Soft Foods 101: A Comprehensive Guide
If you loved our High Fiber Foods and High Calorie Foods comprehensive articles, then you’ll enjoy this complete guide on all things soft foods. We’ll dive into what soft foods are, what a soft foods diet is, the benefits of soft foods, making soft foods enjoyable, and more.
Table of Contents
- What are Soft Foods?
- What is a Soft Foods Diet?
- Who Needs a Soft Foods Diet?
- Benefits of Soft Foods
- How Long Do You Need a Soft Food Diet?
- Which Foods are Naturally Soft?
- How to Make Soft Foods
- Blending/Pureeing Foods
- Store-bought Soft Foods
- A Word on Dysphagia
- Making Soft Foods Enjoyable & Helpful
- Conclusion
What Are Soft Foods?
Soft foods are foods that are easily chewed or can be drank through a straw. If the food you are wanting to eat is soft and requires easy chewing, then you’ve found yourself an official soft food!
Definition of Soft Foods
To dive a little deeper, soft foods are foods that are easy to digest and/or are low in fiber. Some examples include: applesauce, bananas, avocados, pureed fruits, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, and pudding.
Soft foods that are low in fiber are often prescribed if you have digestive problems. Low fiber foods will be easier for you to digest. Avoiding spicy and fried foods will make soft foods easier to digest as well.
Fiber is found in plant-based foods. It goes through our digestive tract, mostly undigested. By traveling through our digestive tract unchanged, fibrous foods help give bulk to our stool.
So, if you have any digestive issues such as diverticulitis, short bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, or irritable bowel disease, then fiber may be a nutrient that you will need to monitor.
Speak with your doctor or a registered dietitian if you need further guidance about soft foods and low fiber foods.
Hard, Crunchy, and Sticky Foods
With a focus on soft foods, there are specific foods that you will need to avoid eating. These include, hard foods, crunchy foods, and sticky foods.
These are all foods that require substantial bites and chewing in order to be consumed. However, these foods are more than just candies and nuts. Fruits, vegetables, and even cereals fall under these food categories. Some examples include:
- Apples
- Pears
- Pomegranates
- Dried fruits
- Corn on the cob
- Celery
- Raw carrots
- Hard taco shells
- Bagels, rolls, pizza crust
- Chips, pretzels, crackers
- Ice
- Nuts
- Candies (hard and chewy)
Thinking a bit more about the foods listed above can give you a better sense of what kinds of foods need to be avoided while on a soft foods diet.
What is a Soft Foods Diet?
A soft foods diet is a diet in which you only consume soft foods. Specifically, your goal for each meal and snack is to only consume foods that can be easily chewed or drank through a straw.
This kind of diet is known for soft foods that are easily digestible (low in fiber) as well.
No-Chew Diet
A no-chew diet is simply consuming food and drink without chewing. These foods are soft, but unlike a soft foods diet, they don’t need any chewing prior to swallowing. Specific examples include pudding, smoothies, milk, broth, and applesauce.
Dysphagia Diet
Sometimes a dysphagia diet is needed. Dysphagia is diagnosed when you have difficulty swallowing. Because this is a broad definition, the National Dysphagia Diet is broken down into three phases of swallowing difficulty:
- Level 1, Dysphagia-Pureed
- Level 2, Dysphagia-Mechanical Altered
- Level 3, Dysphagia-Advanced
A pureed diet will have food that has a “pudding-like” consistency that can be eaten with a spoon, but not slurped through a straw. Foods in this category require little-to-no chewing and can be mushed around inside your mouth before swallowing.
A mechanically altered diet consists of foods that are soft, moist, and can require some chewing.
An advanced dysphagia diet focuses on soft foods that require more chewing. Examples include bananas, diced peaches, eggs, and cooked carrots.
Visit our article on Guiding Seniors Through Dysphagia Diets for more information.
Who Needs a Soft Foods Diet?
While some people may enjoy a general soft foods diet, there are others that will be prescribed to follow this diet. You may be advised to follow a soft foods diet:
- if you are experience chewing or swallowing difficulties
- if you experience tooth pain or tooth loss
- following a dental procedure
- if you are at risk of malnutrition
Follow along as we explain these topics in depth.
