Soft Diet and Mechanical Soft Diet

What is a soft diet?

A soft diet is a diet that limits or completely avoids foods that are hard to swallow and chew.

Your healthcare provider may direct you to have a soft diet if:

• You have been on a liquids-only diet after surgery or a long illness. It is a way to add solid foods back to your diet gradually.
• You are extremely weak or have problems with your teeth. Softer, moister textures are easier to chew and swallow.
• You are having chemotherapy or radiation treatment of the head, neck, or stomach area. These treatments can cause digestive problems and pain in the mouth and throat.

A soft diet is generally ordered “as tolerated.” This means that foods may be added if they do not cause discomfort.

Which foods should I avoid?

Examples of foods that are hard to swallow and chew are:

• chewy foods, like some breads and tough meats
• raw fruits
• raw vegetables
• dry, sticky foods
• nuts and seeds

If you need to rest your intestinal tract or have a sore mouth, you may also need to avoid or limit these foods:

• greasy foods, such as fried foods or foods prepared with a lot of fat
• spicy foods
• gas-forming foods such as Brussels sprouts, beans, broccoli, and cauliflower
• high-fiber foods such as whole grains and cereals
• dairy products if you have lactose intolerance

What foods are usually included in a soft-diet and how are they prepared?

• Eat soft fruits or cooked or canned fruits and vegetables instead of fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Substitute refined breads and cereals for whole-grain products.
• Tender animal foods such as fish, eggs, poultry, and lean ground beef can be included in a soft diet.
• Sherbet, fruit ices, custards, and very moist cakes or cookies can be good desserts in soft-food diet.
• Cook all foods until they are very soft, or mash them.
• Add liquids, such as broth, gravy, or milk to drier foods.
• Eat small, more frequent meals to relieve the discomfort of gas and bloating.

What is a mechanical soft diet?

A mechanical soft diet has fewer restrictions than a soft diet. It may be used if you have chewing or swallowing problems only. It can be a good diet if:

• You have no teeth, poor-fitting dentures, or a narrowed throat (food tube).
• You are recovering from mouth or neck surgery.

All foods are allowed that can be mechanically made easier to chew and swallow, that is, blended, pureed, ground, or finely chopped. For example:

• Meats, fish, and poultry can be cooked then ground or pureed with sauce to moisten.
• Fruits and vegetables can also be blended, mashed, or pureed. Pureed vegetable soups work well.
• Nuts ground until fine can be added to yogurts or cereals.

Milk products such as yogurt and cottage cheese usually can be eaten without changing the texture at all. Drier breads and crackers can be harder to swallow, but they can be included if they do not cause discomfort.

This diet does not restrict spices, fat, or higher fiber foods.

Are the soft diets nutritionally complete?

Both soft and mechanical soft diets include foods from all food groups, so they are considered to be nutritionally complete diets. Many people directed to follow these types of diets, however, are more like to have a poor appetite. Or it may be just too hard to eat enough food. In this case, your healthcare provider may recommend supplementing the diet with liquid supplements and vitamins and minerals. You may need to talk to a registered dietitian or ask your healthcare provider to review your diet to make sure you are getting enough nutrition.