Soft and Mechanical Soft Diet
Author: Frank W. Jackson
Prebiotics in y our diet or in a suppleme nt naturally restore digestive balance a nd health. Learn m ore . . .
Purpose
The soft diet serves as a transition from liquids to a regular diet
for individuals who are recovering from surgery or a long illness.
It can help to ease difficulty in chewing and/or swallowing due to
dental problems or extreme weakness, and it is sometimes
recommended to relieve mild intestinal or stomach discomfort.
The soft diet can be especially helpful to patients who are
undergoing treatments like chemotherapy, or radiation to the
head, neck or abdominal areas, which may cause digestive
problems or make the mouth and throat very sore.
The soft diet limits or eliminates foods that are hard to chew and swallow, such as raw fruits and
vegetables, chewy breads, and tough meats. In some cases, high-fiber foods like whole-grain breads
and cereals and "gas-forming" vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower may be restricted to ease
digestion. Fried, greasy foods and highly-seasoned or spicy foods may also be limited for this reason.
Foods may be softened by cooking or mashing. Canned or soft-cooked fruits and vegetables may be
used in place of raw or dried varieties. Refined breads and cereals are usually recommended over
coarse, whole-grain types. Moist, tender meats, fish, and poultry are permitted; it is not necessary to
grind them unless desired. Eating small, frequent meals can help to reduce gas or bloating.
The mechanical soft diet is a close cousin of the soft diet. It gets its name from the fact that household
tools and machines, like a blender, meat grinder, or knife, are used to make foods easier to chew and
swallow.
In contrast to the soft diet, the mechanical soft diet does not restrict fat, fiber, spices, or seasonings.
Only the texture and consistency of foods are changed. Fruits and vegetables may be soft-cooked or
pureed. Meats, fish, and poultry can be cooked, ground, and moistened with sauce or gravy to make
chewing and swallowing more comfortable. Breads and crackers may be limited at first, as they can be
dry and difficult to swallow. Milk and other dairy products like pudding, custard, and smooth yogurt
may not need to be changed at all!
The mechanical soft diet is appropriate for patients who are recovering from head, neck, or mouth
surgery, who have dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), narrowing of the esophagus (food tube), or who
are too ill or weak to chew. The diet also benefits those who have poorly fitting dentures, no teeth, or
other dental problems.
Guideline s for the Soft Diet
Food Group Foods Allowed Foods to Avoid
Beverages all none
Soups mildly seas oned brot h, bouillon, or c ream
soup; strained vegetable soup bean, gumbo, split pea, or onion soup; chunky soups or
chowders
Meats
any moist, tender meats, fish, or poultry
(lamb, veal, chicken, turkey, tender beef,
liver stewed pork); eggs (see exceptions);
creamy peanut butter
Fried chicken or fish; fish with bones; shellfish; fried,
salted, or smoked meats; sausage; cold cuts; raw or
fried eggs; dried beans; nuts and seeds
(avoid milk if lactose intolerant) yogurt with nuts or
