A modified consistency diet involves the consumption of foods that have undergone a change in their consistency. Examples of modifications include chopped, ground up and pureed foods. However, a specific modified consistency diet plan will depend on your specific dietary requirements and preferences. According to "Simplified Diet Manual," doctors commonly recommend this kind of diet for individuals who have difficulty chewing.
The Purpose of the Diet
The modified consistency diet meets the needs of people who experience a decreased ability to chew food. This includes individuals with non-secured dentures, missing teeth, tooth sensitivity or sore gums. In these cases, chewing many foods can cause severe pain. The diet, then, involves processing the consistency of foods to make them more accessible. A softer texture, however, does not necessarily imply a softer flavor.
Modified Consistency Diet Nutrition
Individuals using a modified consistency diet need to make sure they consume balanced meals. The preparation of this diet lends itself to excluding certain foods. Additionally, many who use this diet are elderly and require well-planned meals to maintain optimal health. For example, while soups are a popular meal option available with most modified consistency diets, you should remember that soups typically contain a significant amount of water and may not contain all of the nutrients required for a balanced meal option. You should, therefore, place an emphasis on the foods' nutritional value and incorporate more of the bulkier foods such as meats and other proteins, rather than primarily considering the ease of preparation.
Some Helpful Tips
People on this diet should also consider the different ways you can thicken foods when preparing them. When softening the texture of foods, take care not to allow foods to become overly watery. Some all-purpose thickening agents you can use include corn starch, instant potatoes, powdered milk and flour. When you puree meats and starches, you can get the right consistency by adding a base of warm gravy or broth. For mixing fruits or dessert items, add milk, ice cream or juice as a base. You should also always cut foods into small pieces before pureeing them.
Making the Diet Enjoyable
Altering the consistency of your meals does not have to become an unpleasant experience. For variety, you can mix different consistencies for different meals. This will prevent all your food items from resembling each other and add variety to your modified consistency diet. Another option is to keep foods separate. Just because you puree your foods does not mean you have to puree all of your foods together. Try to keep pureed items separate and consume your meals as you would consume a normal plate of food with a main entrée and several side dishes.
References
- "Simplified Diet Manual"; Iowa Dietetic Association; 2007
- "Eat Your Genes: How Genetically Modified Food Is Entering Our Diet, Revised and Updated Edition"; Stephen Nottingham; 2003
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