Diet and Nutrition

Recipes for Pureed Foods - Beverages, Shakes and Desserts

A number of medical and dental conditions require special care to ensure complete and balanced nutrition while maintaining a soft diet. Information follows to help guide your choices.

While you are having difficulty chewing or swallowing, use these recipes for preparing pureed meals . They can be the basis for developing your own recipes. Be creative! You can puree almost any food. Serve foods attractively and try a variety of herbs and seasonings. Do not limit yourself to plan foods and milkshakes. Experiment and enjoy!

Yogurt Fruit Drinks
Cran-Orange Cup
Peach Cooler
Cocoa Diablo
German Hot Chocolate Mix
Super Chocolate Drink
Chocolate Peanut Butter Drink
Egg Nog
Chocolate Egg Nog
Prune Nog
Milk and Fruit Shake
Super Banana Shake
Sherbert Shake
Mocha Shake
Super Chocolate Shake
Cake and Ice Cream
Fruit Cobbler
Pudding
Blended Canned or Fresh Fruits
Yogurt N' Fruit
Hot Spice Applesauce
Peaches and Cream
Fruit and Gelatin Whip
Strawberry Cheesecake

Beverages and Shakes

Yogurt Fruit Drinks

Combine the following ingredients in blender and blend well. Yield: 1 serving each

Peachy Yogurt Drink

1 carton peach yogurt

3 tablespoons cottage cheese

¾ cup apple juice

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Apricot Yogurt Drink

1 carton of plain yogurt

3 tablespoons of cottage cheese

1 jar of strained baby fruit

¾ cup apricot nectar

Dash of nutmeg

Bananna Fruit Yogurt Drink

1 carton of plain yogurt

3 tablespoons of cottage cheese

1 medium ripe banana

½ cup milk or fruit juice

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Egg Nog Yogurt Drink

1 carton vanilla yogurt

½ cup milk

½ cup grape juice

¼ cup liquid egg substitute

Dash of nutmeg

Cran-Orange Cup

2 ¼ cups boiling water
6 orange herbal tea bags
¾ cup cranberry juice cocktail, heated to boiling
2 tablespoons brown sugar

In teapot, pour boiling water over herbal teabags. Cover and brew for 5 minutes. Remove teabags. Stir in remaining ingredients. Yield: 4 servings

Peach Cooler

¾ cup cold milk
½ cup chilled peaches, canned or fresh
2-3 drops almond extract
½ cup vanilla ice cream

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Serve cold. Yield: 1 serving

Cocoa Diablo

1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon coca powder
1 tablespoon instant coffee
Dash of cinnamon

1 cup milk Combine sugar, cocoa, coffee and cinnamon in saucepan. Mix well. Add milk and stir until dry ingredients are dissolved. Heat to serving temperature, stirring frequently. Do not boil. Yield: 1 serving

German Hot Chocolate Mix

1 box (8 quarts yield) nonfat dry milk powder
1 jar (8 ounces) powdered creamer
½ cup sugar

Mix well. Store in covered container. When ready to use, add 1/3 cup mix to 1 cup boiling water.

Super Chocolate Drink

½ cup whole milk
¼ cup corn syrup
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon chocolate syrup or other flavor

Combine all ingredients. Mix well. Yield: 1 serving

Chocolate Peanut Butter Drink

1 cup milk
½ cup ice cream
2 tablespoons peanut butter
1 tablespoon chocolate syrup

Place all ingredients in blender and blend well. Yield: 1 serving

Egg Nog

½ cup half n’ half
½ cup egg substitute
2 tablespoons corn syrup
½ teaspoon vanilla

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Chill. Yield: 1 serving

Chocolate Egg Nog

¼ cup egg substitute
¾ cup milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup

Place all ingredients in blender. Blend well. Yield: 1 serving

Prune Nog

1 cup milk
1 jar strained baby prunes
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Place all ingredients in jar or blender container. Cover. Blend and serve chilled. Yield: 1 serving

Milk and Fruit Shake

½ cup fresh or frozen fruit (bananas or peaches)
1 cup milk

Place fruit and milk in blender. Blend until smooth. If you use berries, strain to remove all seeds. Yield: 1 serving

Super Banana Shake

1 scoop vanilla ice cream
¼ cup half n’ half
1 tablespoon dry milk powder
½ ripe banana

Place all ingredients in blender and blend well. Yield: 1 serving

Sherbet Shake

½ cup ginger ale
½ cup orange sherbet
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Combine all ingredients. Mix well. Chill. You may substitute Kool-aid or other carbonated beverages in place of ginger ale. Yield: 1 serving

Mocha Shake

1 teaspoon instant coffee powder
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
Dash of cinnamon
1 cup milk

Place all ingredients in blender. Blend well. Yield: 1 serving

Super Chocolate Shake

½ cup vanilla ice cream
¼ cup corn syrup
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon chocolate syrup

Combine all ingredients. Mix well. Chill. Yield: 1 serving

Desserts

Cake and Ice Cream

1 small piece of iced cake
1 small scoop of ice cream, no nuts
¼-1/2 cup milk

Blend cake and ice cream. Add milk and blend until smooth. Add additional milk if too thick. Yield: 1 serving

Fruit Cobbler

1 cup fruit cobbler
1 cup milk

Blend cobbler until smooth. Add milk and blend until of liquid consistency. Yeild: 1 serving

Pudding

¾ cup pudding
1 cup milk

Add ingredients to blender. Blend until of liquid consistency. Yield: 1 ½ cup

Blended Canned or Fresh Fruits

¾ cup canned or cooked fruit
2 tablespoons syrup from fruit or fruit juice

Place all ingredients in blender. Cover. Process on low speed until smooth. Serve cold. Yield: 1 serving

Yogurt n’ Fruit

4 ounces yogurt
1 banana
8 ounces strawberries
tablespoons milk

Add all ingredients to blender. Blend until smooth. Strain mixture through strainer or sieve to remove all seeds. Chill seedless mixture. Yield: 1 ½ cups

Hot Spiced Applesauce

½ cup applesauce
½ cup apple juice
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of nutmeg

Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth. Yield: 1 serving

Peaches and Cream

1 jar strained baby peaches
1 cup ice cream
Pinch of nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon almond extract

Blend all ingredients together. Serve chilled. Yield: 1 serving

Fruit and Gelatin Whip

1 jar strained baby fruit
½ cup gelatin, warm
Whipped cream topping

Dissolve flavored gelatin in boiling water according to package instructions. Put ½ cup warm gelatin and baby fruit into blender and blend until smooth. Add whipped cream to taste. Serve warm. Yield: 1 serving

Strawberry Cheesecake

1 piece of cheesecake
½ cup milk
2 tablespoons strawberry jam

Put jam through strainer or sieve to remove seeds. Put seedless jam, milk, and cheesecake into blender and process until smooth. Add more milk if necessary. Yield: 1 serving

This information originally appeared in the Journey Guide Patient Handbook developed by the Ireland Cancer Center at University Hospitals, and was adapted for use on NetWellness with permission, 2007.

More About Pureed Meals

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Last Reviewed: Sep 11, 2007

Kimberly Ortega, MS, RD, LD
Dietician, Oncology Specialist
Ireland Cancer Center
University Hospitals
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University

Pierre Lavertu, MD, FRCS(C), FACS
Director and Professor
Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology
Ireland Cancer Center
University Hospitals
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University