Written by Chad Birt on Wed Jan 01 2025.
If you’ve ever cared for a loved one with dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, mealtime can be challenging. Even if your loved one sits upright and chews their food well, the risk of choking and other complications is high.
Tired of worrying? Enter purees. These pre-packaged meals are easy to swallow and are packed with nutrition. Plus, their nectar-like consistency reduces the risk of coughing, choking, and aspiration.
What should I consider when making a meal for someone with dysphagia?
If your loved one has dysphagia, food consistency is the first thing to consider at mealtime. Thin liquids, like chicken broth, are easy to choke on, whereas thicker liquids, like gravy, trickle slowly down the throat and are less likely to enter the windpipe and cause choking.
Do I need to make pureed meals from scratch?
That’s up to you! It’s easy to find puree recipes online, but in this article, we’ll focus on five of our best-selling pureed meals from Thick-It.
A registered dietician creates Thick & Easy purees specifically for those with swallowing difficulties and/or diet restrictions. The purees are pre-prepared and don’t require any chopping or blending. Just open the box, microwave, and serve.
Which Thick & Easy purees are best sellers?
At Carewell, our five best-selling Thick & Easy purees include:
1) Thick-It Chicken à la King Puree, Can
Chicken à la King Puree is the definition of comfort food. Made with chicken, green and red bell peppers, peas, carrots, and cream, it’s no wonder this dish is a caregiver favorite.
Each serving contains 560 calories, 30 grams of fat and 43 grams of protein. This ready-to-eat, fully flavored puree has a consistent texture that meets dysphagia diet guidelines for IDDSI Level 4 Puréed.
Key Benefits & Features:
Each serving contains 560 calories, 30 grams of fat and 43 grams of protein
Conveniently packaged and ready-to-eat. Just open, heat, and serve!
The smooth, consistent texture meets dysphagia diet guidelines for IDDSI Level 4 Puréed.
2) Thick-It Maple Cinnamon French Toast Puree, Can
Thick-It Purées Maple Cinnamon French Toast Puree lets you savor the sweet, comforting taste of this breakfast and brunch classic.
Enjoy it for breakfast or dessert, as-is or topped with syrup. You can even combine it with other Thick-It Purées to create unique new flavors. This ready-to-eat, fully flavored puree is made with real ingredients and has a consistent texture that meets dysphagia diet guidelines for IDDSI Level 4 Puréed.
Key Benefits & Features:
Savor the sweet, comforting taste of French toast, a breakfast and brunch favorite.
Conveniently packaged and ready-to-eat. Just open, heat, and serve!
The smooth, consistent texture meets dysphagia diet guidelines for IDDSI Level 4 Puréed.
3) Thick-It Beef Lasagna Puree, Can
Thick-It Purées Beef Lasagna lets you savor this traditional Italian favorite. This ready-to-eat, fully flavored puree is made with real ingredients and features hearty flavors of beef, pasta, tomato sauce, and ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses.
Key Benefits & Features:
Each serving contains 100 calories, 5 grams of fat and 8 grams of protein
Savor the taste of this traditional Italian favorite, featuring hearty flavors of beef, pasta, tomato sauce, and ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses.
Enjoy it as a classic lasagna or get creative in the kitchen! Adapt it to recipes for spaghetti with meatballs or beef manicotti.
4) Thick-It Salisbury Steak Puree, Can
Thick-It Purées Beef & Brown Gravy lets you savor this beloved, home-cooked comfort food. This ready-to-eat, fully flavored puree is made with real beef and has a consistent texture that meets dysphagia diet guidelines for IDDSI Level 4 Puréed.
Enjoy it as is for lunch or dinner. For more variety, add melted cheese and ketchup to create a tasty cheeseburger, or add barbecue sauce to make Salisbury Steak sliders.
Key Benefits & Features:
Savor the rich flavor of real beef in a satisfying and easy-to-eat form.
Each serving contains 150 calories, 10 grams of fat and 14 grams of protein
Conveniently packaged and ready-to-eat. Just open, heat, and serve!
5) Thick-It Omelet with Sausage and Cheddar Cheese Puree, Can
Closing out our list of top five delicious pureed meals is Thick-It Purées Omelet with Sausage and Cheddar Cheese. The pre-prepared product has a consistent texture that meets dysphagia diet guidelines for IDDSI Level 4 Puréed. Similar to an egg bake or frittata, it's a nutritious and satisfying choice for breakfast, brunch, or any meal.
Key Benefits & Features:
Each serving contains 150 calories, 10 grams of fat and 10 grams of protein
Serve up a delicious and satisfying omelet quickly and easily.
Shelf-stable for up to 24 months
Need help choosing pureed meals? You’ve come to the right place!
If you need help choosing pureed meals, our friendly Care Specialists are here to assist. Call (800) 696-CARE or send an email to support@carewell.com. The team speaks English and Spanish. They can answer your questions, alleviate your concerns, and help you determine the best product.
Many seniors experience dysphagia—or difficulty swallowing—due to the natural aging process, neurological disorders, or cancer.
Medically Reviewed by Kiera Powell, R.N.
By serving your loved one meals with a soft, pudding-like consistency, it’s possible to provide them with the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need while lowering the risk of choking or digestive issues.
To determine if pureed foods are right for your senior, it’s important to know a little bit about them.
Chad Birt is a freelance medical writer who resides in Astoria, Oregon. When he isn't behind a keyboard, you can find him hiking, camping, or birdwatching with his wife Ella and their two dogs, Diane and Thoreau.
