Soft Food & Liquid Diet
A soft food and liquid diet is not as restrictive as a clear liquid diet or even a full liquid diet, but it should be followed just as carefully. Your doctor may recommend this type of diet if you are recovering from gastrointestinal surgery, oral or jaw surgery, have mesothelioma, or have had chemotherapy or radiation therapy. It may also be recommended if you have trouble chewing and swallowing (dysphagia).
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What is a Soft Food And Liquid Diet?
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A soft food and liquid diet includes clear liquids and liquids or semi-liquids that contain what are called "suspended solids." Consult with your doctor as to variables that might dictate what you can safely eat. If you have just had gastrointestinal surgery, there are some soft foods you shouldn't eat just yet. If you are recovering from surgery to your mouth or jaw, you have more options.
If you are unsure whether a food is soft enough to be "soft," take a small piece of the food and put it on your tongue. Mash it gently against the roof of your mouth. If it mashes down easily, it's fine.
What Can I Eat?
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On a soft food and liquid diet, you can have all kinds of liquid dairy, including yogurt as long as it has no fruit chunks, smooth hot cereals such as oatmeal and wheatena, all kinds of fruit juice, applesauce, soft scrambled eggs, pudding, custard, sherbet and smooth (no chunks) ice-cream. Commercial baby food provides an easy and excellent addition to your diet.
If your doctor says you can have mashed or pureed cooked foods, try mashed or pureed potatoes, yams, parsnips, carrots, and beets. You can also have beef and chicken broth, pea soup, and cream soups such as cream of tomato, potato, broccoli or asparagus.
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When Should I Eat?
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You should have lots of small meals throughout the day. Drink water with every meal and in between meals. Carry some jars of baby food with you, if you think the right soft foods may not be available when you are at work or traveling.
Sample One-Day Menu
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For breakfast, you can have water, 1 cup of fruit juice, 2 scrambled eggs, or 1 cup of oatmeal or wheatena, and coffee or tea.
For a snack, you can have fruit juice and 1 serving of applesauce, or 1 cup of broth.
Lunch can include water, a cup of fruit juice, 2 ounces of pureed fish or poultry, a half cup of mashed or pureed vegetables (this is where a jar of baby food can come in handy), and a small flavored yogurt for dessert.
For an afternoon snack, you can have a mashed-up banana with honey, yogurt or an individual pudding cup, along with tea or coffee.
For dinner -- water, a cup of tomato soup, 4 ounces of pureed fish or chicken, 1 cup of mashed potato or yam with butter, tea or coffee, and sherbet for dessert.
And for a late evening snack, try a fruit smoothie and an herbal tea.
Use Your Blender
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Use your blender to help you puree fruits; cooked vegetables and legumes, such as peas and beans; even cooked chicken and fish; so you can get more variety into your diet.
Your Teeth
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The crunchy and chewy foods we eat help keep our teeth clean. If you are on a soft food and liquid diet, you will need to brush your teeth more frequently and rinse thoroughly after every meal.
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