Consistency Guide
Finding What Works For You
Solids and liquids are swallowed differently. A dysphagia diet has two separate categories: liquids and foods. Use our Nutrition Care Plan to help decide what consistency is right for you. Click here to download a copy and ask your healthcare professional to help you choose the right category. Refer to our consistency guide for more information about products that fit within the specified terms of your diet.
The consistencies below are within National Dysphagia Diet guidelines, published by the American Dietetic Association1.
Liquid Consistencies
Includes water, coffee, tea, soda, ices, tomato juice or anything else that will quickly liquify in the mouth. When you can drink thin liquids, all beverages are acceptable.
Liquids that have been thickened to a consistency that coats and drips off a spoon, similar to unset gelatin.
Liquids that have been thickened to honey consistency. The liquid flows off a spoon in a ribbon, just like actual honey.
Liquids that have been thickened to a pudding consistency. They remain on the spoon in a soft mass.
Food Consistencies
Level 4 Regular
All foods are acceptable.
Level 3 Dysphagia Advanced
Nearly a regular diet with the exception of very hard, sticky or crunchy foods. Foods should be bite-size. Avoid crusty or dry bread, nuts, apples, dry fruit, coconut, raw vegetables and corn.
Level 2 Dysphagia Advanced Altered
Foods are moist, soft and cohesive. Meats are ground or minced. Avoid rice, corn, bread, soups and casseroles that contain large chunks, nuts, chewy, stringy or dry foods.
Level 1 Dysphagia Pureed
Pureed and cohesive foods, no mixed textures, everything is "pudding-like." Nothing that requires chewing is allowed.
1National Dysphagia Diet Task force, National Dysphagia Diet: Standardization for Optimal Care, American Dietetic Association, 2002.
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