Soft Food Diet: 7 Foods to Eat and 7 Foods to Avoid

Soft food diets are prescribed in many situations:

• Ulcers
• Heartburn
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Recovery from a recent stomach flu
• Recovery from surgery on the stomach, head, or neck
• Radiation therapy on the stomach, head, or neck
• Problems chewing or swallowing
• Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s

If you have been prescribed a soft food diet, it is important to select nutrient-rich foods that are easy to chew, swallow, and digest.

1. Vegetables: Vegetable juice without pulp or skin, well-cooked or canned vegetables without seeds or peels, potatoes without skin, tomato paste, smooth sauces, etc.
2. Fruits: Fruit juices without pulp, cooked fruit without skin or seeds, peeled apples, applesauce, canned peaches, bananas, avocados, ripe seedless melon, etc.
3. Dairy: Milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, powdered or evaporated milk, kefir, etc.
4. Grains: White rice, pasta, noodles made with white or refined flour, low-fiber dried or cooked cereals, etc.
5. Proteins: Fish, ground poultry, ground meat, meatballs, eggs, creamy nut butter, tofu, etc.
6. Soups: Broths or pureed soups with cooked vegetables
7. Drinks: Water, tea, smoothies, etc.

If you are following a soft food diet, you should also avoid spicy, fried, or raw foods.

1. Vegetables: Raw vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, onions, dark leafy greens, bell peppers, summer squash, potato skins, sauerkraut, pickles, etc.
2. Fruits: Dried fruit, canned fruit, acidic fruits, fruits with peels or seeds, etc. 
3. Dairy: Hard cheeses or any dairy with added nuts or fruits
4. Grains: Brown or wild rice, whole grain flour, barley, quinoa, popcorn, cereals with nuts or dried fruits, etc.
5. Proteins: Processed meat (hot dogs, sausage, kielbasa), tough cuts of meat, shellfish, beans, chunky peanut butter, nuts. etc.
6. Spicy foods: Hot peppers, hot sauce, etc.
7. Drinks: Alcohol, caffeinated beverages, etc.

• Take small bites and chew slowly and thoroughly.
• Eat frequently and in small amounts.
• Stop eating when you start to feel full.
• Maintain a straight posture while eating.
• After eating, stay in a sitting position for at least 45-60 minutes.
• Avoid eating 3 hours before going to bed.