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Diet Textures

This page contains reusable diet texture and swallowing-related option sets that therapy companies can copy and paste into their own RehabAlpha schemas.

These lists are especially useful for:

  • dysphagia evaluations
  • bedside swallow assessments
  • speech therapy documentation
  • diet recommendation sections
  • aspiration risk documentation
  • compensatory strategy tracking
  • caregiver education notes
  • diet upgrade or downgrade tracking

If your clinicians repeatedly document the same diet textures, liquid consistencies, or swallowing strategies, define them once with an options and reuse them across your forms.

When should I use a diet texture list?​

Use a reusable diet texture list when:

  • the same swallowing or diet options appear in multiple forms
  • you want consistent terminology across clinicians
  • you want documentation to be easier to read
  • you want reporting to be cleaner later
  • you want to avoid copy-pasting the same options again and again

For example, instead of manually typing "Regular", "Mechanical Soft", "Pureed", and "NPO" in several different templates, you can define them once and reference them everywhere.

A note on terminology​

Diet terminology varies across facilities and regions.

Some organizations prefer simple labels like:

  • Regular
  • Soft
  • Minced
  • Pureed
  • NPO

Others prefer more formal systems such as IDDSI terminology.

Because of that, the examples below are meant to be starting points. You should adapt them to match your organization's workflow, facility expectations, and documentation standards.

Example 1: Basic Diet Textures​

This is a simple, broad list that works well for many dysphagia workflows.

{
  id: "diet_textures_basic",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Regular",
    "Soft",
    "Mechanical Soft",
    "Minced and Moist",
    "Pureed",
    "Full Liquid",
    "Clear Liquid",
    "NPO"
  ]
}

Common use cases​

  • basic swallow evaluations
  • diet recommendation fields
  • discharge recommendations
  • quick dysphagia follow-up templates

Example 2: Structured Diet Textures​

This version uses { label, value } objects. It is useful when you want clinicians to see friendly labels while saving consistent internal values.

{
  id: "diet_textures_structured",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    { label: "Regular", value: "regular" },
    { label: "Soft", value: "soft" },
    { label: "Mechanical Soft", value: "mechanical_soft" },
    { label: "Minced and Moist", value: "minced_and_moist" },
    { label: "Pureed", value: "pureed" },
    { label: "Full Liquid", value: "full_liquid" },
    { label: "Clear Liquid", value: "clear_liquid" },
    { label: "NPO", value: "npo" }
  ]
}

Why use structured options?​

Use structured options when you want:

  • cleaner stored values
  • more consistent reporting
  • easier downstream filtering
  • stable saved values even if display labels change later

Example 3: IDDSI-Inspired Solids​

Some organizations prefer diet options that more closely resemble IDDSI-style solid texture labels.

{
  id: "diet_textures_iddsi_solids",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Regular / Easy to Chew",
    "Soft and Bite-Sized",
    "Minced and Moist",
    "Pureed",
    "Liquidized",
    "NPO"
  ]
}

Common use cases​

  • facilities using IDDSI-informed terminology
  • more standardized dysphagia documentation
  • SLP evaluation and recertification templates

Example 4: Liquid Consistencies​

Liquid consistency options are commonly documented alongside diet textures.

{
  id: "liquid_consistencies_basic",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Thin",
    "Slightly Thick",
    "Mildly Thick",
    "Moderately Thick",
    "Extremely Thick",
    "No Liquids by Mouth"
  ]
}

Common use cases​

  • bedside swallow notes
  • aspiration risk documentation
  • diet recommendation sections
  • caregiver education and discharge planning

Example 5: Structured Liquid Consistencies​

This version saves standardized values while showing clinician-friendly labels.

