The art of puree (with food)

When you must subdue to a Puree diet, why does everything you eat have to look the same? Especially if your caretaker does NOT tell you what you are eating. Is it a tuna sandwich, oatmeal, pancakes, pizza, or whatever. That would be horrible to the palate. Its like when you take a bite of an oatmeal raisin cookie and think its chocolate chip; so discouraging. Totally messes with your palette and trust.

I was a caretaker for developmentally disabled adults for over 37 years. I have worked with many that had to subdue to a puree diet. Let me tell you, we had challenges. I had a woman (rest her soul) she had a very hard time going from regular to puree. She was the sweet church lady, but when she started on puree; she became the italian hit lady. “I’m not eating that baby food.” As she threw her spoon across the table.

I decided to make puree an art form. Isn’t cooking an art. When you go to a fancy restaurant and they come over with this gorgeous appetizer, entree, and dessert. It just looks too perfect to dive in. And when you do dive in, OH MY GOSH!! Is it scrumptious!!!

THe above picture was during covid. We had to keep each resident in group home in their bedrooms. I started calling it “room service.” (I even got a few bells) This plate was a build your own pancakes (like IHOP has). Plate has pureed pancake. The small bowls have puree strawberry, blueberry, and of course whipped cream (whipped cream does not have to be puree. You can do mix it up, with whatever toppings individual likes.

Once they came out with chargeable (usb) portable blenders, OH YEAH, the world was wide open. Options galore! Don’t get me wrong, when I first started in the human services field, we had blenders with plugs. That didn’t stop me from bringing some residents needed puree out to eat to restaurants and festivals. Festivals are challenging, try finding a vendor at a festival and asking “I have a strange question, do you have an outlet. I need to plug my blender in so I can puree their food.” You do get some crazy looks, like what?, but in the end, they are usually impressed.

The above picture is a blender I brought into the blueberry patch with one of my guys I took care of. Aren’t you supposed to pick and eat when fruit picking? Well, why not with someone who is puree. Just bring water (as most people do anyway) and a portable blender. Mix away. He was so appreciative and laughed that he was able to eat right in the blueberry patch. It was an awesome experience.

The following are pictures of actually meals I prepared for my latest resident. He actually ate better with my art of puree. He got a kick out of his meals. He was also diabetic, which adds its own challenge, but just a matter of making sure he has enough carbs.

Typical american meal: as requested Hot dogs, baked beans, and brown bread from a can. If you haven’t tried brown bread in a can, you must go search. Some are plain and some have raisins. Both yum in my opinion.

Plain donut with choc syrup (diet) on top and shaped like a donut with of course coffee to wash down. You can use cookie cutters, but puree is a little bit thinner than chocolate pudding, so when you take the cutter off, it forms a bubbly letter appearance. Divider plates work well to separate each item served. Most meals have a protein, vegetable, and starch (rice or potato). Puree each separate. You might be saying, as many of my former colleagues would, it all goes to the same place. Yes, but don’t we like to get flavors from each separate. Just because its same texture, does not mean it needs to be blended together. Plus, it gives different colors on plate.

Puree pancake with strawberry, chocolate, and syrup

Puree pancakes in bowl, with chocolate drizzle, and maple syrup

Puree pancake with chocolate syrup, maple syrup, and whipped cream

Puree pancake with maple syrup and chocolate droplets around plate.

Puree grilled cheese and tomato soup – America comfort food. The tomato soup needed thickener added to get right consistency. (Several different types of consistencies for puree diets – nectar, thin, honey, and pudding)

St Patrick’s Day typical boiled dinner – Corned beef, cabbage, carrots, boiled potatoes. The corned beef looks chopped, but it is actually puree just looks chunky. Some foods need extra liquids to puree.

Thank you for reading my blog post about the art of puree. Stay tuned as I have many more pictures of puree meals. I took pride in providing a fun and exciting way to enjoy eating puree food.

Lila Kate Photography