Chewing or Swallowing Difficulties (Dysphagia)
If you have chewing or swallowing difficulties, then there is a good chance that you have a decreased appetite. When you aren’t feeling well, you are less likely to find eating enjoyable.
That being said, a decrease in appetite is a big health concern that may be easily remedied by a soft foods diet.
Another concern with chewing or swallowing difficulties is the chance of unintended weight loss. Not feeling well (i.e. sore mouth/teeth) and a decreased appetite can be large contributors to this concern.
Soft foods may help to alleviate pain associated with chewing difficulties or swallowing difficulties.
Damaged Teeth, Tooth Pain, or Tooth Loss
Oral pain is a common occurrence as we age, as plaque and tartar accumulate throughout our lives. This can increase our risk of gum disease, tooth decay, tooth pain, and even tooth loss.
When we experience damaged teeth, untreated cavities, tooth pain, or tooth loss, we are likely not enjoying as many foods as we want.
Pain can come from mouth sores, blisters, and inflammation.
When we drink hot or cold drinks, it can cause more pain. Additionally, spicy and crunchy foods can cause similar discomfort while eating.
Eating soft foods in lieu of crunchy and sticky foods can help you keep up with your nutritional needs due to the ease of eating soft foods.
Dental Procedure or Oral Surgery
There is a good chance that you will experience mouth pain following dental procedures or oral surgery. For this, a soft foods diet is often recommended. This may be a temporary diet change due to the temporary pain and recovery needed from the procedure or surgery.
Soft foods can be helpful when navigating post-surgery eating. As your pain decreases, you will likely be able to shift to your regular diet. Speak with your health care team before making any diet changes following a dental procedure or oral surgery.
Malnutrition Risk
Malnutrition risk is a common concern, especially for elderly and those experiencing unintended weight loss. This risk can surface when:
- micronutrient deficiencies are present
- not enough protein is consumed for individual nutrition needs
- not enough calories are consumed for individual nutrition needs
When not enough food is being consumed, all of these areas can be negatively affected. Additionally, with lack of food being consumed also brings about a decrease in food variety. This is where a micronutrient deficiency can occur.
Soft foods can be a helpful change in order to prevent or treat malnutrition. It is worth a shot, especially when malnutrition can lead to muscle loss, fall risk, decreased independence and mobility, decreased quality of life, and even death.
Benefits of Soft Foods
Soft foods are helpful for when you are having difficulty chewing and when getting nutrition from your normal diet brings discomfort.
Below, we talk more about the topics of “no-chew foods,” how to get the nutrition your body needs, flavor variety, and increased nutrient intake.
No Chew Foods (For When You Can’t Chew)
We mentioned above how a no-chew diet is similar but also different from a soft foods diet. A soft foods diet is, simply, foods that are soft and can be easily chewed. A no-chew diet is a diet where no chewing is needed to get nutrients.
In 15 Best Foods You Can Eat Without Chewing, we provide ideas for comfortable eating, tips on smaller meal portions to get nutrients throughout the day when you just don’t feel like eating, and foods to avoid while following a soft foods diet.
These 15 foods are great suggestions when needing to follow a no-chew diet. Bonus? They are also great if you are following a soft foods diet!
15 No-Chew Foods
- Soups: choose broth-based or pureed. Check out our High Calorie Soups if you need a boost in calories.
- Soft dairy: look for yogurt, cottage cheese, and even frozen yogurt. Dairy-free? Try coconut- or soy-based products like yogurt.
- Well-cooked grains: cook grains with extra liquid, and cook longer than directed. We suggest pasta and oatmeal to start!
- Mashed potatoes: tried and true. For variety, add different seasonings, butter, and mashed veggies.
- Smoothies: pick your favorite ingredients and add veggies for extra vitamins and minerals. Our High Calorie Smoothies article has some great tips too!
- Scrambled eggs: depending on your pain level and chewing abilities, you can also poach your eggs or eat them over-easy.
- Dips: look for the soft dips like hummus or guacamole.
