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Mechanical Soft Diet

What Is a Soft Diet?

A soft diet does not have foods that are hard to chew or swallow. A mechanical soft diet makes foods easier to chew and swallow using a blender or meat grinder.

Why Follow a Soft Diet?

A soft diet is often needed after some types of surgery or illnesses. It may also be needed by people who are having radiation therapy to the head, neck, or belly. A mechanical soft diet may be needed for those having problems chewing or swallowing.

Soft Diet Basics

Foods on a soft diet may be naturally soft. Or they may be mashed, chopped, or cooked until they are soft. Foods that should NOT be eaten include:

  • Tough meats
  • Raw fruits and veggies
  • Chewy or crispy breads
  • Nuts and seeds

The doctor may also advise not eating spicy, fried, or gassy foods.

Foods that are allowed can vary from person to person. The doctor or dietitian can advise the types and textures of foods to eat. Use this chart as a guide.

Eating Guide for a Soft Diet

Food Group Foods You Can Eat Foods You Cannot Eat
Grains
  • Cereal without nuts or dried fruit
  • Refined bread, crackers, muffins, pancakes, or waffles
  • Pasta
  • Plain, white rice
  • Whole-grain bread, crackers, muffins, pancakes, or waffles
  • Wild or whole-grain rice
Veggies
  • Soft-cooked or canned veggies
  • Raw salad greens or tomatoes
  • Cooked potatoes without the skin (except fried or chips)
  • Fried potatoes
  • Hard, raw veggies like carrot sticks
  • Cooked veggies with large seeds or tough skins
Fruits
  • Soft raw fruits without skin
  • Cooked and canned fruits without skin
  • Dried fruits
  • Fruits with skins, seeds, or pits
  • Coconut
Milk
  • Milk and milk drinks
  • Yogurt
  • Cheese, cottage cheese
  • Cheese with nuts or seeds
Meats and Beans
  • Tender meat, pork, poultry, and fish
  • Eggs
  • Tofu
  • Smooth peanut butter
  • Deli meats, such as salami or pepperoni
  • Bacon
  • Anything fried (including fried eggs)
  • Shellfish
  • Fish with bones
  • Nuts and seeds
Fats and Sweets
  • Ice cream, sherbet, and frozen yogurt
  • Pudding
  • Plain chocolate
  • Cake and cookies without hard pieces like chocolate chips, raisins, nuts
  • Products with seeds, dried fruit, nuts, or other hard pieces
  • Fruit or nut pies
Other
  • Salt, pepper, herbs, and mild spices
  • Sugar, jelly, honey
  • All beverages Note: If you have trouble swallowing, you may need thickened liquids.
  • Popcorn
  • Fried food
  • Jam with seeds
  • Spicy food or condiments

Suggestions

Here are some diet tips:

  • Use a blender to puree foods, such as soup or fruit.
  • Remember to chew foods before you swallow them.
  • To preserve nutrients when cooking foods:
    • Steam or microwave veggies.
    • When boiling potatoes, peel after cooking.
  • Consider working with a dietitian to make the best meal plan for you.

RESOURCES

Eat Right—Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics  http://www.eatright.org 

Food and Drug Administration  http://www.fda.gov 

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Dietitians of Canada  http://www.dietitians.ca 

Health Canada  https://www.canada.ca 

References

Nutrition care manual. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. Available at: https://www.nutritioncaremanual.org. Accessed April 7, 2022.

Oral hygeine: performing. EBSCO Nursing Reference Center website. Available at: https://www.ebscohost.com/nursing/products/nursing-reference-center. Accessed April 7, 2022.

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