{
  id: "liquid_consistencies_structured",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    { label: "Thin", value: "thin" },
    { label: "Slightly Thick", value: "slightly_thick" },
    { label: "Mildly Thick", value: "mildly_thick" },
    { label: "Moderately Thick", value: "moderately_thick" },
    { label: "Extremely Thick", value: "extremely_thick" },
    { label: "No Liquids by Mouth", value: "no_liquids_by_mouth" }
  ]
}

Example 6: Swallowing Strategies​

Many dysphagia templates also need a reusable list of recommended swallowing strategies.

{
  id: "swallow_strategies_basic",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Small Bites",
    "Small Sips",
    "Alternate Solids and Liquids",
    "Slow Rate",
    "Upright for PO Intake",
    "Remain Upright After Meals",
    "Double Swallow",
    "Chin Tuck",
    "Effortful Swallow",
    "Supervision During Meals"
  ]
}

Common use cases​

  • swallowing precautions
  • caregiver instruction
  • dysphagia treatment planning
  • discharge recommendations

Example 7: Feeding Assistance Levels​

This list is helpful when documenting how much support the patient needs during meals.

{
  id: "feeding_assistance_levels",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Independent",
    "Setup Assistance",
    "Supervision",
    "Cueing Required",
    "Partial Assistance",
    "Max Assistance",
    "Dependent"
  ]
}

This is useful for:

  • meal support documentation
  • dysphagia care plans
  • interdisciplinary communication
  • functional feeding sections

Example 8: Mealtime Precautions​

A dedicated precautions list can help standardize swallowing-related safety recommendations.

{
  id: "swallow_precautions",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Aspiration Precautions",
    "Reflux Precautions",
    "Check for Pocketing",
    "No Straws",
    "Single Sips Only",
    "Small Bites Only",
    "Alternate Solids and Liquids",
    "Upright During Meals",
    "Remain Upright 30 Minutes After Meals",
    "Oral Care After Meals"
  ]
}

This version is helpful for:

  • bedside swallow documentation
  • nursing communication
  • dietary recommendation sections
  • discharge teaching

Using a diet texture list in an input​

Once you define an options, you can reference it from radioInput, selectInput, or multiSelectInput.

{
  id: "recommended_diet_texture",
  type: "selectInput",
  label: "Recommended Diet Texture",
  options: "diet_textures_basic",
  placeholder: "Select a diet texture..."
}
{
  id: "recommended_liquid_consistency",
  type: "selectInput",
  label: "Recommended Liquid Consistency",
  options: "liquid_consistencies_basic",
  placeholder: "Select a liquid consistency..."
}

Example: Swallow precautions​

{
  id: "swallow_precautions_input",
  type: "multiSelectInput",
  label: "Swallow Precautions",
  options: "swallow_precautions",
  placeholder: "Select all that apply..."
}

Copy/paste example: swallow recommendations section​

Here is a full example showing reusable diet and swallowing lists in a small evaluation template.

{
  id: "diet_textures_basic",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Regular",
    "Soft",
    "Mechanical Soft",
    "Minced and Moist",
    "Pureed",
    "Full Liquid",
    "Clear Liquid",
    "NPO"
  ]
},
{
  id: "liquid_consistencies_basic",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Thin",
    "Slightly Thick",
    "Mildly Thick",
    "Moderately Thick",
    "Extremely Thick",
    "No Liquids by Mouth"
  ]
},
{
  id: "swallow_precautions",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Aspiration Precautions",
    "No Straws",
    "Single Sips Only",
    "Small Bites Only",
    "Alternate Solids and Liquids",
    "Upright During Meals",
    "Remain Upright 30 Minutes After Meals"
  ]
},
{
  id: "swallow_recommendations_template",
  type: "template",
  label: "Swallow Recommendations",
  appliesTo: "evaluation",
  children: [
    "recommended_diet_texture",
    "recommended_liquid_consistency",
    "swallow_precautions_input",
    "swallow_notes_input"
  ]
},
{
  id: "recommended_diet_texture",
  type: "selectInput",
  label: "Recommended Diet Texture",
  options: "diet_textures_basic",
  placeholder: "Select a diet texture..."
},
{
  id: "recommended_liquid_consistency",
  type: "selectInput",
  label: "Recommended Liquid Consistency",
  options: "liquid_consistencies_basic",
  placeholder: "Select a liquid consistency..."
},
{
  id: "swallow_precautions_input",
  type: "multiSelectInput",
  label: "Swallow Precautions",
  options: "swallow_precautions",
  placeholder: "Select all that apply..."
},
{
  id: "swallow_notes_input",
  type: "textAreaInput",
  label: "Additional Swallowing Notes",
  placeholder: "Add additional recommendations or observations..."
}

