Grains and starches: mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, cooked cereals like cream of wheat, soft, moistened grains such as farro or barley, moistened pancakes, soft noodles, etc.Lower fat dairy products are typically recommended for people recovering from gastrointestinal surgery or illness.
Overall, soft diets should consist of foods that are soft, as well as easy to eat and digest. Although puréed foods are allowed on soft food diets, puréed diets are entirely different. Soft diets should not be confused with puréed diets. Soft diets are used when regular-textured or highly seasoned foods can’t be tolerated, which can happen for a number of reasons. They’re often prescribed to people with swallowing difficulties, those who have undergone abdominal surgery, and people with other medical issues. Soft diets consist of foods that are easily chewed and digested. In these cases, the diet may be higher in fiber and more flavorful than soft diets used in the short term. Keep in mind that some people have to be on soft food diets for longer periods.
Soft diets are also used as transitional diets between full liquid or puréed diets and regular diets in people who have undergone abdominal surgery or are recovering from gastrointestinal illness to allow the digestive system to heal more effectively ( 6).Īdditionally, soft diets can be prescribed to people who are too weak to consume regular foods, such as those undergoing chemotherapy, as well as to people who have lost feeling in their face or mouth or can’t control their lips or tongue due to a stroke ( 7).Īlthough soft food diets used in both the clinical and home setting can vary, most that are used in the short term are low in fiber and bland to ease digestibility and the comfort of the person eating the diet ( 8). In addition to dysphagia, soft diets are prescribed to people who have recently undergone mouth or jaw surgery that has affected their ability to chew.įor example, people who have undergone wisdom teeth removal, major jaw surgery, or dental implant surgery may need to follow a soft diet to promote healing ( 5).
NDD Level 2 - Dysphagia-Mechanically Altered: cohesive, moist, semisolid foods, requiring some chewing.NDD Level 1 - Dysphagia-Puréed: uniform texture, pudding-like, requiring very little chewing ability.In 2002 the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics published the National Dysphagia Diet (NDD), which includes several levels of dysphagia diets ( 3, 4): Dysphagia is common in older adults and those with neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases ( 1, 2). Soft diets are often used to treat swallowing disorders, collectively known as dysphagia. They’re typically followed for short periods of a few days to a few weeks, though some circumstances may require the diet to be followed for a longer period. Soft food diets are used in many settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and in the home. Healthcare providers commonly prescribed these diets to people with certain medical conditions or who are recovering from surgery. Soft food diets consist of soft, easily digestible foods and are prescribed to people who can’t tolerate normally textured or highly seasoned foods. What is a soft food diet and why is it prescribed?