Soft Diet

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

A soft diet contains foods that are soft and easy for you to chew or swallow. These foods may be chopped, ground, mashed, pureed, and moist. Eating soft foods may help if you have problems chewing or swallowing. People who have had certain types of surgery, such as head, neck, or stomach surgery may need to follow a soft diet. People who have problems with their teeth or mouth may also need to follow a soft diet. Your caregiver will tell you how long you need to follow this diet.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Foods to avoid eating and drinking while on a soft diet: Avoid any foods that are hard for you to chew or swallow. The following foods may be hard for you to chew or swallow.

• Starches:
  
  
  • Cereal, cake, and breads with flaxseed, coconut, dried fruit, nuts, or other seeds.
    
    
  • Corn, potato, or tortilla chips.
    
    
  • Crisp rye and whole-wheat crackers.
    
    
  • Dry or coarse whole-grain cereals.
    
    
  • Pita bread, bagels, French or sourdough bread.
    
    
  • Popcorn.
    
    
  • Rye or pumpernickel bread with seeds.
    
    
  • Taco shells.
  
  
• Vegetables:
  
  
  • Corn and peas.
    
    
  • Raw, hard vegetables that cannot be mashed easily such as carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and celery.
  
  
• Fruits:
  
  
  • Cooked fruit with skin or seeds.
    
    
  • Dried fruits.
    
    
  • Fresh, canned, or cooked pineapple.
    
    
  • Raspberries or blackberries.
    
    
  • Raw, crisp fruits such as apples or frozen fruits.
  
  
• Meats and protein foods:
  
  
  • Beef jerky, corned beef, or other meat that is tough or stringy.
    
    
  • Casseroles with rice or large chunks.
    
    
  • Dry meats and tough meats (such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs, and bratwurst).
    
    
  • Hard-cooked or crisp fried eggs.
    
    
  • Peanut butter (creamy or crunchy).
  
  
• Dairy:
  
  
  • Cheese slices and cubes.
    
    
  • Yogurt or ice cream with nuts or granola.

Guidelines for preparing foods: Your caregiver will tell you what type of consistency (firmness and thickness) your foods should be.

• Use a food processor to grind or puree foods to make them easier to chew and swallow.
  
  
• Chicken broth, beef broth, gravy, or sauces may be used to moisten and blend meats and vegetables.
  
  
• Fruit juice may be used to blend fruit.
  
  
• Do not eat the same thing every day. Prepare a variety of foods to make sure you get all the nutrients you need.

Starchy foods (such as cereals and breads) you can eat while following a soft diet:

• Bread roll, muffin, pancake, or waffle.
  
  
• Cooked cereal, rice, or barley.
  
  
• Macaroni, pasta, or noodles.
  
  
• Plain dry cereal (without nuts, dry fruit, granola, or whole grain) in milk.
  
  
• Saltine crackers (softened in soup or drinks).
  
  
• Soft bread or soft tortilla.

Fruits and vegetables you can eat while following a soft diet:

• Applesauce or canned fruit without seeds or skin.
  
  
• Cooked fruits or ripe, soft banana.
  
  
• Fruit juice.
  
  
• Mashed or cooked potatoes without skin.
  
  
• Soft melon cubes.
  
  
• Soft, well-cooked vegetables without seeds or skin.
  
  
• Vegetable juice (such as tomato juice).

Soups and protein foods you can eat while following a soft diet:

• Broth or bouillon.
  
  
• Egg that has been poached, scrambled or cooked to a soft texture.
  
  
• Moist, tender meat, fish, or poultry that is ground, chopped, or cut into one-quarter inch cubes.
  
  
• Pureed or blended soups.
  
  
• Soup with soft vegetables or meats.
  
  
• Tofu.
  
  
• Well-cooked, slightly mashed, moist legumes like baked beans.

Dairy foods you can eat while following a soft diet:

• Cheese (in sauces or melted in other dishes).
  
  
• Cottage cheese or ricotta cheese.
  
  
• Milk or milk drinks, and milkshakes.
  
  
• Soft ice cream or ice milk without fruit or nuts.
  
  
• Yogurt (plain or with soft fruits).

Desserts and sweets you can eat while following a soft diet:

• Fruit cobbler with soft breading or crumb mixture with no seeds or nuts.
  
  
• Gelatin dessert with soft canned fruit.
  
  
• Pudding or custard.
  
  
• Soft, fruit pie with bottom crust only.
  
  
• Soft, moist cake.
  
  
• Soft, moist cookie that has been moistened in milk, coffee, or other liquid.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have questions about how to prepare or cook foods for this diet.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your illness, medicine, or this diet.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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