SLP example​

A Speech-Language Pathologist may want a compact dysphagia recommendation section with diet, liquids, and strategies.

{
  id: "slp_diet_textures",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Regular",
    "Soft and Bite-Sized",
    "Minced and Moist",
    "Pureed",
    "Liquidized",
    "NPO"
  ]
},
{
  id: "slp_liquid_consistencies",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Thin",
    "Slightly Thick",
    "Mildly Thick",
    "Moderately Thick",
    "Extremely Thick"
  ]
},
{
  id: "slp_swallow_strategies",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Small Sips",
    "Small Bites",
    "Alternate Solids and Liquids",
    "Slow Rate",
    "Double Swallow",
    "Chin Tuck",
    "Effortful Swallow"
  ]
},
{
  id: "slp_dysphagia_template",
  type: "template",
  label: "SLP Dysphagia Recommendations",
  appliesTo: "evaluation",
  children: [
    "slp_diet_texture_input",
    "slp_liquid_consistency_input",
    "slp_strategy_input",
    "slp_dysphagia_notes"
  ]
},
{
  id: "slp_diet_texture_input",
  type: "selectInput",
  label: "Recommended Diet Texture",
  options: "slp_diet_textures"
},
{
  id: "slp_liquid_consistency_input",
  type: "selectInput",
  label: "Recommended Liquid Consistency",
  options: "slp_liquid_consistencies"
},
{
  id: "slp_strategy_input",
  type: "multiSelectInput",
  label: "Recommended Strategies",
  options: "slp_swallow_strategies"
},
{
  id: "slp_dysphagia_notes",
  type: "textAreaInput",
  label: "Dysphagia Notes",
  placeholder: "Document rationale, observations, and recommendations..."
}

SNF example​

A skilled nursing workflow may need more explicit meal safety and assistance-related options.

{
  id: "snf_diet_textures",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Regular",
    "Mechanical Soft",
    "Minced and Moist",
    "Pureed",
    "Full Liquid",
    "Clear Liquid",
    "NPO"
  ]
},
{
  id: "snf_feeding_assistance",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Independent",
    "Setup Assistance",
    "Supervision",
    "Cueing Required",
    "Partial Assistance",
    "Max Assistance",
    "Dependent"
  ]
},
{
  id: "snf_swallow_precautions",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Aspiration Precautions",
    "No Straws",
    "Single Sips Only",
    "Small Bites Only",
    "Check for Pocketing",
    "Upright During Meals",
    "Remain Upright 30 Minutes After Meals"
  ]
},
{
  id: "snf_swallow_template",
  type: "template",
  label: "SNF Swallowing Recommendations",
  appliesTo: "evaluation",
  children: [
    "snf_diet_texture_input",
    "snf_feeding_assistance_input",
    "snf_precautions_input",
    "snf_mealtime_notes"
  ]
},
{
  id: "snf_diet_texture_input",
  type: "selectInput",
  label: "Diet Texture",
  options: "snf_diet_textures"
},
{
  id: "snf_feeding_assistance_input",
  type: "selectInput",
  label: "Feeding Assistance Level",
  options: "snf_feeding_assistance"
},
{
  id: "snf_precautions_input",
  type: "multiSelectInput",
  label: "Swallow Precautions",
  options: "snf_swallow_precautions"
},
{
  id: "snf_mealtime_notes",
  type: "textAreaInput",
  label: "Mealtime Notes",
  placeholder: "Document nursing instructions, safety concerns, and follow-up recommendations..."
}

Outpatient example​

Outpatient dysphagia workflows may need a leaner recommendation section.

