Healthcare English 7 — Food, Nutrition & Dietary Needs AE

The language of mealtimes and nutrition — dietary needs, food textures, allergies, and hydration vocabulary for care settings.

Vocabulary in context

Mealtimes are one of the most important parts of the care day — nutritionally, socially, and emotionally. Getting dietary needs right is also a clinical responsibility: the wrong food texture can cause a choking incident; the wrong meal can destabilise a diabetic resident. This exercise covers the vocabulary you need to handle mealtimes safely and professionally.

Ready to practice! Let's go!

Fill in each blank with the correct word from the list:

allergen
calorie intake
diabetic
dysphagia
fortified
hydration
minced
pureed
supplement
thickener

1. Always check the resident's care plan for any known before offering food or drinks.

2. Mrs. Green has and requires a smooth, lump-free consistency at every meal.

3. Add to her drinks — this makes liquids safer to swallow and reduces the risk of aspiration.

4. Mr. Kim is , so please make sure he receives the correct meal tray and no sugary snacks.

5. The speech therapist has recommended a diet — soft enough to chew easily but not completely smooth.

6. Document the resident's at each meal — if she's eating less than half, report it.

7. The nutritional is added to her meal to boost her calorie and protein intake.

8. food is completely smooth and requires no chewing — suitable for residents with severe swallowing difficulties.

9. Ensure adequate throughout the day — offer water, juice, or herbal tea between meals.

10. The milk shakes are prescribed to maintain the resident's weight during her recovery.