This document provides information on different diet types including low sodium cardiac, regular, mechanical soft, pureed, carb controlled, and 2gm sodium diets. It describes who each diet is suited for and highlights differences compared to a regular diet. The low sodium cardiac diet is for those with heart conditions and limits sodium, fats, and cholesterol. The regular diet has no restrictions and is the most liberal. The mechanical soft and pureed diets are for those who have difficulty chewing or swallowing and modify textures accordingly. The carb controlled diet manages carbohydrate intake for diabetics. The 2gm sodium diet reduces sodium for those with cardiovascular or renal issues.

1. !
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Diet’s Explained
A helpful guide to understanding differences among diets
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Maria Di Nello
Nov. 2013
DIET MANUAL: BY MARIA DI NELLO
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2. Low Sodium Cardiac
Who is put on a cardiac diet?
People
with
underlying
heart
conditions
would
best
be
suited
for
a
cardiac
diet.
This
refers
to
people
with
high
blood
pressure,
hypertension,
heart
disease,
and
other
heart
concerns.
This
can
also
be
used
as
a
prevention
diet
to
any
type
of
cardiovascular
disease.
What is a cardiac diet?
A
cardiac
diet
is
one
that
is
lower
in
cholesterol,
fats,
and
sodium.
It
also
recommends
a
high
consumption
of
whole
grains,
fruits,
vegetables,
and
low
fat
protein
sources.
Main Differences from Regular Diet on Spreadsheet
!
•
•
•
•
LS
saltine
crackers
vs.
regular
crackers
Plain
pork
with
LS
gravy
vs.
3oz
pork
sandwich
Decaf
only
drinks
vs.
any
beverage
of
choice
Herb
seasoning
packet
vs.
salt
packet
Fats and Sodium
The
person
needs
to
watch
their
sodium
levels
and
should
not
have
more
than
2g
(1
tsp)
of
salt
a
day.
Too
much
salt
can
cause
an
increase
in
blood
pressure,
putting
extra
stress
on
the
heart.
To
limit
saturated
fats,
you
should
primarily
be
avoiding
fats
that
are
solid
at
room
temperature
and
egg
yolks.
Cholesterol
is
a
fat
that
is
commonly
found
in
eggs,
red
meat,
and
shellKish.
Adults
are
recommended
to
have
less
than
300mg
of
cholesterol
in
one
day,
someone
on
the
heart
healthy
diet
should
have
about
200mg.
DIET MANUAL: BY MARIA DI NELLO
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3. !
Regular Diet
!
Who is put on a regular diet?
This diet is given to residents who do not need any diet modification. They are
considered healthy enough to have no nutrition concerns. It provides balanced
nutrition in an aesthetically pleasing manor. This is the most liberal diet offered to
residents.
!
!
•
•
•
•
Main Differences on Spreadsheet
No fluid restrictions
No condiment restrictions (sugar, salt)
No fruit and vegetable restrictions
No bread and dessert restrictions
DIET MANUAL: BY MARIA DI NELLO
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4. !
Mechanical Soft
Who is put on a mechanical soft diet?
The
mechanical
soft
diet
is
assigned
to
the
resident
who
has
difKiculty
chewing
or
swelling
the
items
found
on
a
regular
diet.
This
is
the
most
liberal
mechanically
altered
diet.
!
What are foods like?
Foods
on
this
diet
are
soft.
Whole
and
cooked
meats
should
be
grounds
and
vegetables
should
be
cooked
to
a
fork
maskable
texture.
Everything
should
be
able
to
be
chewed
easily
and
should
be
moist
enough
to
stay
cohesive.
!
!
Differences from Regular diet?
!
!
!
• Garden
vegetable
soup
is
pureed
• Saltine
crackers,
condiments,
and
seasoning
remain
the
same
• Collard
greens
and
banana
pudding
are
pureed
• BBQ
pork
sandwich
has
pureed
BBQ
pork
on
a
soft
bun
• Sweet
potato
fries
are
mashed
sweet
potatoes
DIET MANUAL: BY MARIA DI NELLO
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5. !
Pureed Diet
Who is put on pureed free diets?
This diet is typically for residents requiring modification of food texture related to the inability to
chew and swallow. This is the most mechanically altered diet and if for the residents who cannot
tolerate the dyphagia mechanically altered and mechanical soft diet.
What are the main differences from a regular diet?
• Garden
vegetable
soup
is
pureed
• No
crackers
• The
BBQ
pork
sandwich
has
pureed
pork
with
pureed
bread
• Sweet
potato
fries
become
scooped
mashed
potatoes
• Collard
greens
become
pureed
collard
greens
• Banana
pudding
is
purred
banana
pudding
• All
seasoning
and
condiment
packages
remain
the
same
!
What foods are avoided on this diet?
On
this
diets
all
foods
must
be
pureed,
smooth
and
cohesive
with
no
mixed
textures.
Everything
is
pudding
like
and
nothing
that
requires
the
need
to
chew
is
allowed.
To
enhance
the
appearance
of
this
diet
there
are
company’s
that
mold
the
pureed
food
into
the
foods
they
should
look,
meaning
purred
carrots
would
appear
in
the
shape
of
carrots
on
the
plate.
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DIET MANUAL: BY MARIA DI NELLO
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6. Carb Controlled
!
Who is put on carb controlled diets?
This diet is given to residents with diabetes. It gives consistent meal patterns and portions of
carbohydrates to help maintain blood sugar levels and manage weight. It is important for these
residents to monitor their carbohydrate intake in order to prevent vision and nerve damage.
These residents get 3 meals and a snack every day.
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Main Differences from Regular Diet:
•
•
•
•
No
crackers
with
soup
4oz
spoodle
of
pears
instead
of
banana
pudding
Sugar
substitute
packet
for
coffee
No
regular
soda
drinks,
diet
only
!
What kinds of foods have carbohydrates?
Foods
that
have
carbohydrates
are
starches
(breads,
cereals,
grains,
rice,
and
pasta),
dried
peas,
beans
and
lentils,
fruits,
vegetables
(potatoes,
corn,
peas,
winter
squash),
milk,
yogurt,
and
sweets.
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DIET MANUAL: BY MARIA DI NELLO
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7. 2gm Sodium
Who is put on this diet?
Residents
typically
put
on
this
diet
may
have
cardiovascular
disorders
like
congestive
heart
failure,
hypertension,
or
high
blood
pressure.
If
someone
has
chronic
renal
failure,
edema
(Kluid
retention),
or
cirrhosis
with
ascites.
The
goal
of
this
diet
is
to
reduce
water
retention,
help
with
blood
pressure
control,
and
to
prevent
being
thirsty
in
those
with
Kluid
retention.
Foods avoided on this diet
Bacon,
lunch
meat,
ham,
commercially
prepared
cheese,
bread
and
crackers
with
salted
tops,
chips,
crackers,
pretzels,
canned
foods,
instant
hot
cereals,
pickles,
olives,
canned
vegetables,
salted
nuts,
gatorade,
soups,
teriyaki
sauce,
soy
sauce,
ketchup,
salt
and
seasoning
salt.
Main differences compared to regular diet?
•
•
•
•
!
!
LS
Vegetable
soup
is
the
same
No
crackers
vs
saltine
crackers
BBQ
pork
sandwich
—>
3oz
plain
pork
sandwich
with
LS
gravy
Sweet
potato
fries,
collard
greens,
banana
pudding
are
the
same
•
•
All
condiments
are
the
same
Salt
packet
—>
Herb
seasoning
DIET MANUAL: BY MARIA DI NELLO
!7

