Blog Posts

It's incredible to know that in 2026, Blossom Foods will celebrate 20 years!! Our vision was simple, create wonderful meals in soft textures that allowed those that needed it to continue to enjoy mealtime. We so wanted not just the consumer to enjoy their meals, but to know their families could be sure that what we prepared would be as flavorful as what they remember in regular texture meals. We have grown from an 18-menu item company in Pureed single serve containers, to a menu expanding more than 35 items, in 3 textures. Our menu items now come in single compartment, 3 compartment meals, and bulk packed. We have been so fortunate to have employees that have been with us this entire journey, caring as much as I did about our path forward. Our healthcare partners have trusted us to provide their patients the best, small batch meals in the IDDSI diet levels of 4 (pureed), 5 (minced & moist) and 6 (soft and bite size). We continue to use fresh, minimal ingredients to keep the flavor, as well the color, all natural. We have also been humbled and proud to have been able to provide family members, friends, and other loved ones with our meals, including my mother and mother-in-law. I am incredibly proud of the work that Blossom Foods has achieved and the many lives we have impacted, as well as the impact on my life. We look forward to another 20 years with a commitment to home consumers and maybe even retail. Cheers and Thank You! Sue   more...

Ending the first quarter of 2025, our goals to introduce additional menu items across the three IDDSI levels (Pureed, Minced & Moist, and Soft Chop), catering to various dietary needs were set! They include expanded vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, with dishes like gluten-free vegetarian lasagna gaining popularity. All vegetables, fruits, and many other items are now Vegan and gluten free with no added fillers or colors (think tasty options as well as healthy!) As we continue to collaborate with our healthcare partners, we are increasing the number of menu items in bulk packaging offerings, providing two 5-pound pouches for vegetables and proteins in each texture, facilitating easier meal preparation and potential cost savings. Blossom Foods remains deeply committed to enhancing the dining experience for individuals with swallowing difficulties, increasing the bland choices to familiar, everyday delicious choices. Enjoy and give us a call or send an email for additional information.   more...

We ended 2024 reflecting on what our strengths are and what we'd like to accomplish in 2025, what we can do better. First up, continuing to get rid of what doesn't need to be in our meals, think allergens. As we do not use fillers, added colors, or flavor enhancers, our flavor profile and offering to a vast majority are very important to us. All of our vegetables and fruits are gluten free and vegan. What you may assume are allergen free, Pot Roast, Chicken with Vegetables, Vegetable Lasagna, etc. also are. Yes, menu items such as French Toast and Meatloaf are not in those categories, just a bunch more are. Our commitment to quality and taste has garnered positive feedback from both healthcare professionals and consumers. We believe providing meals that not only meet dietary needs but also offer a satisfying culinary experience are greatly needed and appreciated by both the consumer and their loved ones. Coming in 2025: Yes, we have said it many times and believe me when I say, starting direct to consumer is a big goal of 2025. Deciding on packaging, getting shipping costs at a reasonable price, and coordinating our menu and textures to the home consumer are a priority. We hope to launch this mid 2025. We're looking forward to hearing from you. Feel free to contact us with any questions. Sue   more...

With everyone back in the office and production in full force, 2024 feels like a new beginning. We are excited about our new menu items, addition of packaging styles, increased vegan and vegetarian options, and some new menu items that we will debut throughout the year. Vegan and Vegetarian menu items, along with Gluten free, have been our fastest risers. Gluten free Vegetarian Lasagna, and each of our vegetables are clean label, allergen free and gluten free. We know the sound of Vegan may not sound delicious, but when you start with fresh vegetables and limited additional ingredients, you'll change your mind quickly and enjoy the rich creamy flavors. Our greatest joy is working with healthcare professionals around the country. It's exciting to talk about flavor and variety, along with patient satisfaction with a textured diet rather than the "OG" flavors and colors of what was once thought as an only option for soft meals. Beige should be out of the soft texture description and "bright, natural, and flavorful" should replace all discussions around what soft meals are. Each of us continue to be very proud of what we serve and the lives we impact. It matters to us. Bulk packaging has seen an increase in number of items as well. Vegetables and proteins are now offered in two (2) five (5) pound pouches in each texture. Individual and complete 3 compartment meals are color coded, identify allergens, and best buy dates to make selection and picking of IDDSI levels easy for your staff. If you'd like to schedule a tasting and discuss our over 55 (yes, 55) menu options in each of the IDDSI levels 4 (pureed), 5 (Minced and Moist), and 6 (soft and bite sized) please give us a call or use our contact us button. We look forward to working with you.   more...

Summer and IDDSI Transition

It's been a great start to Summer here at Blossom Foods! The new plated meals, in each texture, have been well received and our bulk options continue to grow. Our menu has significantly increased in size and we work on keeping the flavors great, the colors real, and the labels clean. The IDDSI diet levels have kept us busy with increasing the amount of educational materials we are able to offer and making the labels/colors easier to identify. We are still scheduling times to meet with our customers to taste and discuss the new textures, please don't hesitate to contact us! Sue
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Fundamentals of Dysphagia: Causes and Symptoms

Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, may be caused by injury, stroke, cancer, or Parkinson’s disease, to name a few. Depending on the cause, symptoms of dysphagia may include coughing when eating or drinking, food or liquid leaking from the mouth, or a wet sounding voice during or after eating or drinking. If gone untreated, dysphagia in the long term may lead to a higher risk of aspiration (food or liquid gets into lungs), dehydration, or malnutrition.
If prescribed a modified texture diet, you may become very familiar with foods like the pureed (IDDSI Level 4) Pepper Beef featured in this photo! Fresh USDA beef is slow cooked with sweet green peppers to make this delicious entrée. It’s available in IDDSI levels 4, 5, and 6, and can stand alone as an A La Carte dish, or as the star of the Pepper Beef, Spinach, and Potatoes meal.   more...

IDDSI Testing Methods

When it comes to soft textured foods, testing is essential for us to ensure we’ve reached the correct consistency!
According to IDDSI, approved food testing methods include the Fork Drip test, Spoon Tilt test, and Fork or Spoon Pressure test.   more...

Quick Reference Guide - IDDSI

In a hurry, and couldn’t catch our last post about IDDSI? No problem! This quick reference guide gives you a rundown on the key elements of IDDSI Levels 4, 5 and 6.
For those of us who are better visual learners, we’ve provided photos to make it easier to compare each texture. As you can see, there is a clear difference in consistency and food particle size as you upgrade from Pureed to Minced & Moist and Soft & Bite-Sized. Keep in mind that each upgrade in texture also requires a greater ability to chew and swallow, so individuals should remember to consult their healthcare teams prior to upgrading their diets, and healthcare staff must be adequately trained to recognize appropriate foods for each diet level.   more...

Blossom Foods Education Advancement Team (EAT) Presents: IDDSI General Guide

Hello All!
Thank you for checking out the first installment of our education series. As we've said before, we want to present IDDSI, dysphagia, and nutrition in an approachable, easy-to-understand way. But first thing's first: What is IDDSI and what does it mean for healthcare institutions and individuals alike?   more...

Blossom Foods Welcomes 2021

Well, we may be about a month late but as the saying goes, "Better late than never!" We've been pretty delayed in general on updating our customers so we hope to start today.
Our response to COVID has been as successful as it could be. With our additional sanitizing stations and space requirements, we have been fully operational. 2020 saw a great year for our team and company in terms of growth and commitment. We are extremely grateful that each of our team members have embraced the new standards in the midst of this awful pandemic and that our rapid growth has been sustainable.   more...

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