“Guide to Soft Foods for the Elderly [According to a Dietitian]” was written by Cole Theobald, MS, RD. Edited/reviewed by Katie Dodd, MS, RDN, CSG, LD, FAND.
Guide to Soft Foods for the Elderly [According to a Dietitian]
When you think of soft foods, what comes to mind? Maybe mashed potatoes and warm blueberry muffins?
Today, we’re breaking down the stigma of soft foods for the elderly. So, what do you say? Let’s ditch the soft food struggle and find your new favorites with our guide to delicious and safe soft foods!
If you’re in a rush, feel free to click the link below to jump to our list of soft foods for the elderly:
>> Jump to our 101+ dietitian approved soft foods for the elderly <<
Table of Contents:
- Oral Health and the Need for Soft Foods for the Elderly
- Impacts of Declining Oral Health
- 101+ Delicious and Nutritious Soft Foods for the Elderly
- Soft Foods for the Elderly: Foods to Avoid
- Making Soft Foods for the Elderly More Enjoyable
- Helpful Tips and Additional Resources for Soft Foods for the Elderly
- Soft Foods for the Elderly Wrap-up
Oral Health and the Need for Soft Foods for the Elderly
Those struggling with oral health issues often require soft foods, also called a mechanical soft diet. Before we dive into our list of great tasting soft foods for the elderly, let’s take a deep dive into why soft foods may be necessary in the first place.
Certain conditions become more common as we move from young adulthood into advanced age. Things like infections, sensory loss, and chronic pain are more common in seniors than in younger adults. Additionally, oral health issues are more common in the senior population.
Oral health conditions can make it harder to eat. This in turn negatively impacts quality of life. One workaround could be integrating soft and hydrating foods into the diet.
Swallowing Difficulty
Swallowing difficulty, or dysphagia, can be brought on by age, medications, or illness. With dysphagia, you may have a difficult time swallowing, it may be painful to swallow, or you may find yourself coughing or gagging when trying to swallow.
These symptoms can lead to further health issues such as weight loss, malnutrition, choking, and even aspiration pneumonia. A speech therapist may be consulted to administer a swallow study. Depending on study results, a soft foods diet may be recommended.
Another common issue that older adults might face is xerostomia, or dry mouth. Xerostomia is associated with an increased risk of developing dysphagia. (1)
This is partially due to a lack of saliva in the mouth. Saliva plays many roles in the process of digestion. It moisturizes the oral cavity and throat to allow for easy swallowing and passage of food to the stomach.
Without salvia, you guessed it, swallowing food can become difficult and dangerous.
Difficulty swallowing foods can prevent a senior from enjoying their favorite foods. And, it can impact their ability to eat specific food textures. This is the basis of a texture-modified diet or a soft foods diet.
Note: If you are having issues with swallowing, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. You may require additional tests to find the best diet and texture modification for you.
Oral Pain, Missing Teeth, and Dentures
Oral pain can come in many forms. Inflammation, sores, blisters, or dental issues like missing teeth are all common causes of oral pain. This pain can be aggravated by eating or drinking hot, cold, spicy, sour, or crunchy foods.
In turn, it can deter someone from eating just as much as dysphagia can.
Xerostomia and saliva both play a role here as well. If the mouth is too dry, it can be easier for bacteria to take over. Without saliva there protecting the mouth, inflammation and bacterial overgrowth are likely to synergize. This may end up resulting in cavities and loss of teeth.
The loss of a tooth can impact the ability of a senior to eat regular foods. While the loss of many teeth, or tooth decay, may require dentures to allow a senior to consume a regular diet.
Poor fitting dentures are another concern when it comes to elderly health and nutrition. If dentures are required, but are uncomfortable or painful to wear, then eating can be a painful and daunting task.
Neurological Disorders
Neurological disorders such as dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, or stroke can impact oral health and chewing ability for the elderly as well.
When coordination, strength, and/or facial muscles are negatively affected by these disorders, the risk of aspiration pneumonia increases.
Soft foods for the elderly can be helpful in these instances as we focus on health and safety during eating times.
Prevention
Many aspects of oral health in seniors relies on the ability of the mouth to make saliva. For many seniors, some medications are the cause of dry mouth. This can become a difficult situation when these medications are required for an extended period of time.
Over-the-counter saliva substitutes, swishing water around the mouth, and moistening foods before eating can help to reduce the effects of dry mouth.
Maintaining an oral health routine can be a great way to reduce the likelihood of developing an oral health issue. This includes flossing, brushing, and using mouth wash containing fluoride. There are even mouthwashes available specifically for people with xerostomia.
Make sure to talk to your dentist and healthcare team about the best solutions for you.
Lastly, it is always wise to visit the dentist to get an expert opinion on your oral health. Ideally, you should try to visit at least twice a year. But once a year is much better than never!
