16160--Easy to Chew and Swallow Diet (patient handout view) (2024)

Easy To Chew and Swallow Diet

Why Do I Need This Diet?

You may need to follow this diet after you have a stent placed in your GI tract, or for some other reason. Foods suggested in this handout are easy to swallow and will pass easily through a stented area.

General Guidelines

Cook foods so that they are moist, soft, and easily swallowed.
Chew all of your food very well, more times than you normally would.
Eat slowly and take small bites.
Eat 5-6 small meals per day if needed, instead of 3 big meals.
Sit upright while you eat and stay upright for 30-60 minutes after eating.
If food ever feels stuck in your throat, take a couple sips of your beverage. This will help the food move along. You may want to repeat this throughout the day, especially before and after each meal.

Commercial Nutritional Supplements

Note: we do not recommend any brands or stores. Below are examples.

If you are having trouble keeping your weight up, you may need to drink shakes as snacks or in place of meals. You can buy these or make them at home.

Boost^®, Ensure^®,or store brand equivalents (Kroger, Food Lion, Walmart, Target, and Costco all have their own) are all good options. Look for the word “Plus” on the label if you need more calories.
Carnation^® InstantBreakfast powder or equivalent store brand made with whole milk is a good alternative too, and usually cheaper.
For more calories in a smalleramount of volume, you can order Mighty Shakes^® from www.homecarenutrition.com,or Boost^® Very High Calorie from Amazon.com or other online retailers

Food Group	Good Choices	Bad Choices
*Bread and Starches*	Cooked cereals Mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams Baked potato without skin Soft, moist rice Noodles, macaroni, spaghetti Dry cereals softened in milk Pancakes and waffles softened with syrup/butter Crackers or breads added to soups Hard bread with thick crust Dry cereals without milk Potato chips, pretzels Popcorn Crackers
*Vegetables*	Any that are cooked soft or pureed. They should be “fork-tender.” Strained baby vegetables Raw vegetables or any that are not cooked as described here.
*Fruits*	All juices All canned fruits Peeled bananas, peaches, plums Cooked apples, pears, etc. Stewed dried fruits Strained baby fruit	Fresh fruits with skins Dried fruits
*Meat and Proteins*	Soft cooked eggs Tofu Casseroles Moist fish Stewed meat or poultry that is fork tender Strained baby meats All other meats must be bite-size or ground. Add gravy to any meat for moisture Dry poultry, like fried or baked chicken Crunchy fish or shellfish Peanut butter All tough red and white meats
*Dairy Products*	Milk – all kinds Yogurt, custard, ice cream Soft or melted cheeses Cottage cheese, cream cheese Ice cream or yogurt with chunks of fruit or nuts
*Fats*	Butter, margarine, sour cream Salad dressings, mayonnaise Avocado Gravy Whipping cream, half and half Bacon Nuts Deep fried, crispy food
*Desserts*	Sherbet, ice cream, Italian ice, frozen yogurt Gelatin, pudding, mousse, custard All cake type desserts Cookies Pie crust Any dry desserts Desserts containing nuts or skins

Sample Meals
Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Cereal softened with whole milk, canned fruit. Orange juice to drink.	Creamed or vegetable soup, applesauce with cinnamon and sugar. Ice tea to drink.	Ground chicken with gravy, mashed potatoes with butter/cheese, soft green beans. Milk to drink.
Scrambled eggs made with cheese and butter. Coffee to drink with cream and sugar.	Egg salad/tuna salad on soft, crustless, buttered bread, melon. Lemonade to drink.	Macaroni and cheese, “bite-sized” hot dog with ketchup/mustard, baked beans. Ice tea to drink.
Oatmeal made with whole milk, yogurt, and banana. Grape juice to drink.	Ground beef/pork with gravy, rice, and creamed corn or cooked/soft carrots. Milk to drink.	Spaghetti with ground meat sauce, soft cooked vegetables with cheese sauce. Water to drink.
Pancakes or French toast with butter, syrup, or fruit sauce. Orange juice to drink.	Pasta or potato salad, soup or stew, canned or soft fruit. Water to drink.	Omelet made with cheese, spinach, or other cooked vegetables. Lemonade to drink.

For moreinformation on high calorie and protein liquids and many shake recipes, see the UVA Digestive Health website under the patient education link:

www.GInutrition.virginia.edu

16160--Easy to Chew and Swallow Diet (patient handout view) (2024)

References