- Soft fish: choose fish that is baked and make sure all bones and skin are removed before eating. Avoid fried fish as this will have a crunchy texture.
- High calorie drinks: these are a great no-chew food and can be made with weight gain milk for even more calories.
- Canned fruits and veggies: most options are fine, but be wary that not all canned fruits and veggies will be easy to eat without chewing (such as pineapple). Safe options? Look for canned pears, peaches, and carrots.
- Soft and moist breads: to make breads soft and moist, add oil, butter, gravy, or maple syrup.
- Well-cooked beans and lentils: a great source of protein and great options for those following vegetarian or vegan diets.
- Nut butters: choose CREAMY vs crunchy
- Gravies and condiments: these foods can be added to other foods to help make the meal moist and soft enough to enjoy. Try gravy, butter, mayo, ketchup, etc.
- Soft desserts: avoid sticky or hard desserts that can cause discomfort. Try ice cream, pudding, mousse, flan, etc.
Getting Nutrition without Discomfort
Imagine you have a toothache, or a sore in your mouth. It’s not too difficult to think that you may not be excited about eating. This lack of excitement/drive to eat means that you might be at risk for nutrient deficiencies.
It is so important that you are getting the nutrition your body needs. If this means switching to a no-chew or soft foods diet, then that is a great step in the right direction!
So what should you do if it hurts to chew? How about 75 Soft Foods to Eat When Chewing Hurts? That’s an impressive number! Let’s take a sneak peek!
These 75 foods are great choices when it is painful to chew. Not only are they soft foods, but they are also easy to mush in your mouth prior to swallowing. We bet you’ll find at least a few favorites on the list!
- Almond butter
- Avocados
- Brie (without skin)
- Broccoli cheddar soup
- Cheese spread
- Cream of Wheat
- Egg salad
- Jam
- Jell-O
- Juice
- Kefir
- Meat loaf
- Mousse
- Polenta
- Popsicles
- Salmon
- Shredded chicken (tender and moist)
- Tofu (soft)
- Tuna
- Yogurt (smooth)
Don’t miss the additional 55 foods, plus our helpful article even introduces a simple sample no-chew meal plan that includes 3 meals and snacks!
Flavor Variety & Increased Nutrient Intake
Soft foods can sound bland, but they don’t have to be! There are so many ways to introduce new flavors and flavor combinations when preparing your soft foods.
For example, play around with mild/neutral spices like basil, parsley, and marjoram. Or, try adding peanut butter to your oatmeal!
If you have a decreased appetite, have a hard time chewing or swallowing, or find that meal times stress you out more than they excite you, then a soft foods diet can be very beneficial.
Soft foods can bring about a sense of comfort and relaxation around meal time. This ease allows you to eat and, in turn, increase the amount of nutrients you are providing to your body.
How Long Do You Need a Soft Food Diet?
The answer to this question depends on your individual situation and also takes into consideration your current health status.
You may need a soft foods diet short term if you’ve had recent oral surgery, braces, or have any mouth pain. On the other hand, long term soft foods diets may be needed if you have missing teeth or no teeth, or if you have partial or full dentures.
Eating Soft Foods Short Term
Soft foods are usually needed after you have oral surgery, get braces, or are experiencing mouth pain.
Soft foods are recommended after oral surgery because your incisions will need time and grace to heal. If you are eating sticky or hard foods, then you are at risk of disturbing any blood clots or stitches.
Instead, enjoying soft foods will help to give your mouth and any incisions ample recovery time. Reducing irritation and pain is the goal!
Additionally, eating hard or sticky foods can also be troublesome for those who wear braces and those who have mouth pain. A broken brace bracket or mouth sore will likely be disturbed by these foods.
After Oral Surgery
Looking for more information about diet after oral surgery?
Our Soft Foods After Oral Surgery article is a great resource!
We’ve separated foods by meal and even have a list of foods to avoid after oral surgery.
For breakfast, we have suggestions including:
- Yogurt
- Oatmeal
- Cream of Wheat
- Smoothie
- Pancakes
- Toast (soaked in milk)
Lunch and dinner soft foods include:
- Creamed soups
- Steamed soft vegetables
- Pureed meats and poultry
- Mac and cheese
- Nutrition Supplement Drinks
And our personal favorite, snacks! Soft foods for snacks may look like:
- Custard
- Pudding
- Hummus
- Applesauce
- Bananas
When we talk about soft foods that are great following oral surgery, we also want to make sure that we mention foods to avoid. Such foods include:
- Sticky foods
- Spicy foods
- Dry, crunchy, or tough foods (ranging from raw veggies to pretzels)
- Acidic foods (lemons, grapefruit, tomatoes)
- Hot spices/condiments (pepper, hot sauce, etc.)
- Caffeine
- Alcohol
- Carbonated drinks
Extended your recovery time due to eating incorrect foods isn’t a path that we’d wish for you. Instead, listen to your health care team and follow a soft foods (or no-chew) diet for as long as prescribed.
Braces
Some older adults have braces. If this is you, then following a soft foods diet can help avoid any bracket issues or unnecessary tooth pain.
Braces can cause mouth pain upon first application, but they can also cause recurring pain following tightening appointments. A soft foods diet can help you get through any pain by providing enough nutrition as you transition back to your regular diet
Mouth Pain
Mouth pain is a common issue as we age. If you have continual mouth pain, please seek medical attention to address any additional or underlying concerns.
Dental care can be expensive, but putting off a visit until you are desperate can lead to even larger expenses or worsening health issues.
Additionally, treating the underlying cause of your mouth pain can put you on the path to transitioning back to your regular diet, sooner. Talk with your dentist and/or health care team regarding any mouth pain you have when chewing.
Eating Soft Foods Long Term
No teeth, missing teeth, and any form of dentures can lead to needing a soft foods diet long term. Don’t fret if this is you! As you can see from this article, we have numerous helpful resources and ideas to help you avoid food boredom.
Missing Teeth or No Teeth
Missing teeth or no teeth can lead to difficulty chewing. This may mean that your focus is on eating soft foods for the long term.
According to the CDC, in 2020 33% of adults aged 65 years and older had lost at least 6 teeth, and 13.8% of adults aged 65 years and older had lost all of their natural teeth.
With these statistics in mind, know that you are not alone in following a soft foods diet. Additionally, you’re in the right place for learning more about eating a soft foods diet for the long term.
Partial and Full Dentures
Some of you have partial or full dentures and my still need to follow a soft foods diet. With ill fitting dentures, chewing foods can become painful and even dangerous if your food is not in small enough pieces for safe swallowing.
There are also cases in which your dentures fit well, but hard foods are still tricky and/or painful for you to eat. If this is the case, then your health care team will likely recommend a soft foods diet.
We do like to mention, when talking about dentures, is to make sure you are taking care of your dentures! Dentures come into contact with food, bacteria, and your saliva – daily cleaning is a must to keep your mouth healthy.
Take a look at some of our dental hygiene tips.
Which Foods are Naturally Soft?
It’s nice to know that there are foods that are naturally soft, especially when you’re in a time-crunch or simply don’t have the energy to prepare soft foods. But which foods are naturally soft? Let’s learn more below.
Soft Foods List
By now, you might be thinking of all the soft foods currently in your diet. Do you have soft foods representing all food groups?
If you’re on the hunt for ideas, then head over to our article on Soft Food Ideas [According to a Dietitian]. In Soft Food Ideas, we discuss when a soft foods diet is needed, what food textures fall into a soft foods diet, and we break down soft foods by category for easy viewing!
We’ve included:
- Soft fruits such as berries, watermelon, and ripe bananas (we share more about soft fruits in the next section!)
- Soft vegetables such as pureed soups and mashed potatoes without the skin (we share more about soft fruits in the next section!)
- Soft starches/grains such as cooked pasta, oatmeal, and Cream of Wheat
- Soft protein sources such as yogurt, lentils, and scrambled eggs
- Soft desserts such as pudding, Jell-O, and ice cream
Additionally, this helpful article advises on foods to avoid if you are following a soft foods diet. These kinds of foods include sticky, crunchy, hard, dry, and tough foods. Think beef jerky, caramel, crunchy crackers, and nuts and seeds.
Because you are following a soft diet, you need to take extra care to include these nutrient-dense food groups. (Following a specific diet can lead us to only consume as set amount of foods. We need variety in foods and flavor to get the nutrients our bodies need).
When you think of soft foods, what comes to mind? Maybe soft breads and pastries? Those can definitely be soft foods, but we can’t forget about our fruits and veggies!
Fruits
Soft fruits are those that have thin skins. Most also grow on vines, bushes, canes, or creep along the ground. If you immediately think of berries and grapes, then you’re on the right track! Soft fruits spoil quickly and usually need to be eaten (or frozen) within a few days.
In our article, Soft Fruits for Elderly, we share even more information about soft fruits. We talk about:
- Berries
- Grapes
- Currants
- Bananas
- Ripe pears and peaches
- Avocados
- Canned and individual fruit cups
If you have a fruit that you love, but it isn’t soft enough for you, then try cooking it! For example, apples have been your favorite since you were little. But now, just the thought of eating an apple makes your teeth sore.
Instead of powering through a hard/raw apple, try baking one with cinnamon for a warm and soft treat. Our tip: be sure to peel your apple before baking!
In our article, we also provide information on proper fruit storage, recipes that call for soft fruit, and smoothie recipes. Head over now to learn more!
Veggies
Don’t forget to include veggies in your soft foods diet. There are so many vitamins and minerals that our bodies need from this food group.
Cooked veggies are almost always softer than raw veggies. (We’re looking at you, carrots, peppers, broccoli, and sweet potatoes). In 15 Soft Vegetables for a Soft Food Diet, we share how to turn your favorite hard veggies into soft veggies.
Tips include steaming, sautéing, pureeing, roasting, and air-frying. Here’s a sneak peek at our top 15 list:
- Mashed potatoes
- Cooked carrots
- Roasted/steamed broccoli and cauliflower
- Pureed tomatoes and sweet potatoes
- Green beans
- Sauteed vegetable medley
- Roasted squash
- Air-fried sweet potatoes
- Avocado
- Beans
- Peas
- Zucchini
- Sauteed spinach
- Corn (canned)
- Sauteed bell peppers
Snacks
We’re all about the snacks over here at The Geriatric Dietitian. So, we of course had to drop a link for our mouth-watering article on 33 Delicious Soft Snacks [Dietitian Approved].
For ease, we divided the soft snacks into three sections: cold sweet, room temp/warm sweet, and savory. These classifications make it easier for you to find the perfect soft snack that won’t aggravate any chewing or swallowing concerns you may have.
We share our sweet soft snacks (cold) as:
- Smoothies
- Puddings
- Applesauce
- Yogurt parfait
- Chia pudding
- Soft-serve ice cream
- Soft fruit salad
- Jell-O
- Kefir
- Chocolate milk
- Popsicles
Our list of sweet soft snacks (room temp/warm) includes:
- Energy balls
- Muffins
- Banana oatmeal cookies
- Stuffed dates
- Baked apples
- Cinnamon rolls
- Rice pudding
- Oatmeal
- Baked goods
- Canned fruits
- Jam
- Nutrition supplement drinks
And finally, if you’re craving a savory soft snack, then check out some inspiration below:
- Cottage cheese
- Mashed avocado (or guacamole!)
- Hummus
- Deviled eggs
- Soft cheese dip
- Soft cheese sticks
- Soft avocado toast
- Caprese skewers
- Soft crackers with your favorite creamy nut butter
- Cowboy chili
Besides learning even more about these 33 soft snacks, our article also has soft food meal ideas! Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll find:
- Mashed potatoes and steamed vegetables
- Soft tacos/burritos
- Macaroni and cheese
- Pureed soups
- Scrambled eggs
- Meatballs
- Baked falafel
- Bean and cheese quesadilla
Seriously, you need to check out all the info and ideas over in our article. Here’s the link again, so you don’t miss out: 33 Delicious Soft Snacks!