8. Dysphagia Mechanically Altered
!
Who is put on these diets?
This diet is typically given to residents who are transitioning from a pureed diet texture to
solid foods. These foods are soft and moist and meats are ground or minced. This diet is
given to those that have difficulty swallowing or chewing. Typically swallow evaluations
are done in order to determine whether or not someone needs this diet.
!
Main differences compared to a Regular Diet?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Vegetable soup—> pureed soup
Saltine crackers —> no crackers
BBQ pork sandwich —> ground BBQ pork, gravy, pureed bread
Sweet potato fries —> mashed potatoes
Collard greens —> chopped collard greens
Banana pudding —> pureed banana pudding
Same condiments
!
Ground Meat Diet
This diet would be for someone who cannot tolerate an entire portion of meat and
need the meat to be ground in order to have an easier time consuming their meat.
DIET MANUAL: BY MARIA DI NELLO
!8

9. High Protein Renal
Who is put on this diet?
This
is
a
diet
that
is
given
to
patients
with
ESRD
who
are
on
dialysis.
When
someone
is
on
dialysis,
they
have
increased
nutrient
needs.
Hemodialysis
is
done
to
clean
the
blood
and
Kilters/
removes
waste,
extra
Kluid,
and
balances
electrolytes
(sodium,
potassium,
bicarbonate,
chloride,
calcium,
magnesium,
and
phosphate).
When
someone
has
kidney
failure,
the
kidneys
are
unable
to
perform
these
functions
so
hemodialysis
is
used
instead.
What does the diet consist of ?
These
patients
need
extra
protein
and
calories
since
the
dialysis
treatment
removes
protein
and
calories
from
the
body.
It
is
recommended
to
get
this
extra
protein
from
high
quality
sources
like
lean
meats,
poultry,
Kish,
and
egg
whites.
Main differences compared to a Regular diet
!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
No soups—>small salad
No crackers —> diet dressing
No bread —> Plain meat with LS gravy
No french fries—> Instant mashed potatoes
No collard greens —> green beans
No banana pudding —> Canned pears
No salt packet—> Herb Packet
What foods should be limited?
It
is
recommend
to
avoid
foods
high
in
sodium,
phosphorus,
and
potassium.
Fluid
intake
may
also
be
monitored.
DIET MANUAL: BY MARIA DI NELLO
!9

10. Thickened Liquids
Who is put on this diet?
These
kinds
of
diets
are
prescribed
differently
for
all
residents
that
are
on
dysphagia
diets.
The
different
consistencies
are
thin,
nectar,
honey
and
pudding
thick.
What does the diet consist of ?
Thickened
liquids
are
any
liquid
to
which
a
thickening
agent
is
added
to
create
a
thicker
consistency.
The
preferred
standard
of
Sodexo
is
to
purchase
pre-­‐thickened
liquids.
Certain
foods
are
considered
thin
liquids
and
should
be
avoided
if
thin
liquids
are
restricted.
Any
food
that
becomes
a
liquid
at
room
temperature
or
body
temperature
should
be
avoided
including
all
hot
and
cold
beverages,
regular
milk
on
cereal,
frozen
malts,
and
milk
shakes.
Main differences compared to a Regular diet:
Nectar Thick: Only allowed liquids that have been thickened to a consistency that coats and drips
off a spoon, similar to unset gelatin
Honey Thick: Liquids are thickened to a honey consistency. The liquids flow off the spoon like a
ribbon, just like actual honey
Pudding Thick: Liquids have been thickened to a pudding consistency. They remain in a spoon
in a soft mass.
Examples of Thickened Liquids?
Examples include frozen yogurt, egg nog, nutritional supplements, ice cream, sherbet, gelatin or
jello, soups.
DIET MANUAL: BY MARIA DI NELLO
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