As people age, it is common for them to face problems chewing and swallowing food due to tooth loss, decreased muscle strength or conditions such as dysphagia. In these cases, crushed food recipes for seniors become a key option to ensure that seniors receive the necessary nutrients without compromising their safety or comfort.
In addition, an adequate and varied diet contributes not only to better nutrition but also to general well-being, helping to prevent health problems such as malnutrition or unintentional weight loss.
Maintaining a nutritious and varied diet, even through soft consistencies, is possible with crushed food. Today we share several crushed food recipes and tips so that each meal is as healthy as it is appetizing, even if it is crushed!
Benefits of crushed food for the elderly
Crushed food for adults is a practical and beneficial alternative for those who have difficulty chewing or swallowing. This type of preparation facilitates intake by reducing food to a soft, easy-to-swallow texture, which reduces the risk of choking and promotes digestion.
The benefits of crushed food include:
- Improved digestive health: Crushed foods are usually easier to digest, which helps avoid gastrointestinal discomfort.
- Weight maintenance: By ensuring that older adults can eat enough food, the risk of unintentional weight loss is reduced.
- Prevention of malnutrition: Allows you to consume a wide range of essential nutrients by making it easier to incorporate fruits, vegetables, proteins and grains.
Features of crushed food recipes for adults
For crushed food recipes to be nutritious and delicious, it is important to take care of the texture, consistency and cooking method of each dish.
- Texture and consistency: The food should be smooth and without lumps, similar to a puree. This can be achieved by cooking the food until very tender and then blending it in a blender or food processor.
- Recommended foods: Virtually any food can be mashed, as long as it is properly cooked. This includes meats, fish, vegetables, fruits and grains, ensuring a balanced diet.
- Appetizing and visually attractive: Using ingredients of varied colors and presenting dishes in decorative portions helps make meals more pleasant. You can also combine different purees in the dish to make the result more attractive.
Mashed Meal Recipes for Seniors
Here we share some easy and nutritious recipes:
Fish puree with vegetables for adults
Ingredients: 100g of white fish fillet, 1 carrot, 1 potato, 1 teaspoon of olive oil and a pinch of salt.
Preparation: Steam the fish. Separately, boil the carrot and potato until they are very soft. Place everything in the blender, add the olive oil and blend until you obtain a homogeneous texture. Adjust the salt to taste.
Chicken and pumpkin puree
Ingredients: 100g of chicken breast, 1/2 small pumpkin, 1 potato, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, and a pinch of salt.
Preparation: Steam the chicken and vegetables until they are very soft. Place all the ingredients in a blender, add the olive oil and blend until you obtain a homogeneous mixture. Adjust salt according to taste.
Apple and Oatmeal Porridge
Ingredients: 1 apple, 3 tablespoons of oats, 200 ml of water or milk, and a pinch of cinnamon.
Preparation: Cook the oats in water or milk until soft. Separately, cook the peeled apple until it softens. Blend the apple and oats together, adding cinnamon to taste for a sweet and mild flavor.
Weekly crushed food menu for adults
Next, we propose an example of a menu of crushed foods for older adults, which includes varied breakfasts, lunches and dinners. If you are looking for more options or a more detailed plan for a balanced diet, you can consult a weekly menu for people over 80, which will help you ensure that each meal is nutritious and adapted to the needs of the elderly.
Monday
Breakfast: Oatmeal porridge with banana and a pinch of cinnamon.
Lunch: Chicken and pumpkin puree with potato
Dinner: Beef puree with leek and zucchini.
Tuesday
Breakfast: Apple porridge with natural yogurt.
Lunch: Mashed white fish and carrots.
Dinner: Mashed zucchini and potato with a touch of olive oil.
Wednesday
Breakfast: Pear and oatmeal porridge.
Lunch: Spinach puree with potatoes and a touch of milk.
Dinner: Mashed turkey with rice and broccoli.
Thursday
Breakfast: Strawberry porridge with natural yogurt and oats.
Lunch: Mashed zucchini, carrot and chicken breast.
Dinner: Mashed sweet potato and carrot, with a pinch of nutmeg.
Friday
Breakfast: Banana and apple porridge with milk.
Lunch: Lentil puree with carrot and pumpkin.
Dinner: Fish potito with potato and spinach.
Saturday
Breakfast: Apple and pear porridge with yogurt.
Lunch: Mashed beef with potato and carrot.
Dinner: Pumpkin and broccoli puree with a touch of olive oil.
Sunday
Breakfast: Peach porridge and natural yogurt.
Lunch: Mashed chicken with sweet potato and zucchini.
Dinner: Mashed beef with rice and carrot
Table on foods with high energy content
| Food | Nutritional value |
|---|---|
| Milk | 100 mL of whole milk provides: ● Energy: 63.4 Kcal ● Proteins: 3.1 g ● Lipids: 3.6 g ● Carbohydrates: 4.7 g |
| Cheese | 1 serving (23 g) of creamy cheese provides: ● Energy: 73.5 Kcal ● Proteins: 6.5 g ● Lipids: 5.3 g ● Carbohydrates: 0 g |
| Oils, butters and butters |
1 tablespoon (24 g) of butter provide: ● Energy: 45.2 Kcal ● Proteins: 0 g ● Lipids: 5 g ● Carbohydrates: 0 g |
| Dried fruits and grains |
A handful of chopped hazelnuts provides: ● Energy: 127.8 Kcal ● Proteins: 2.6 g ● Lipids: 12.4 g ● Carbohydrates: 1.44 g |
| Eggs | 1 hard-boiled egg (50 g) provides: ● Energy: 72.8 Kcal ● Proteins: 6.25 g ● Lipids: 5.25 g ● Carbohydrates: 0.1 g |
| Fruits in syrup |
100 g of fruit salad in syrup provide: ● Energy: 62.5 Kcal ● Proteins: 0.4 g ● Lipids: 0.1 g ● Carbohydrates: 15.0 g |
Conclusion
Adequate crushed diet is essential for older people to maintain a good quality of life, allowing them to enjoy a varied and nutritious diet, adapted to their needs. These recipes not only help take care of your health, but can be a pleasure for the palate if prepared and presented properly. Dare to try the combinations that we have proposed in this weekly menu for older adults.
