Swallowing difficulties

If you are finding it difficult to swallow or food gets stuck in your throat then you may need to adjust the consistency of the foods you are eating.  Try the following, from top to bottom, until you find a consistency you can tolerate.

When there are difficulties involving coughing and choking it is important that a referral is made to a Speech and Language Therapist ( SaLT)

Normal diet

Any food can be swallowed easily.

Soft diet

Any soft and moist foods that do not stick to your mouth. Examples:  Weetabix/cornflakes softened with milk Sandwiches with soft fillings
Tender chicken and fish, moussaka, spaghetti bolognaise
Omelette, soft chips, boiled potatoes
Soft fruit without skin or pips
Moist fruit cake, soft sweets, fudge

Mashable diet

The foods must be soft enough to be mashed.  They need to be moistened by adding sauce and gravy.

Examples:  macaroni cheese, scrambled egg, cottage cheese, cottage pie, pasta/rice, mince meat, chocolate mousse, smooth yoghurt, whipped cream, smooth stewed fruit.

Purée diet

The food needs to be smooth and have an even texture.  It would be moist enough to slip down when swallowed.  A food processor or blender would be helpful with this diet.
Directions:

Examples: chicken, fish, mince, macaroni cheese, cauliflower, tinned/stewed fruit, smooth yoghurt, smooth thick custard, mousse.

Liquid diet

If you can drink fluids only it is important that they are high in nutritional value.  It is likely that you will need to have supplementary drinks some of which can be prescribed by your doctor.

Examples of nourishing fluids: