 or you can contact us here.
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