Minced Diet
Care instructions
You may need a minced diet if you have trouble chewing or swallowing. Your dietitian or swallowing team will talk to you about minced foods if you need this diet. On a minced diet, foods need little chewing, are moist, and hold together (cohesive). Foods are finely chopped, grated, ground, or mashed with no water or liquid draining out. Some foods may need to be pureed to be safe. Pureed foods are smooth, with no lumps, and have a texture like pudding.
How can you care for yourself at home?
Choose a variety of minced vegetables and fruits, grain foods, and protein foods each day. The following are suggestions of foods that you may want to choose:
Vegetables and fruits
smooth, mashed potatoes
applesauce or other fruit sauces
minced soft, cooked vegetables
minced soft fresh or canned fruits
pureed soup
Grain foods
cooked cereals like oatmeal
soft moist bread, buns, or other baked items
soft minced or bite size pasta with sauce
soft cereal bars
Protein foods
milk
smooth yogurt or fruit yogurt with small soft pieces of fruit
soft cheeses like cottage or ricotta cheese
minced or mashed beans and lentils
minced, moist meat or poultry with sauce
Desserts and snacks
Avoid foods that are sticky and chewy, fruit with tough skins or hard seeds, and dry and chewy breads.
Make foods safe to eat
Some foods may be soft enough to mince with a fork, pastry blender, or potato masher. To mince harder foods, use a blender, mini chopper, or food processor.
Drain canned vegetables and fruits before mincing, then cut vegetables and fruits. Chop or mash until you have small pieces that are less than ½ cm (¼ inch).
Cut meats, then chop or mash until you have small pieces that are less than ½ cm (¼ inch). You may need to add extra liquid to make your minced meat moist, by adding 1 Tbsp (15 mL) of liquid at a time. Use liquids like broth, melted butter, gravy, sauces, or soft margarine.
Chunky soups, broccoli, peas, and corn need to be pureed to be safe on a minced diet. Puree foods using a blender, mini chopper, or food processor until smooth and moist, like the texture of a pudding or mousse.
Avoid mixed consistency foods
Your healthcare provider may ask you to avoid foods with mixed consistency. A food with mixed consistency has both thin fluids and solid food together in one bite.
Avoid foods such as cold cereal in milk, crackers in soup, juicy fresh vegetables and fruits (release water when chewed), ice cream with candies or hard pieces.
Take medicines safely
- Take pills with applesauce, pudding, or yogurt.
- If you take fluid medicines, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how to take them safely.
Learn more about a Minced diet.
To see this information online and learn more, visit MyHealth.Alberta.ca/health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=custom.ab_minced_diet_inst.
For 24/7 nurse advice and general health information call Health Link at 811.
Current as of: May 08, 2025
Author: Nutrition Services, Alberta Health Services
This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. This material is intended for general information only and is provided on an "as is", "where is" basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information. Alberta Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such use.
