99 soft food diet recipes | Authority Dental (2024)

  • Soft food diets are useful in many situations, such as after oral surgery, tooth extractions, or head, neck, or stomach surgeries, as well as for people with chronic issues that make chewing and swallowing difficult.
  • There are many nutritious soft foods that can be eaten, such as eggs, soft fruits, cooked vegetables, and certain types of protein, but foods that are hard, crunchy, or sticky should be avoided.
  • Soft foods can be prepared in a variety of ways, such as by cutting them into small pieces, using sauces or gravies to moisten them, or pureeing or mashing them. Additionally, there are many soft food recipes available to make the diet more varied and enjoyable.

  • Need to make a dentist appointment this week? Use Authority Dental to find a 24 hour dentists who take your insurance. It’s simple, fast and free.

When exactly you'll need a soft-food diet? Here's everything you need to know.

When you should eat a soft food diet

Eating only soft foods comes in handy in many situations. In fact, this diet is good if you have had any type of mouth, tooth, head, neck, or stomach surgery. Also, you may need to follow this diet if you have a chronic issue that makes it difficult to chew and swallow.

For example, if you have gotten a dental implant placed or any type of oral surgery (wisdom teeth, braces, tooth extractions, etc.), your dentist may recommend a soft food diet. That’s a smart option because, first of all, you’ll have pain and discomfort in your mouth after the procedure. Secondly, it allows the surgical sites to heal better and quicker.

What foods to eat

Before you groan at the idea of a soft food diet, you should know there are plenty of soft foods you can eat.

Here are just a few ideas for this type of diet:

Grains

  • Bread, some cereals, muffins, pancakes, or waffle

  • Some cereals (soft and/or moist)

  • Pasta/noodles, rice

  • Saltine crackers in soup

Fruits and vegetables

  • Applesauce

  • Canned fruit

  • Cooked/baked fruits

  • Soft fruits with no skin (bananas, peaches, watermelon)

  • Soft, cooked veggies

Proteins

  • Eggs (poached, scrambled, or hard/soft boiled)

  • Easy to chew meat, like fish, chopped/ground poultry

  • Small pieces of meat in soup

  • Tofu

  • Baked beans

Dairy

  • Cheese (thinly sliced, melted)

  • Cottage or ricotta cheese

  • Milk and milkshakes

  • Ice cream

  • Yogurt

You should eat food that have a soft texture and are nutritious while on the soft food diet.

What foods to avoid

Yes, there are also plenty of foods you shouldn’t eat. And you should be aware of what they are before you bite into anything.

Here are some off-limits foods for those on a soft food diet:

Starches

  • Toast, crackers, and hard cereal

  • Anything with dried fruits, nuts or other seeds

  • Corn on the cob, uncooked potatoes, hard chips

  • Bagels, French bread, sourdough bread

  • Popcorn

Vegetables

  • Corn on the cob

  • Peas

  • Hard, unmashed, raw vegetables

Fruits

  • Hard fruits, like whole apples, raw carrots

  • Stringy fruits, like pineapple and mango

  • Any skin of a fruit

Proteins

  • Steak

  • Beef jerky

  • Bacon

  • Sausage

  • Hot dogs

  • Peanut butter (both creamy and crunchy)

You should avoid any food that’s tough, crunchy, hard, or sticky while on the soft-food diet. You should also avoid eating foods that are spicy, these can upset your stomach and cause bloating.

How to prepare soft foods

So now that you have the list of foods to eat and not to eat, how can you prepare these foods?

Below are some ideas for how to do just that:

  • Cut food into small pieces.

  • Use broth, gravy, or sauce to moisten food.

  • Soup is a healthy and safe option in a soft food diet.

  • Grind or puree foods.

  • Mash foods, like potatoes, veggies, and fruits.

Recipes for the soft food diet

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with this new diet, that’s normal with anyone who begins eating only soft foods.

But don’t worry. This is not the end of the world. In fact, it’s the perfect time to try something new.

You will be able to swallow most of this food without chewing, including meat. Just shred it into tiny pieces using a good food processor.

Here’s the ultimate list of soft food recipes. These are hand-picked, absolutely the best recipes I could find online.

