Difficulty chewing and swallowing, or dysphagia, cannot only be frustrating, but it is also a serious health risk. Particularly, difficulty chewing and swallowing can cause you to aspirate, or inhale, your foods contents, which can cause choking or pneumonia. To prevent aspiration, your doctor will prescribe a dysphagia diet level that lets you know what types of foods are safe to consume to prevent serious complications. Foods on a dysphagia level 2 diet, should be minced or chopped into very small pieces.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are important components of a well-balanced diet. They provide fiber, vitamins, and minerals that are necessary for health. However, fruits and vegetables are somewhat limited on a dysphagia level 2 diet because these foods tend to be bulky in nature and difficult to swallow. Therefore, you can only choose soft fruits and vegetables, such as mashed bananas or potatoes. In addition, you may juice fruits and vegetables to make a smoothie, which will be easy for you to swallow. Juicing will allow you to consume the fiber, vitamins and minerals that fruits and vegetables provide.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are complex sugars that are broken down into simple sugars to provide the body with energy. Therefore, adequate consumption of carbohydrates is essential in energy storage and use. While on a dysphagia level 2 diet, you only eat soft, minced cereals and pastas. Cereal should be cooked or in milk. Pastas should be slightly overcooked to make sure they are soft. In addition, pastas should be no larger than 1/8 inch.
Meats
Meats are the main protein source for most Americans. For a dysphagia level 2 diet, you should mince meats, including red meat, fish and poultry, to avoid choking or aspiration. To make minced meats more appetizing, mix them with sauce, mashed potatoes or minced vegetables. Fish is generally easier to flake into small pieces. Fish is also a healthier option than red meat because it is high in heart-healthy fats.
Dairy
You can enjoy many dairy products on a dysphagia level 2 diet. If you are not lactose intolerant, you can consume milk products to boost your protein intake. It is safe to consume milk, milkshakes, cottage cheese, cream cheese and milk based creams. You should avoid hard cheeses to prevent choking or aspiration.
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