Soft Food Diet
How about we combine some of these soft fruits and veggies into a diet? In our article, 5 Easy Ideas for Soft Foods Diet, we cover just that!
The first idea we share is about including healthy soft foods that you already love into your soft foods diet. Do you like tomatoes, applesauce, and avocado? Perfect! Be sure to include those throughout the week.
Idea #2 is to utilize a blender to prepare soft foods.
Blenders can run on the cheaper side, to hundreds of dollars.
The key is to find a blender that meets all of your needs and is easy for you to use and clean.
Check out this delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake recipe!
#3: you can still eat out at restaurants!
Check the menu ahead of time and look for soft foods only.
Breakfast ideas include scrambled eggs, moistened pancakes, and soft fruit.
Lunch and dinner at a restaurant can look like soft rice, soft fish, and well-cooked noodle dishes.
#4: remember to avoid hard to chew foods like crunchy, tough, chewing, dry, and fibrous/stringy foods.
And finally, follow a soft foods diet meal plan. Great news! We’ve got a FREE meal plan for you, so you don’t have to wait to get started!
More Inspiration
As you can see, we know a thing or two about soft foods and how beneficial they can be for the elderly population. If you’d like even more information, be sure to check out 13 Great Tasting Soft Foods for the Elderly.
We share 13 categories of soft foods that are bound to have you saying, “Yum!” Here are the categories that we cover:
- Nut butters: different kinds and how to add them into your diet
- Fruit purees: mixing flavors to create your own fruit puree is a game-changer – trust us!
- Flaky fish: think salmon, trout, and tuna
- Soups and stews: dig out your slow cooker or pressure cooker for an easy meal
- Soft casseroles: make casseroles soft by finely chopping all ingredients and adding extra liquid
- Smoothies: don’t forget to include some veggies for added nutrients!
- Well-cooked grains: adding additional water helps to soften grains even more
- Soft dairy: think cottage cheese, cream cheese, and yogurt
- Canned and preserved foods: buy in bulk to save on time and money
- Eggs: chews soft cooking methods such as poaching, or make a quiche or frittata
- Mashed starches: dress up your starches with herbs and spices to create delicious side dishes or main entrees
- Desserts: try mousse, custard, flan, and frozen yogurt
- Condiments: most are already soft, but they can still be used to upgrade the flavor of your meals
We know we’ve piqued your interest with this list, so be sure to head over to 13 Great Tasting Soft Foods for the Elderly to learn more!
How to Make Soft Foods
Sometimes, making soft foods is easier than finding them at the market or grocery store. Let’s learn more about chopping, blending, and making foods moist as a way to enjoy them in your soft foods diet.
Chopped Foods
Chopping foods into bite-sized pieces is helpful if you find it difficult to chew foods, but you are still able to chew softer foods. Bite-sized foods can be made from flaky fish and soft meats, soft fruits, soft cereals, scrambled eggs, and soft vegetables like cooked carrots.
The key to chopping these foods is to keep the size small enough that it doesn’t require a lot of chewing before swallowing. A good rule of thumb is to cut pieces that are 1.5 centimeters (a little more than ½ inch) in length or smaller.
Moistened Foods
Creating a moist texture can help make foods softer and easy to eat. Ways to moisten foods include adding liquid, sauce, butter, gravy, milk, etc. Try to pair the addition to the food you are making.
For example, if you are making mashed potatoes, then adding butter or gravy would be a great idea. What about meats? Try adding gravy or a sauce to help moisten them.
Blending/Pureeing Foods
*Note, this section includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Blended foods, or pureed foods, are foods that don’t require chewing and can’t be sucked through a straw. These are a great option if you are struggling with mouth pain or need a break from chewing even the softest foods.
Pureed Food for Adults [Homemade & Premade] is our comprehensive article on all things pureed foods. We share the steps for pureeing foods as well as liquids that are a great addition to the pureeing process.
We also share the kitchen tools that you’ll need in order to make the most of your time, like a reliable blender, knives, and peelers. Spoiler: we love the Vitamix Blender*, Magic Bullet*, and the Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender*!