This page will be updated with new recipes, so make sure to pin it for your further reference.

Your teeth will love this food – guaranteed!

Mashed

Herb and garlic mashed potatoes

99 soft food diet recipes | Authority Dental (10)

99 soft food diet recipes | Authority Dental (11)99 soft food diet recipes | Authority Dental (12)

https://vikalinka.com/garlic-mashed-potatoes/

Eggs

High protein egg scramble with quinoa

99 soft food diet recipes | Authority Dental (25)

99 soft food diet recipes | Authority Dental (26)99 soft food diet recipes | Authority Dental (27)

https://krollskorner.com/recipes/quinoa-egg-scramble/

Rice

Baked casseroles, lasagnas and more

Soups

Pasta

Instant pot garlic parmesan noodles

99 soft food diet recipes | Authority Dental (112)

99 soft food diet recipes | Authority Dental (113)99 soft food diet recipes | Authority Dental (114)

https://nourishplate.com/instant-pot-noodles/

Salads

Spicy mashed buffalo chickpea salad

99 soft food diet recipes | Authority Dental (121)

99 soft food diet recipes | Authority Dental (122)99 soft food diet recipes | Authority Dental (123)

https://eatwithclarity.com/buffalo-chickpea-salad/

Moist breads

Meat and fish

Pancakes and omelettes

Moist cakes

Fruits and vegetables

Mousses

Smoothies

Sherbets

99 soft food diet recipes | Authority Dental (2024)

FAQs

Can you give me a list of soft foods? ›

Foods to eat
  • Cream of wheat and cream of rice.
  • Cooked white rice.
  • Mashed potatoes and boiled potatoes without skin.
  • Plain pasta and noodles.
  • Plain white crackers (such as no-salt soda crackers)
  • White bread.
  • Applesauce.
  • Cooked fruits without skins or seeds.

Read The Full Story ›
What does a dental soft diet consist of? ›

When it comes to soft foods after dental surgery, consider these nutritious options: Soups with chicken or beef broth are an excellent source of protein. Protein powder mixed with water or milk is a good option to easily get more protein. Mashed avocado is rich in healthy fats and easy to eat.

Read More ›
What should I eat for dinner on a soft food diet? ›

Vegetarian and vegetable dishes:
  • lentils made into dahl.
  • ratatouille.
  • mixed vegetables mashed with butter and melted cheese.
  • cauliflower cheese.
  • soft cooked risotto.
  • mashed potato with butter, grated cheese or cream cheese.
  • baked beans with grated cheese.
  • tinned spaghetti with grated cheese.

Learn More ›
What are the soft foods for missing teeth? ›

This includes cooked vegetables, lean proteins like fish and poultry, yogurt, mashed potatoes, pureed soups, and soft fruits like bananas and avocados. How can caregivers ensure seniors get a balanced diet?

Learn More Now ›
Is spaghetti considered a soft food? ›

Which foods should I include? Breads, cereals, rice, and pasta: Breads, muffins, pancakes, or waffles moistened with syrup, jelly, margarine or butter. Moist dry or cooked cereal.

Continue Reading ›
Can you eat a hamburger on a soft diet? ›

The main rule is to avoid all foods that are difficult to chew,including tough meats, raw vegetables bread with thick,crusts,nuts,seeds or anything crunchy. You can eat cooked fruits and vegetables ,ground meats SOFT cheese,and other dairy products and softened bread and cereals.

Learn More Now ›
Are pancakes soft food? ›

Cold cereal softened in milk (for mechanical soft diets). Scrambled eggs or chopped, hard-boiled eggs for mechanical soft diets. Soft breads, such as muffins and pancakes, soaked in liquid to soften them for mechanical soft diets. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.

Get More Info Here ›
Is pizza considered soft food? ›

Peanut butter. Fried Foods Sandwiches. Pizza. Soups with easy-to-chew or easy-to-swallow meats or vegetables Soups with chunky meat or vegetables Well-cooked, moistened, boiled, baked, or mashed pota- toes.

