Food Ideas For Those On Chewable Restricted Diets

[pamela]

What to eat if you cannot chew? I know there are excellent supplements and drinks to replace the nutrients a person in such a situation finds they can't ingest as whole foods, but how to make them cheaply and tasty at home remains a question.

The first thing anyone needs to remember if they can't chew and are forced to a liquid/liquified diet is that there remains a need to hold these foods in your mouth and roll them over your tongue, so that adequate saliva is mixed in and stage one of proper digestion can take place.

My suggestion is similar to what everyone has said already here and there in the forums, Blended Soups. These are meant to be flavourful and to taste good when mixed together with each other...

Hearty Split Pea Soup (I'd mince or shred the ham or pork used instead of cubing it).

and another, Cheesy Potato Soup.

add an idea or an easily blended recipe here. Help feed those who can't chew...

Take Heart, there's steak and ribs on the menu soon enough.
Pamela.

 

[Nancy]

How about using a blender with some added broth or other liquid and some spices and make your own baby food from whatever anyone else is having?

 

[geebee]

I agree with Nancy. A little chicken or vegetable broth will turn any food into a great soft dish. Zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, potatoes, even meats can be pureed this way.

Also - let's not forget milkshakes.

 

[Ross]

I'm going to be inventing things not yet tried by man. Wonder how to do frog legs and crawfish?

 

[Cooker]

I'm going to be inventing things not yet tried by man. Wonder how to do frog legs and crawfish?

PM Earline and ask her for some recipes ... I know that Cajun gal can help you out!!

 

[geebee]

I'm going to be inventing things not yet tried by man. Wonder how to do frog legs and crawfish?

Just remove the shells and bones first. Then you can mince the meat, mix with egg whites beaten until fluffy, add some spices and poach in little patties. Not quite the same as whole but still has the flavor.

Or were you just being cute as only you know how to do?

 

[Bina]

Can you sautee some shrimp.....and smash it with a fork?

 

[escargome]

How about take some lobster meat already steamed, put in the blender with some seafood spices like Mrs Dash or something then blend.
Or canned sweet potatoes with a little milk in the blender also.
Along of course with all the other great suggestions.
Also, if you can stand it, try some Pexoxyl (by Colgate). It's a mouth rinse that might help with the healing process. I used this as a rinse when I had my teeth removed. Might be of assistance for you. Still keeping you in my prayers...

 

[netmiff]

there's always peaunut butter . . . . .

 

[Ross]

Also, if you can stand it, try some Pexoxyl (by Colgate). It's a mouth rinse that might help with the healing process. I used this as a rinse when I had my teeth removed. Might be of assistance for you. Still keeping you in my prayers...

I think you might be on to something here.....I'll do anything to get this to heal quicker. It's only been 4 days and I already miss having what I did have even if they were broken and partially gone. The sound of 6 months isn't getting any more respect from me.

 

[Nancy]

Did you ever make a souffled omelet? They are tasty and soft and you can add some cheese and it would melt.

All you do is separate the eggs, and beat the whites until stiff, then beat the yolks until lemon colored, and fold in the whites.

Melt some butter or butter/olive oil combo in a pan that can go into the oven, and pour in your egg mixture carefully. Then sprinkle with whatever cheese you like, even gorgonzola or blue cheese or any other cheese.

Cook on medium high heat until the bottom is set and it starts to rise up the sides of the pan, then put the pan in the oven at 350 until the cheese has melted and the eggs puff up.

Could salt and pepper it as you wish.

 

[catwoman]

How about Mexican food?

How about Mexican food?

When my cousin's son had jaw surgery this summer, he had a restricted diet for about 8 weeks, starting with liquids and then things like mashed potatoes and gradually increasing the hardness of the foods as his surgically-broken lower jaw healed.

John & I visited them in Houston and we went out for Mexican food. Josh did not want yet more soup (tortilla), so his mom mashed up part of an enchilada and blended it with chicken broth the restaurant provided. Josh was able to "eat" that, along with some guacamole thinned a little with broth.

It wasn't pureed, but Josh didn't have to bite into or chew the food.

I would have thinned it with a good margarita instead of chicken broth.

 

[Ross]

Recently my husband and I have been eating Irish "steel cut" oatmeal for breakfast and it feels quite substantial. I don't think those tiny oats would absolutely require chewing. We've been stirring in some half and half. Delicious!

