Your doctor may prescribe a soft diet if you have had stomach or gastrointestinal surgery, or if you have trouble chewing or swallowing your food. Foods that you can eat on a soft diet are not too hard, chewy or difficult to swallow. It is important to follow the diet accurately to make sure that your food does not cause discomfort, so learn what foods are allowed, and talk to your doctor if you have questions.
Protein and Dairy
A soft diet allows tender meat, poultry, pork and fish, but no fried meat, deli meats, bacon, fish with bones or shellfish, according to the Langone Medical Center. You can have eggs, as long as they are not fried. Do not eat any legumes or nuts except for smooth peanut butter. You can eat milk and milk products, such as yogurt, cottage cheese and cheese, except products with pieces of nuts or seeds, or strongly flavored cheeses.
Grains
On a soft diet, you can have refined grains, such as white bread, cooked white rice or pasta, refined crackers, cold cereal or pancakes, according to the Langone Medical Center. Do not have wild rice or whole grain foods and make sure that your cold cereal does not have nuts, dried fruit or seeds in it. The National Cancer Institute states that you can have hot cereals, such as oatmeal, grits, farina and cream of wheat.
Fruits and Vegetables
On a soft diet, you can eat fruits and vegetables that are cooked until they are soft, according to the Langone Medical Center. Be sure that that they do not have skin or seeds. You can eat soft raw fruit, such as banana, pitted cherries, grapefruit, orange, grapes, avocados and watermelon, according to the National Cancer Institute. You can have fruit juice, vegetable juices and lettuce, but no other raw vegetables, or any fried vegetables, such as potatoes. Do not have coconut.
Other Foods
You can eat fats, such as butter, mayonnaise, margarine, sour cream and oils, according to the National Cancer Institute. A soft diet allows ice cream, apple butter, chocolate, sherbet, cookies, cakes, pies and candy, as long as they do not have nuts or dried fruit. You can also have clear soups, such as bouillon or broth. Do not have any fried foods, candied fruit, chunky jams or preserves, nut brittle or bean or pea soup.
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