You might need to follow a high-protein, soft diet following certain surgeries or for specific health conditions. If you are recovering from cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, for example, you might need a high-protein diet to help you recover and grow stronger. A soft food diet is gentle on your teeth and mouth and may be easier to tolerate than hard or chewy food, especially if you feel weak. A 2,000-calorie plan offers an adequate amount of energy for most women and very sedentary men.
Protein Amounts
If 30 percent or more of your calories come from protein, it is considered high-protein. For a 2,000-calorie diet, you need at least 150 g of protein daily. A 1-oz. serving of chicken or beef contains about 9 g of protein, a cup of skim milk contains 8 g of protein, a scoop of whey protein contains approximately 20 g of protein and 1 cup of canned beans contains about 14 g. You should still strive to consume a minimum of 45 percent of your calories from carbohydrates for energy, and 20 percent of your calories from fat, for hormone regulation and vitamin absorption.
Foods to Avoid
Hard, crunchy foods, such as chips, popcorn, nuts and raw vegetables, are off-limits on a soft diet. Any fruits or vegetables with seeds -- even if cooked -- may also be hard to chew and swallow. Chewy breads and stringy meat, such as brisket or large chunks of steak, should also be avoided.
Allowable Foods
High protein foods to include on a soft diet include dairy products, especially milk, yogurt and cottage cheese. Soft tofu and mashed, cooked beans, such as chickpeas or black beans, may also be well-tolerated. Minced pieces of meat -- smaller than 1/4 inch -- is another high-quality source of protein. Soft cooked eggs -- particularly poached or scrambled -- offer 6 g of protein each. Protein powders, made from whey or soy, help to boost your protein intake. You should also include well-cooked, mashed vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and pureed, creamed spinach, along with fruit choices such as applesauce or poached pears. Soft white bread without the crust and well-cooked whole-wheat noodles are soft sources of carbohydrates.
Sample Plan
Start your day with a fruit smoothie made with one scoop of whey protein, 1 cup of skim milk and 1 banana. Have two scrambled eggs with two egg whites on the side. For lunch, enjoy a cup of tomato soup with 1 cup of chicken breast, minced into tiny pieces, and 1 cup of well-cooked rice. At dinner, have 1 cup of mashed black beans with a soft tortilla and one-half of an avocado. For snacks, stir fry 6 oz. of tofu with soy sauce and garlic. Later, have a bowl of puffed rice cereal soaked in 1 ½ cups of skim milk, until slightly mushy. This meal contains 1,996 calories, 30 percent protein, 49 percent carbohydrates and 21 percent fat.
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