{
  id: "outpatient_diet_textures",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Regular",
    "Soft",
    "Minced and Moist",
    "Pureed",
    "NPO"
  ]
},
{
  id: "outpatient_liquids",
  type: "options",
  items: [
    "Thin",
    "Mildly Thick",
    "Moderately Thick",
    "Extremely Thick"
  ]
},
{
  id: "outpatient_swallow_template",
  type: "template",
  label: "Outpatient Swallow Recommendations",
  appliesTo: "evaluation",
  children: [
    "outpatient_diet_input",
    "outpatient_liquids_input",
    "outpatient_home_program_input"
  ]
},
{
  id: "outpatient_diet_input",
  type: "selectInput",
  label: "Recommended Diet Texture",
  options: "outpatient_diet_textures"
},
{
  id: "outpatient_liquids_input",
  type: "selectInput",
  label: "Recommended Liquid Consistency",
  options: "outpatient_liquids"
},
{
  id: "outpatient_home_program_input",
  type: "textAreaInput",
  label: "Home Recommendations",
  placeholder: "Document home swallowing strategies and caregiver instruction..."
}

Choosing the right version​

Use this quick guide:

  • Basic Diet Textures: best for broad general dysphagia documentation
  • Structured Diet Textures: best when you want cleaner saved values
  • IDDSI-Inspired Solids: best for facilities using more standardized dysphagia terminology
  • Liquid Consistencies: best when liquid recommendations are documented separately
  • Swallowing Strategies: best for treatment and education workflows
  • Feeding Assistance Levels: best for SNF and functional meal support documentation
  • Swallow Precautions: best for safety recommendations and interdisciplinary communication

Naming tips​

Try to name diet and swallowing option lists clearly so they are easy to reuse later.

Good examples:

  • diet_textures_basic
  • diet_textures_structured
  • liquid_consistencies_basic
  • swallow_strategies_basic
  • feeding_assistance_levels
  • swallow_precautions

Avoid vague IDs like:

  • diet_list
  • choices1
  • slp_options_a

Common mistakes​

1. Mixing terminology systems without a plan​

For example, avoid mixing:

  • "Mechanical Soft"
  • "Soft and Bite-Sized"
  • "Minced"
  • "Minced and Moist"

unless your organization intentionally uses a blended terminology set.

It is usually better to pick one naming style and stay consistent.

2. Combining solids and liquids into one confusing list​

Diet textures and liquid consistencies are often documented separately.

A single giant list can become harder to use and harder to report on later.

3. Saving display labels when you really want standardized values​

If reporting consistency matters, use structured options like:

{ label: "Pureed", value: "pureed" }

instead of storing many slight text variations.

4. Forgetting workflow context​

A hospital bedside swallow template, an SNF care plan, and an outpatient dysphagia follow-up may each need different levels of detail.

Use smaller, focused lists when possible.

5. Overloading one list with precautions, strategies, and textures​

Keep these concepts separate when they serve different documentation purposes:

  • diet textures
  • liquid consistencies
  • precautions
  • strategies
  • feeding assistance levels

You may also want to build related pages for:

  • Precautions
  • Assistance Levels
  • Symptoms
  • Patient Positions
  • Cognitive Levels
  • Oral Motor Findings
  • Dysphagia Templates
  • Speech Therapy Templates

Next step​

After adding this page, strong companion articles would be:

  • lists/precautions.md
  • lists/assistance-levels.md
  • sections/dysphagia-recommendations.md

These pages pair naturally with diet texture and swallowing option lists.