Also, someone recently was telling me -- and I don't recall in what context this would have come up in conversation but several of my friends are grandmas so it may have been in conversation with one of them -- that Gerber's strained peaches were delicious... I'm in no hurry to try them but thought it was worth sharing...

Susan by the time this is over, I expect to be able to report on most all flavors of Gerbers baby foods.

 

[Ross]

The wife made some chicken breasts and pureed them with some chicken bullion and it was really good. Really runny, but really good. I'm thinking of trying a steak and hamburger and concoct a recipe or two out of that.

 

[Bina]

In my pantry right now:
Gerber strained apricots, pears, mixed fruit, apple/strawberry. No joke, they are really good (but not filling).
My Mom used to cook cream of wheat and dollop the Gerber fruit on top. Amazing.
That was in the good old days of stay at home Moms and hot breakfasts and walking 2 miles to school.

 

[kfay]

Cream of Wheat was my first thought as well...one of my favorites. What about a big pot of soup beans (can you tell I'm from the south?) like pintos? They are very filling and you can mash them with a spoon or fork so you won't have to chew them. Also, black beans and rice. In another week or so, you may be able to have a pot of vegetable soup (no meat) that has been cooked long enough that the vegetables are really mushy.

 

[AgilityDog]

I was thinking homemade beef (or turkey) and barley soup, using ground meat that has been cooked long enough for the veggies and meat to be gummable/swallowable. Barley is soft and so filling, yet has good mouth feel.

Also try couscous. This pasta is so small, and can be flavored with broths, spices, cooked veggies and/or meat or cheese depending upon what you can manage.
I usually have a couscous casserole on hand in the freezer for lunches, together with soups and paellas--again, soft but spicy, and no need for chewing. I like it because it fits my WW Core, is low to nonexistent in sodium, and is filling. It also freezes well, so I make a big batch and freeze individual portions.

I make paella with saute'd veggies, spices (garlic, turmeric, whatever) add broth, uncooked rice, fish fillets and let simmer uncovered until all the moisture is absorbed. You could use this as your cajun dish with the right seasonings and shellfish. Maybe add some cut up okra, too.

Of course, this stuff is soft, but not pureed, so it depends upon how far the healing has come and whether you can swallow soft but not liquid items.

 

[Bridgette]

Home made ice cream!

Home made ice cream!

My sister is a vegetarian or to be more specific a "raw foodist" and this is a recipe she uses for homemade dairy free all natural icecream:



ICE CREAM (serves 4)

2 frozen bananas, finely chopped. (prepare these the night before and put in the freezer)
1 cup frozen cherries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries (You choose but the blueberries work really well and I have heard great reviews about the cherry option)
2 tablespoons raw almond butter (if you cant find raw then I guess the toasted variety will do but its not as nutritious)
2 tablespoons raw carob powder (again if you can't find raw then toasted will have to do, just make sure its the fine powder variety)
1 teaspoon vanilla OR 1 vanilla bean (deseeded)

Put all ingedients in food processor with s blade and process until smooth. The mixture will go all crumbly at first but as soon as the frozen ingredients soften a little bit, it will suddenly start to become very smooth.
If you eat it immediately it is more like a mousse or you can freeze it and have it as ice cream. Yummy with fresh fruit on top.
Enjoy!!!!


I haven't made it myself yet, but heaps of people have and all say it's really nice - even if you are not a "health food freak" lol.

Bridgette

 

[lcwhitney]

HEY EVERONE LETS NOT FORGET BAKED POTATOES, WHITE OR SWEET POTATOES BOTH CAN MAKE A MEAL BY THEMSELVES.HAGEN DAZ MAKE S SEVERAL VERY GOOD FRUIT SORBETS THAT I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE FEEL GREAT IN A A sORE MOUTH. THE COLD IS ALSO GOOD FOR SWELLING.

Lettitia

 

[bvdr]

A nice change of taste is what we used to call a "purple cow". Put cold buttermilk, ice, splenda (to suit your taste) and frozen blueberries in the blender. It turns purple and has a nice tart taste. I only use buttermilk for 3 things.....pancakes, ranch dressing, and purple cows. Tell me if you like it.