If you have difficulty chewing or swallowing, or recently had head, neck or stomach surgery, your doctor may suggest you follow a soft diet. A soft diet consists of foods that are low in fiber, easy to chew and mildly seasoned. The diet includes a variety of foods from each of the food groups, allowing you to adequately meet your nutritional needs.
Starch
Starches provide your body with energy, B vitamins and iron. Starches allowed on the soft diet include bread, rolls, pancakes, muffins, cooked cereals, soft ready-to-eat cereals in milk, pasta, rice and baked or mashed potatoes. You should avoid any whole-grain breads with nuts or seeds, potato chips, popcorn, corn chips, pretzels and french fries.
Vegetables
Vegetables are a good source of essential nutrients you need for good health, including vitamin A, vitamin C, folate and potassium. Vegetable choices on the soft diet include any soft-cooked vegetables, vegetable juice and lettuce, if it doesn't cause problems. Avoid gas-causing vegetables, even those softly cooked, such as broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. Avoid cooked corn.
Fruits
Fruits are another rich source of essential nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, folate and potassium. Soft fruits allowed on the diet include fruit juice, canned fruit, cooked fruit, melons, bananas, peaches, avocados, and oranges and grapefruits without the membranes.
Meats and Meat Substitutes
Meat and meat substitutes are a good source of protein, iron and zinc. Meat choices on a soft diet should be lean and cooked until tender. Good choices include poultry, lean beef and pork and fish. Eggs, tofu and creamy peanut butter are also allowed on the soft diet. Avoid meats that have been overly seasoned or fried.
Dairy
Dairy foods help you meet your protein, calcium and vitamin D needs. On a soft diet you can have milk, cottage cheese, yogurt without nuts or granola, ice cream and most cheeses. Avoid cheeses with a strong flavor while on a soft diet.
Fats and Oils
Fats and oils provide your body with energy and help you absorb fat-soluble vitamins. Those allowed on a soft diet include butter, margarine, mayonnaise, oil and salad dressing. Avoid overly seasoned salad dressings on a soft diet.
Sweets and Desserts
Limit how many sweets and desserts you eat to prevent excessive intake of calories, fat and sugar. Sweets and desserts allowed on a soft diet include gelatin, cake, cookies, pudding, pie, sherbet, fruit ice and ice pops.
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