In our article, you’ll find recipes for a delicious Strawberry Puree, Mango Puree, Apple Banana Puree, and Savory Broccoli Puree. The best part? Each puree recipe only calls for a few ingredients, but it can also be tailored to your food and taste preferences!
When making your own pureed food, there are a few tips to follow to help make the food look delicious enough to eat.
- Aim for pudding-like consistency that does not separate into liquid and solid forms
- Use food molds to make pureed food more appealing
- Try our favorite broccoli food mold*, pork chop food mold*, and this fruit-shaped mix mold*
- Store leftovers or larger batches in glass containers (these don’t absorb unwanted odors like plastic containers do)
Be sure to check out Pureed Food for Adults [Homemade & Premade] for more information!
Store-bought Soft Foods
Store-bought soft foods can help save you time, effort, and meal planning fatigue. But what if you want meals already prepared that fit into your soft foods diet? Well, that’s where soft food meal delivery services come in handy!
Follow along as we share a few delivery services that can help throughout your soft foods diet journey.
Soft Food Meal Delivery Services
Wiltshire Farm Foods is a soft food meal delivery service that offers a range of softer foods from pureed meals, to minced meals, to soft and bite-sized meals. Dietitians on the team make sure meals are nutritious.
Special dietary requirements like vegetarian and gluten-free can also be catered to. With more than 85 foods ranging over breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you’re sure to find something you love!
Blossom Foods is a soft food meal delivery service for health care that provides meals following National Dysphagia diets, as well as meals corresponding to four of the seven levels of the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI).
These IDDSI meals include pureed, ground, soft chopped, and regular texture renal (level 4-7 respectively). Visit IDDSI Swallowing Guidelines to learn more about the IDDSI framework, its levels, and the different testing methods.
Click here for more information about pureed food delivery services and pureed food available through Amazon.
A Word on Dysphagia
What is Dysphagia?
Dysphagia is diagnosed when someone has a swallowing disorder or trouble swallowing. There are actually three phases of swallowing, and dysphagia can occur in one or more of these phases:
- Oral (mouth)
- Pharyngeal (top of throat)
- Esophageal (esophagus/lower throat)
Symptoms of dysphagia can look like: coughing or choking while drinking or eating, feeling like food gets caught in the back of your throat, difficulty swallowing, etc.
Dysphagia Testing & Diagnosing Dysphagia
Testing for dysphagia can be done via a variety of methods. And most times, multiple methods are used to further define the dysphagia phases affected and to determine the severity of the dysphagia diagnosis.
Dysphagia tests include:
- Barium X-ray
- Swallow study conducted by a speech-language pathology
- Endoscopy
- Fiber-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES)
- Esophageal muscle test
- Imaging scans (CT or MRI)
- Neurological exam testing cranial nerves (1)
Results of these tests help to verify and diagnose dysphagia. The next step is learning more about a dysphagia diet and which level of solids and liquids you can consume safely.
Dysphagia Diet
The National Dysphagia Diet is a standard dysphagia diet that includes three levels of food consistency and bite sizes as a way of making eating a safe activity for those with dysphagia.
The three food levels include:
- Level 1 – Pureed: food is a “pudding-like” consistency that requires little chewing but cannot be sucked through a straw
- Level 2 – Mechanical altered: food is moist and soft with small pieces about ¼ inch in size
- Level 3 – Advanced: soft foods but omits foods that are crunchy, hard, tough, and sticky
The three liquid levels include:
- Nectar thick liquids: liquids that cover and can slowly drip off of a spoon
- Honey thick liquids: liquids with “honey-like” consistency and slowly flow off of a spoon
- Pudding thick liquids: liquids with “pudding-like” consistency that will quickly drop/plop off of a spoon
The IDDSI, as mentioned above, uses 7 levels to separate and define all foods and liquids.
This standardization initiative helps to classify foods and liquids internationally so that dysphagia diets can be safely prescribed by health care teams, and followed by those diagnosed with dysphagia.
Working with Interdisciplinary Team
Working with an interdisciplinary team is vital to your health and wellbeing when it comes to difficulty swallowing and dysphagia complications.
