A soft food diet is appropriate for people who find it difficult to chew or swallow. This condition is known as Dysphagia.
For people with significant Dysphagia, who are unable to eat tough foods safely, a doctor or dietitian might prescribe a texture modified diet. In this diet, the texture of foods needs to be altered to reduce the need to chew. They can achieve this by mashing and pureeing foods.
A texture-modified diet is similar to the soft food diet, and a doctor, speech pathologist or dietitian may recommend it to people who may be at risk of getting food stuck in the throat or windpipe.
Medical professionals will assess people with dysphagia and will make appropriate dietary recommendations depending on individual needs.
The range of foods and textures offered depends on the severity of the dysphagia. Individuals should discuss options with a doctor or other professional, such as a speech and language therapist who specialises in helping people who have difficulty swallowing.
