II. Dysphagia Diet Level I (Most restricted)
- Indications
- Patients just beginning to eat by mouth
- Severe Dysphagia
- Unable to safely swallow chewable foods
- Unable to safely drink thin liquids
- Description
- Thick homogenous semiliquid textures
- Decreased Fiber
- No coarse textures, nuts, raw fruits or vegetables
- Medications must be crushed or liquid
- Mix with pureed foods
III. Dysphagia Diet Level II
- Indications
- Moderate Dysphagia
- Can tolerate minimal easily chewed foods
- Cannot swallow thin liquids safely
- Moderate Dysphagia
- Description
- Thickened liquids with commercial thickener as needed
- Very thick juices and milk products
- Decreased fiber
- No coarse textures, nuts, raw fruits or vegetables
- Medications may need to be crushed or liquid
- No water
IV. Dysphagia Diet Level III
- Indications
- Difficulty chewing, manipulating or Swallowing foods
- Patients beginning to chew
- Description
- Mechanically soft or edentulous diet
- No tough skins
- No nuts, or dry, crispy, raw, or stringy foods
- Meats need to be minced or cut into small pieces
- Liquids as tolerated
- Medications may need to be crushed or liquid
- Mechanically soft or edentulous diet
V. Dysphagia Diet Level IV (Least restricted)
- Indications
- Persons chewing soft textures, swallow liquids safely
- Description
- Soft textures that do not require grinding, chopping
- No Nuts, no raw, crisp or deep fried foods
- Medications and liquids as tolerated