Coordinated treatments and goals are necessary as physicians, speech-language pathologists, dietitians, nurses, and other health experts collaborate on the best methods and progressions for you.
Making Soft Foods Enjoyable & Helpful
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: soft foods don’t have to be bland and boring! Adding flavor, variety, jazzing up the presentation, and including high calorie and nutrient-dense soft foods are key to making your diet enjoyable and exciting.
Flavor and Variety
Is pudding your go-to dessert after lunch? Mix it up by trying butterscotch, chocolate, vanilla, banana, lemon, etc. The same goes for yogurt, ice cream, and even mashed potatoes! Adding different spices, butter, milk, fruits, veggies, nut butter can help you create an entire new dish.
And who knows, maybe it’ll be your new favorite recipe!
Variety is also important when making soft foods enjoyable. Nobody wants to eat the same exact meals every day. Mix it up by enjoying a smoothie or nutrition supplement drink as a snack, or add dessert to your lunch instead of your dinner.
If possible, try to plan your meals a few days in advance so you can see what’s coming up. If you feel like you’ve had soup and mashed potatoes too many times to count (and you’d love to eat something different), then plan to prep chicken salad or a soft fish for your next meal.
High Calorie Needs
What if you are following a soft foods diet, but are also needing to consume more calories to gain weight? In High Calorie Soft Foods for Weight Gain, we answer all your burning questions on this topic!
Visit the link above to learn more about these high calorie soft foods and how they can be used to help you gain weight and avoid unintended weight loss:
- Avocado
- Nut butter (creamy)
- Fish (tender/soft)
- Milk, cream, yogurt, cottage cheese
- Cream-based soups (cream-based soups are higher in calories than are broth-based soups)
- Fruit purees (applesauce, jams, jellies)
- Eggs (scrambled, soft-boiled)
- Canned foods (fruits, vegetables, meals)
- Well-cooked starches (rice, quinoa)
- Desserts (ice cream, crustless pie, mousse, pudding)
Healthy Soft Foods
If you’re also looking for healthy soft foods, then you have to check out 25 Best Healthy Soft Foods [Dietitian Approved]!
When following a soft foods diet, it can be easy to fall into the trap of consuming too few calories. But, focusing on nutrient-dense and healthy soft foods can be a game-changer – in the best way!
A few of our top 25 best healthy soft foods include:
- Bananas
- Oatmeal
- Baked breads
- Tofu
- Pasta
- Refried beans
- Popsicles
- Tuna
- Chicken salad
- Greek yogurt
Incorporating healthy soft foods can ensure that you are getting nutrient-dense foods to help you throughout your health journey.
Tips for Enjoying Soft Foods
Enjoying our food is good for our soul. We naturally crave calm, peace, and comfort, and many of us get that from our food or from the social atmosphere surrounding a meal. Following a soft foods diet is no different.
Try eating slowly and chewing thoroughly when it comes to soft foods. Soft foods are easier to eat, which can cause you to eat more quickly. But, by slowing down and chewing, you are able to enjoy your meal safely.
Be sure to drink fluids and add soft toppings like butter, cheese, yogurt, etc. Drinking throughout your meal can help to alleviate a dry mouth/throat, which could cause you to choke or aspirate. Plus, hydration is so important for our overall health.
Cut your food into small pieces, or use a food processor or blender. Smaller bites also provide a safer eating environment as you’re less likely to choke, and you’ll be able to thoroughly chew your food before swallowing.
Finally, get creative with your recipes! As long as your foods are soft and can be eaten safely, then feel free to experiment with flavors, food combos, and more!
Conclusion: Soft Foods 101
Eating soft foods can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be! We created this comprehensive article on soft foods so that you have a one-stop-shop when it comes to learning more and implementing a soft foods diet.
Try starting with foods such as applesauce, yogurt, soup, smoothies, pudding, and mashed potatoes as an easy introduction into this diet. We offer many more ideas throughout this article, so be sure to go back and highlight/bookmark your favorites!
Talk with your doctor before making any changes to your diet, as they can help guide you through the process and ensure the changes are safe for you and your individual health concerns.