Your healthcare provider has prescribed a soft diet. This means eating foods that are soft, low in fiber, and easy to digest. This diet is for people with digestive problems. This should not be confused with a soft diet that is prescribed for people with issues chewing and swallowing. A soft diet provides foods that are easy to chew and swallow. It will reduce or prevent stomach pain or discomfort. Foods should be bite-sized and very soft or moist. Follow your healthcare provider’s specific instructions about what foods and drinks you may have. The general guidelines below can help you get started on this diet.
Beverages
OK: Milk, tea, coffee, fruit juices, carbonated beverages, nutrition shakes, and drinks (Note: Thin liquids may be hard to swallow. They may need to be thickened.)
Don't have: All are OK, unless they need to be thickened
Breads and crackers
OK: Refined white, wheat, or seedless rye bread; graham or soda crackers that have been moistened; plain rolls or bagels; very soft tortillas
Don't have: Whole-grain breads, rolls, or bagels with nuts, raisins, or seeds; crackers, croutons, taco shells
Cereals and grains
OK: Cooked cereals, plain dry cereals that have been moistened, plain macaroni, spaghetti, noodles, rice
Don't have: Whole-grain cereals and granola, or cereals containing bran, raisins, seeds or nuts; coconut; brown or wild rice
Desserts and sweets
OK: Moist cake; soft fruit pie with bottom crust only; soft cookies moistened in milk or other liquid; gelatin, custard, pudding, plain ice cream, plain sherbet, sugar, honey, clear jelly
Don't have: Pastries, desserts, and ice cream that have nuts, coconut, seeds, or dried fruit; popcorn; chips of any kind, including potato chips and tortilla chips; jam, marmalade
Eggs and cheese
OK: Poached, soft boiled, or scrambled eggs; cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, cream cheese, cheese sauces, or cheese melted in other dishes
Don't have: Crisp fried eggs, cheese slices and cubes
Fruits
OK: Avocado, banana, baked peeled apple, applesauce, peeled ripe peaches or pears, canned fruit (apricots, cherries, peaches, pears), melons
Don't have: Raw apple, dried fruits, coconut, mango, pineapple, grapes, fruit leathers, fruit snacks
Meat and fish
OK: All fresh meat, poultry, or fish that is cooked until tender
Don't have: Meat, fish, or poultry that is fried; tough or stringy meat, including bacon, sausage, bratwurst, jerky, corned beef
Other protein foods
OK: Tofu, baked beans,
Don't have: Deep-fried tofu; crunchy peanut or other nut or seed butters; nuts or seeds that are whole or chopped
Soups
OK: All soups, but they may need to be thickened. Thin liquid may be too hard to swallow.
Don't have: Soups made with stringy meat pieces or chunky vegetables
Vegetables
OK: Peeled and well-cooked potatoes or sweet potatoes; fresh, cooked, canned, or frozen vegetables without seeds, skin, or coarse fiber
Don't have: Raw vegetables, deep-fried vegetables (such as tempura), and corn
