Modified Diet: Mechanical Soft Diet HF#363



What is a Mechanical Soft diet?

 

This diet is designed for people who may not have enough energy or enough teeth to chew all foods.  The foods in this diet are easy to eat and do not need a lot of chewing to swallow safely. 

 

Why is this diet safer for me?

 

This diet is designed to help prevent you from becoming tired and not having to chew so much. This will allow you to eat more and be able to heal.  This diet is also helpful if you are missing teeth or have just had surgery and are not able to chew real hard foods.  This diet does include soft breads and rice so it is vital that you are able to move food in your mouth and be able to swallow safely.

 

Food Groups	Safe Foods	Avoid
Milk Products	Smooth or fruited yogurt Cottage cheese Soft sliced cheese	Hard cheese cubes
Meat and Protein	Ground cooked meat and poultry Baked, poached or broiled fish Casseroles with ground or 1/4 inch diced meat Eggs Cottage cheese Sandwiches with soft bread Shaved deli turkey or ham Tuna salad or egg salad without celery or raw vegetables	Thick cold cuts, sausage, wieners, hamburgers, large chunks of cheese, and casseroles with chunks of meat
Vegetables	Soft cooked vegetables Legumes, potatoes, and squash Minced 1/8 or Diced ¼ inch vegetables  (you may find that some do not mince well)	Corn

 

How to Prepare Diced Meat and Vegetables

 

All food must be in pieces that are no larger than ¼ inch.

 

• Cut meat or veggies into strips that are ¼ inch or less.
• Turn and cut every ¼ inch or less.  You will want to be sure that all cubes are smaller than ¼ inch.

 

 

 

How can I increase my calories without a lot of chewing?

 

Add nutritional supplements such as Ensure®, BOOST®, or Carnation Instant Breakfast® to your diet.  Most people on this diet are happy to find out that desserts are a fun way to increase calories.  In the morning, you can fix what you might want to call “Super Duper Cereal”.  It can be made based on what tastes you like.

 

Super Duper Cereal

 

1 package of plain instant oatmeal

4 ounces of high protein nutrition supplement such as Boost Hi Protein^®, Ensure High

Protein^®, or similar product.  You pick the flavor.

Nutmeg or cinnamon

Empty instant oats into a microwave bowl.  Add supplement.  Microwave uncovered for 1 ½ -2 minutes or until thickened.  Use potholders to remove.  Sprinkle with nutmeg or cinnamon.  Serve with milk or cream as desired.  Each serving will provide 212 calories and 20.5 grams of protein.

 

Butterscotch Oatmeal

 

1 egg, beaten

1 ¾ cups milk

¼ cup packed dark brown sugar

1 cup quick cooking oats or blended rolled oats

2 tablespoons butter

In a sauce pan over medium heat, whisk together the egg, milk, and brown sugar. Mix in the oats.  When the oatmeal begins to boil, cook and stir until thick.  Remove from the heat.  Stir in the butter until melted.  Makes 2 servings.  Each serving will provide 497 calories and 16.4 grams of protein.

 

Food Groups	Safe Foods	Avoid
Fruits	Applesauce Drained canned fruits (unless you are allowed thin liquids) Soft, fresh fruits such as peaches, nectarines without skin, melon, berries and bananas	Canned fruit with juice or syrup unless allowed to drink thin liquids, skins, and seeds
Breads, Cereals, and Starches	Cream of Wheat®, Cream of Rice®, oatmeal, Malt-o-Meal®, or Co-Co Wheats® Pancakes,  soft French toast Soft pasta White rice Soft breads, rolls, or muffins Plain cold cereal softened with milk	Brown or wild rice, cold cereals with dry fruit or nuts
Soup	Any cream soups or broth soups strained or put in a blender. Plain broth
Desserts	Custards or pudding Rice or bread pudding without dried fruit Sherbet or sorbet Gelatin Ice cream and popsicles Cakes and pies without nuts Soft cookies without dried fruit or nuts Chocolate candy without nuts	Avoid desserts with nuts, seeds, or dried fruit Candy with nuts Hard or chewy candy
Beverages	All beverages	None, unless you have been told to thicken your liquids then see Health Facts For You # 468.
Other	Butter, margarine, oils, vegetable shortening, Salad dressings, mayonnaise Vinegar, Gravies Salt, pepper, spices Catsup, mustard, Jelly or preserves Sugar, honey, molasses, or syrup, Horseradish Chili sauce	Cream cheese Olives

 

If you would like to make an appointment or are a UW Health patient with more questions please contact UW Health at one of the phone numbers listed below.

 

Nutrition Clinic University Station 2880 University Avenue Madison, WI  53705 (608) 263-5012

Nutrition Clinic UW Health West Clinic 451 Junction Road Madison, WI  53717 (608) 265-7526

Nutrition Clinic UW Health East Clinic 5249 East Terrace Drive Madison, WI  53718 (608) 265-0963

The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 08/06/2012

Copyright © 10/19/2011 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#363

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