Blended foods

After about a week of tolerating liquids, you can begin to eat strained and blended, or mashed up, foods. The foods should have the consistency of a smooth paste or a thick liquid, without any solid pieces of food in the mixture.

You can eat 3 to 6 small meals a day. Each meal should consist of 4 to 6 tablespoons of food. Eat slowly — allow about 30 minutes for each meal.

Choose foods that will puree well, such as:

• Lean ground meat, poultry or fish.
• Cottage cheese.
• Soft scrambled eggs.
• Cooked cereal.
• Soft fruits and cooked vegetables.
• Strained cream soups.

Blend solid foods with a liquid, such as:

• Water.
• Skim milk.
• Juice with no sugar added.
• Broth.