Soft mechanical diet

MECHANICAL SOFT DIET Presented by: Janeisa Doolittle, Dasani McDonald, Anesu Hakata, Taylor Poskey, Victoria Hacker, Tristan Pearson, Marc Nicely, Dita Hodovic

Objectives for Mechanical Soft Diet 1. What is a mechanical soft diet? 2. What are the reasons for this texture modification? 3. Types of texture modification. 4. Which patient requires the texture modification diet ( Mechanical soft diet). 5. Sources of food available 6. Patient teaching

Definition-What does it mean to have this diet? Define the diet ● A mechanical soft diet is a texture-modified diet that restricts foods that are difficult to chew or swallow. (Verywell Health) ● Mechanical soft diet gets its name from the use of household items that can create the consistency (soft). ● Foods can be pureed, finely chopped, blended, or ground to make them smaller, softer, and easier to chew. (Verywell Health)

Indications ● Have difficulty chewing (e.g., poorly fitting dentures, missing teeth, recovering from dental What patients need this diet and why? or mouth surgery, general weakness.) ● Have difficulty swallowing (e.g., dysphagia; recovering from mouth, neck, or throat surgery; general weakness, stroke.) ● Patients undergoing radiation therapy for your head, neck, or stomach area, which may lead to digestive upset or pain in your mouth or throat. ● Were previously on a liquid diet after surgery or long-term illness and are gradually re-introducing solid foods. ● Patients having trouble moving or feeling portions of your mouth (such as your tongue or lips.) ● ***Reduce risk of ASPIRATION Reference: (Verywell Health 2020)

Food sources The goal of the diet is to make foods safer and help a person meet their nutritional needs. Most foods are allowed on the diet as long as they can be safely consumed, so this includes: ● Meats and Proteins ● Vegetables ● Fruits ● Breads, Cereals, and Starches ● Soup ● Desserts ● Drinks Reference: (Davidson 2021)

What foods to eat (5 examples) Smooth or fruited yogurt Cottage cheese Soft sliced cheese Ground meat Egg

What foods to avoid (5 examples) Hard cheese cubes and slices Foods containing seeds or nuts Most raw fruits and vegetables Chili with beans Crisp fried eggs

How to Prepare a Mechanical Soft Diet ● When preparing a soft diet these household items can be used: ● Fruit and vegetable Blender ● Knife set ● Stand mixer

Additional patient teaching - If you feel fatigued or not thinking clearly, notify your healthcare provider. This could indicate that you are not getting enough vitamins or minerals in your diet. (Verywell Health 2020) - Include enough fluids in your diet to prevent dehydration - Avoid or limit activities after eating for 30 minutes to prevent regurgitation or slow digestion. (Doenges) - When preparing to eat fruits and vegetables, cook them until soft, then chop, blend, or process the food. (Doenges)

Goal The goal of the diet is to make foods safer and help a person meet their nutritional needs. It is not intended as a weight loss diet. Most foods are allowed on the diet as long as they can be safely consumed. The main goal of the mechanical soft diet is avoiding foods that require a lot of chewing, such as tough meat, raw veggies, bread with a thick crust, nuts, seeds, and hard or crunchy snacks. Some foods, such as pudding, are safe for a mechanical soft diet as is. Other foods, like vegetables, require a little more work.

References What to Eat on a Mechanical Soft Diet. (2020, January 28). Verywell Health. Retrieved September 6, 2022, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-you-can-eat-on-a-mechanical-soft-diet-2507158 Holman, H. C., Williams, D., Johnson, J., Sommer, S., Johnson, J., Ball, B. S., Leehy, P., & Assessment Technologies Institute (Contributors). (2019). Nutrition for Nursing (7th ed.). Assessment Technologies Institute. Doenges, M. E., Moorhouse, M. F., & Murr, A. C. (2022). Nurse's pocket guide: Diagnoses, prioritized interventions, and rationales (15th ). F.A. Davis Company. Davidson, K. M. (2021, October 7). What Is a Mechanical Soft Diet? All You Need to Know. Healthline. Retrieved September 7, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/mechanical-soft-diet