can you recommend soft smooth foods to eat with swallowing problem?

[TheArmadillo]

Can't swallow anything that is lumpier than mashed potatoes (no to rice, mince, mashed veg like carrot or other stuff with even small lumps).

Also needs to be dairy free (or adaptable), and no effort - preferrably pick up from shop as too tired to really cook.

For the past few days I have been living off pureed soups, ready brek, yoghurt and mashed potatoes. Getting bored.

Any other ideas?

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

I'd suggest you get hold of some Complan or similar fortified meal replacement drinks.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Sorry... Complan contains dairy but you can get hold of dairy-free, soy based protein shakes, that kind of thing. Check out sporting shops.

[RestingActress]

Alpro do dairy free mousses - vanilla, caramel and chocolate flavours IIRC.

Smoothies?

Hope you're feeling better soon

[TheArmadillo]

Ooh I have some soya protein powder and I can blend fruit in - will do that for lunch. Not getting any fruit/veg is bothering me.

Dh is going to shop later so he can see what dairy free range is like.

Have test tomorrow so can't eat/drink from tonight.

Trying to kickstart my appetite as it takes a long time to eat and is hard work. Never thought anything would put me off food ;)

[Cies]

Baby food is the obvious one.

Hope you feel better soon

[CashmereMouse]

Alpro soya custard (in the health food section of the supermarket), vegetable soups, fruit smoothies

[RestingActress]

Fruit compotes with alpro / lactofree custard / cream?

[Beastofburden]

If you zap a cooking apple for 3 minutes in the microwave with a bit of sugar you will get a nice puree. Same with plums. Leave the skins, eat the middles.

Smoothies sounds a nice idea too.

[TheArmadillo]

Thanks for the ideas. Sounds more exciting than the repetitive shite I had in hospital.

It's also reminded me that I have a liquidizer so I dh can puree me stuff.

[TheArmadillo]

I am usually a good and imaginative cook, honestly, just brain dead atm.

Fruit purees sound really good - food with colour and flavour!

[thereistheball]

You could do mince but pureed - that would allow a kind of shepherds' pie and cottage pie. You could puree veg in with the mince or the potato: parsnip, butternut squash, sweet potato, and so on.

Can you have very soft lumps that just slip down without catching? I am thinking of orzo, which is rice-shaped pasta, usually thrown into soup.

Tinned beans also puree well, and can take a bit of spice if you're getting bored with the same old same old. Try drained white beans with some powdered cumin and coriander, and some garlic, and some veg to make them less solid - frozen spinach, passata, fried onions or beetroot would all be delicious.

Lots of pates are smooth, or you could make a runnier version of smoked fish pate (I like smoked mackerel but smoked salmon would be good too) with fish and some diary-free yoghurt, plus lemon and pepper or whatever you feel like adding for flavour. Just blitz. I would happily eat that with a spoon but it would be good over a baked potato aswell.

All of these do require a little bit of effort but not much. Is there anyone who could help?

Hope your test tomorrow goes well!

[Onykahonie]

Can you eat spicy stuff? If so how about making a red lentil dal/dhal and liquidising if it's not smooth enough?
Good luck with your test.

[jellymaker]

Tinned fruit, custard, jelly, soup,scrambled egg,

[Blu]

Mashed avocado

[TheArmadillo]

Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately can't even do rice sized pieces and think scrambled eggs will be a bit much. But I am sure there's not much that can't be liquidised.

Might get dh to do a bit more cooking but he is a bit snowed under with everything at the moment. If I feel up to it I will be making soup this week and maybe some dahl. I love spicy food.

[Wesdly]

Pretty much all veg can be pureed and into a very smooth consistency, peas and sweet corn are the only thing I think you'll need to avoid. Broccoli, cauliflower, Swede and carrots all blend really well.
If you're willing to experiment most things can be pureed, avoid rice and pasta. But any dish with a sauce can be done fairly easily.

[mrspremise]

Puréed swede and potato with a few chunks of apple mashed in. Season to taste.

[mrspremise]

That's pureed, by the ay, I must lestn that MN talk hates accents, etc...

[mrspremise]

by the way... I must learn... FFS!

[ThatVikRinA22]

ive just had surgery on my stomach and was in this same boat for the last 2 weeks.

i have lived on much the same as you - ready brek, weetabix, soups, yoghurt, custard, semolina, etc

if you look at the recipe threads on here you will find some home made soup threads - they have been great!

the other thing i have done is make meals as normal - things like stews and casseroles but in the slow cooker so everything is really tender - then liquidise and puree everything with a bit more gravy etc to keep it runny. that way you are eating with the family.

ive also done things with sauces - pasta and smooth sauce pureed and also done things like baked cod, parsley sauce, liquidise and serve with a bit of mashed potato.
also bubble and squeak. yummy.

[goodasitgets]

If you have soy protein, you can blend it with almond/soy milk, a banana, honey, cinnamon, Greek yog, peanut butter... Any combo

[ColdasToast]

Mascarpone.

[ColdasToast]

Just read your dairy free requirement

[steppemum]

Don't know if you still need help, but dd2 couldn't eat anything more than thin puree due to swallowing problem.

We pureed and then put through a sieve. it was a bit of work, but meant that you can be a bit braver.

I pureed lots of normal meals, like for baby food
If you like it, semolina (from a tin) is pretty smooth and you can mix in fruit puree, the only ones we could use though were baby pots, as even toddler pots have lumps in.
Custard is good and so are things that melt on the mouth
chocolate buttons, and cheesy wotsits melt away completely.

[CakePunch]

Fish pie mashed with a folk.
Other ready meals like sagaloo can be mashed too.
What exact consistency do you need?