Find Out More ›
Can you eat mac and cheese on a soft diet? ›

Tinned foods: Macaroni cheese, baked beans, tuna, condensed soup, custard, rice pudding, sponge pudding. Packet foods: Cheese sauce, Build Up soup, Instant Whip. Chilled foods: Macaroni/cauliflower cheese, pasta dishes e.g. spaghetti bolognaise, yoghurt, mousse, crème caramel, trifle.

Keep Reading ›
What is a good breakfast for soft food diet? ›

Breakfast Ideas:
  • Milk.
  • Fruit Juices.
  • Cream of Wheat.
  • Grits.
  • Scrambled Eggs.
  • Oatmeal.
  • Ensure/Boost Drinks.
  • Carnation Instant Breakfast Drink.

Learn More Now ›

What meat can you eat on a soft diet? ›

Soft and Mechanical Soft Diet
Guidelines for the Soft Diet
Meatsany moist, tender meats, fish, or poultry (lamb, veal, chicken, turkey, tender beef, liver stewed pork), eggs (see exceptions), creamy peanut butter
Dairyall low-fat milk products, smooth yogurt, mild-flavored cheese, cottage cheese
9 more rows

Read On ›
What foods are avoided on a soft diet and why? ›

Foods to avoid
  • raw vegetables.
  • lightly cooked vegetables that are still crunchy.
  • french fries.
  • fruits with skins and seeds.
  • dried fruits.
  • stringy raw fruits, such as pineapple and mango.
  • coconut.
Oct 27, 2021

Read More ›
What meat is soft for no teeth? ›

Opt for soft protein sources like minced or pureed meats, tofu, scrambled eggs, and smooth peanut butter. Protein-rich dairy products like yogurt and soft cheeses are also good options. Each of these foods provides essential amino acids necessary for health maintenance.

Get More Info ›
What soft foods are good for a toothache? ›

The first few days are the worst, so try eating softer foods like those listed below until the soreness passes:
  • scrambled eggs.
  • oatmeal.
  • soup with soft vegetables or pureed or cream soups.
  • soft cheeses, including cottage cheese.
  • smoothies and milkshakes.
  • pudding and custard.
  • meatloaf.
  • mashed potatoes.

View More ›
What foods tighten teeth? ›

Raw carrots, and other raw veggies and fruits that require a lot of chewing, such as apples, pears and cucumbers, can all strengthen your teeth.

Tell Me More ›
Can you eat hard food with no teeth? ›

If food is too big to be broken down, you may be at risk for incomplete digestion. The resulting symptoms are indigestion, bacterial growth, and infection. Even eating heavily processed food that doesn't require chewing isn't actually better for you.

Continue Reading ›
Can you eat with no back teeth? ›

If you have missing back teeth, it's tough to chew foods that require these strong, durable molars to grind food. Eating foods that require heavy-duty chewing, like meat or nuts, is significantly more challenging (and in some cases, nearly impossible) with missing back teeth.

Learn More ›
How do you eat while waiting for dentures? ›

The best foods are easily mixed with protein powder, like cottage cheese, bone broth, bread yogurt, and even sweets like banana ice cream. Cut food into smaller than normal pieces to make chewing more comfortable.

Read More ›
Top Articles
Roasted Zucchini Salad Recipe & Video
Detox Beet Salad Recipe with Pomegranate Vinaigrette
Nick Schroeder’s perfect day includes a show in South Paris and vintage shopping in Biddeford
From TikTok Sensation to Viral Star: The Journey of Samxfrank
Latest Posts
Orange Cookies Recipe
Low Carb Orange Creamsicle Protein Jello - Healthy Recipes Made Simple
Article information

Author: Kareem Mueller DO

Last Updated:

Views: 6431

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kareem Mueller DO

Birthday: 1997-01-04

Address: Apt. 156 12935 Runolfsdottir Mission, Greenfort, MN 74384-6749

Phone: +16704982844747

Job: Corporate Administration Planner

Hobby: Mountain biking, Jewelry making, Stone skipping, Lacemaking, Knife making, Scrapbooking, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Kareem Mueller DO, I am a vivacious, super, thoughtful, excited, handsome, beautiful, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.