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Heart Healthy (Cardiac)
Diet |
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The cardiac diet is designed for those with heart disease. A high-fat, high-cholesterol diet raises the level of cholesterol in the blood, which produces a build-up of fatty deposits in the wall of the arteries. If the arteries become blocked by fat, they will close or become blocked by a blood clot. When the arteries leading to the heart are blocked, a heart attack can result. There are other causes of heart attacks, but the purpose of the cardiac diet is to reduce this risk by providing low-fat, low-cholesterol foods. Foods for this diet are also low in sodium to assist in lowering the blood pressure. Meats for this diet are lean; milk products are skim or nonfat; vegetables are prepared with no added butter or margarine; caffeine is eliminated; eggs are low-cholesterol.
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Calorie Controlled/Diabetic Diet The calorie controlled/diabetic diet, often called ADA (American Diabetes Association) Diet, may be used for patients with diabetes mellitus and is also used for weight loss. This diet has the appropriate balance of carbohydrate, protein, and fat in order to promote optimal blood glucose levels and, depending on the appropriateness of the calorie level, may promote weight loss. Foods containing sugar are limited or eliminated and carbohydrates are generally limited to 2-4 servings per meal. Foods containing carbohydrates include: fruits, starches/bread, and milk. This diet, along with medications such as insulin or pills (oral hypoglycemic agents), can help patients with diabetes live normal, healthy lives by maintaining optimal blood glucose levels.
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This diet is for patients who have experienced partial or total loss of kidney function and are undergoing dialysis (a blood cleaning process) or have had a kidney transplant. The goal of this diet is to limit the amount of protein, sodium (salt, MSG, soy sauce, etc.), potassium (no salt substitute), phosphorus (dairy products), and fluids.
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A soft diet is used when the body is ready for semi-solid food, but cannot quite tolerate regular foods due to a sore mouth, throat, esophagus, and/or stomach. It consists of cooked, bland, lower-fat foods that have all the needed nutrients. This diet restricts foods high in fiber, strongly flavored vegetables, and fried and highly seasoned foods.
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Clear-liquid diets are served if the body cannot handle the softest foods or heavy or thick liquids. Patients usually follow this type of diet after surgery or before stomach or bowel surgery. Patients with severe nausea and vomiting may also be on this diet. A clear-liquid diet often lasts 1 to 2 days or until the patient can tolerate other beverages and foods. It cannot meet the suggested nutritional requirements, but it helps provide fluids and some calories as the patient recovers and becomes ready for a regular diet.
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Patients may follow a full liquid diet when the body can digest all liquids but cannot yet handle solid food. A doctor may recommend this diet after surgery when a patient cannot chew and swallow food. This diet can include most of the recommended food groups. A full-liquid diet provides a variety of high-calorie, high-protein foods such as milk, fruit juices, strained creamed soups, cereal, puddings, and oral supplements (i.e. Ensure). This diet is used as a progression from clear liquid to solid foods.
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Dysphagia (or difficulty swallowing) is a symptom that may occur with various medical conditions such as stroke, head trauma, multiple sclerosis, or cerebral palsy. It usually involves the tongue, the pharynx, the esophagus, or a combination of these areas. Dysphagia diets depend on the degree of swallowing difficulty. Patients with the greatest degree of swallowing difficulty may have mechanically altered pureed food (the consistency of applesauce) with no liquids. Patients with the least degree of swallowing difficulty may have soft, chopped foods and one-quarter inch pieces of meat, with thin or thickened liquids. The foods are well-cooked and bland.
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We offer a wide variety of food items for children of all ages: Introductory foods (for infants under 1 year of age) include chopped, soft, or pureed meats, vegetables, and fruits. For toddlers and young children, finger foods (i.e. chicken nuggets, french fries, and sandwiches) are available. Older children may order hamburgers, pizza, and burritos. Menu options are dependent on your child's medical condition and diet restrictions are based on your physician's directions.
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We offer a variety of meatless entrees including: pasta dishes and a fresh fruit and cottage cheese salad. Also available as a special request are vegetarian burgers and meatless sandwiches and salads.
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We offer Mexican food selections as part of our daily menu offering. A chicken tortilla casserole and a chicken tostada salad are among our lunch selections. We also provide enchiladas, burritos, and beans and spanish rice to patients as a special request. Asian dishes are included on our weekly rotation of selection. Patients can select from beef stir-fry or a teriyaki pork chop. Steamed rice is also available at every meal. Kosher meals are available with advanced notice.
Please contact executive chef Pete Clements at (805) 569-8202, pclements@cottagehealthsystem.org, and let him know of your upcoming admission date. He will accommodate your needs.
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