I have been prescribed a Mechanically Soft Diet, can I still receive meals from Meals On Wheels Inc. of Tarrant County? YES!
Meals On Wheels Recommended Meal Plan
Regular Diet with the beverage of your choice of one of the following Low Fat Milk, Skim Milk, or Chocolate Milk.
Diet Implications
What is the purpose of a mechanically altered diet?
To provide texture-modified foods that require minimal chewing.
What does the diet consist of?
The soft diet can include any of the following consistencies: chopped, ground, mashed, moist and pureed foods that allow easy chewing.
What does it mean for a food to be modified?
Modified food means that the food texture is changed. This can be done by chopping, mashing, processing and blending without changing the nutritional values of the food. It is common to modify food consistency with use of a grinder, mini food processor, or blender. Chopping and grinding are conventional ways to modify food items. Chopping can be done by using a knife to cut foods into smaller pieces that are easier to consume or by using a food chopper. Grinding is where you reduce the size and consistency with friction. To grind, first use an object to flatten a food and then apply pressure while twisting the object to make the food into smaller/thinner pieces. Tools like a food grinder, chopper, processor or blender all come with directions to walk you through the steps of usage. When using a blender to alter food add liquid, like juice from canned food, gravy etc. Adding water to most foods can change the flavor, therefore, add a minimal amount.
What are the nutritional recommendations of a soft diet?
In the soft diet, the nutritional recommendations remain the same as a normal diet, however the consistency of the foods consumed is altered.
How can I make my prescribed mechanically altered diet work with the Meals On Wheels Regular Diet plan?
Meals On Wheels provides adequate nutrition to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The breakfast and noon meals provided contain 1/3 of the recommended amounts of nutrients as guided by the RDA/DRI standards (Recommended Dietary Allowances/Dietary Reference Intakes). Meals On Wheels regular diets are often appropriate for the soft diet. Some foods in the meals that are easy to consume are oatmeal, applesauce, rice, muffins, fresh cooked spinach, and pud- ding. The consumer’s acceptance and tolerance of the diet also dictates the extent of which to modify the texture.
Aside from my Meals On Wheels food, what other soft foods can I consume for snacks and my third meal of the day?
Foods to avoid and/or minimize:
- Any food containing raw eggs.
- Crisp crackers, popcorn, taco shells, cakes/breads containing nuts, seeds, raisins or dates and
- bagels.
- Dried fruit
- Olives, nuts, seeds, and bacon
- Citrus fruits, pineapple, apples, and blueberries.
- Dry or tough cuts of meat or poultry. Fried fish or fish containing bones.
- Crunchy peanut butter and hard cheeses.
- Fried potatoes or French fries
- Soups containing hard chunks of meat and crunchy vegetables
- Raw vegetables or those that are still firm.
- Nuts, coconuts and seeds.
Foods to Enjoy:
- Milk, milkshakes, coffee, tea, and carbonated beverages • Soft breads, pancakes, muffins without nuts or seeds, waffles, and crackers/breads that have been softened in a soup or beverage.
- Cooked cereals
- Plain custards, puddings, sherbet, ice cream, yogurt and ice pops.
- Butter or margarine; cream and cooking fats/oils
- Cooked or mashed fruits
- Soft, cooked meat and poultry with sauces added for moisture.
- Soft fish without bones
- Mashed and baked potatoes
- Soft pastas
- Broth and cream soups
- Clear jelly; honey; sugar and syrup
- Well-cooked, soft vegetables
- Seasonings