Impacts of Declining Oral Health
Declining oral health is a major concern in the elderly population. Without the comfort and ability to eat food safely, some seniors end up with decreased appetite, malnutrition, and even unintended weight loss.
Knowing what can happen when oral health issues are not addressed right away can be a big help in preventing declining oral health. Let’s learn more below.
Decreased Appetite
If a part of your body hurts, you are less likely to use it. The same holds true for the mouth. When dealing with oral health issues, it only makes sense that someone might feel a decrease in their appetite if they are experience mouth or jaw pain.
Aside from pain, oral health issues like dry mouth or infections can lead to a decreased sensation of taste. Or a bitter, metallic taste in the mouth which can make food less appealing to eat.
Keeping foods interesting, flavorful, and palatable is one of the key aspects of rebuilding a senior’s appetite. This can be done by adding light herbs and spices to meals, or even changing the flavor of the milk they drink.
Additionally, forming meals around a routine, or including them in a social setting can boost appetite (and quality of life) as well.
Risk for Malnutrition
When someone has a decreased appetite, among any number of oral health issues, it can make it difficult to get enough calories.
This may result in protein calorie malnutrition or micronutrient deficiencies. Protein calorie malnutrition happens when someone is not getting enough protein and calories to support their body’s functions. Nutrient deficiencies can build on each other and also lead to malnutrition.
In turn, more health issues can arise and quality of life can decrease rapidly.
Unintended Weight Loss
Preventing unintended weight loss is important for older adults. Unintended weight loss is associated with a number of negative health outcomes in addition to those from oral health issues. These outcomes can include:
- Increased fall risk
- Increased fracture risk
- Decreased mobility
- Decreased independence
Soft foods for the elderly may be helpful to stop unintended weight loss, and encourage the journey of weight gain. For more information on preventing weight loss, check out 15 Calorie Dense Foods for Weight Gain [Dietitian Approved].
101+ Delicious and Nourishing Soft Foods for the Elderly
Without further ado, here are more than 101 soft foods for the elderly. Keep in mind this list is just to get you started. Feel free to mix and match flavors, herbs and spices, and condiments to create new, delicious meals!
Nut Butters
- Peanut butter
- Almond butter
- Cashew butter
- Tahini
- Etc.
Nut butters like peanut butter, almond butter, and cashew butter are a good way to add flavor to soft foods.
Or, they can be eaten on their own.
On top of their strong flavor profile, they have a pretty strong nutrient profile as well.
Nut butters are generally high in healthy fats and proteins, as well as numerous vitamins, minerals, and calories.
One potential issue with nut butters is their thickness. Sometimes nut butters might be too thick or sticky for people with dry mouth. It may be wise to thin nut butters with water a bit so that they are safer and easier to swallow.
Fruit Purees
- Applesauce
- Banana puree
- Mango puree
- Peach puree
- Passion fruit puree
- Strawberry kiwi puree
- Strawberry basil puree
- Strawberry mint puree
- Etc.
Fruits are delicious, but unfortunately, many commonly enjoyed fruits like apples or oranges are difficult for adults with oral health issues to eat.
This means that older adults may be missing out on important vitamins, minerals, and fiber that fruits have to offer.
Pureeing fruits can be a great option to reincorporate them into an older adult’s diet. Foods like applesauce and mashed bananas are classic options.
But, virtually any fruit can be potentially pureed into an easily edible form. Different flavors can also be mixed together. Strawberry kiwi is another classic flavor, but what about strawberry basil, or strawberry mint? Experiment to find delicious combinations!
For more inspiration and information on soft fruits, check out our post on Soft Fruits for Elderly.
Flaky Fish
- Salmon
- Miso glazed salmon
- Trout
- Lemon herbed trout
- Tuna
- Tuna salad
- Etc.
Flaky fish are a healthy and delicious option for older adults who need to avoid chewing.
The muscular proteins in fish are different from those in red meat and poultry. These proteins come apart much easier than other animal proteins.
Additionally, fish like salmon, trout, and tuna are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids, an essential fatty acid.
To pump up the flavor of fish, try experimenting with different marinades, herbs, spices, seasonings, and cooking techniques. Miso glazed salmon, lemon herbed trout, or a simple tuna salad are all excellent, flavorful options for fish.
Soups and Stews
- Tomato soup
- Butternut squash soup
- Broccoli and cheddar soup
- Lentil soup
- Chicken noodle soup
- Cheesy potato soup
- Vegetable stew
- Beef stew (tender)
- Pot roast (tender)
- Etc.
When it comes to soft foods for the elderly, soups and stews are versatile, tasty options for meals.
As long as the soups don’t have large chunks of hard to chew food like tough stew beef or large chunks of pasta, they can be a safe and easy meal for those with oral health issues. Soups can also help incorporate more liquids into an older adult’s diet.
There are so many possibilities for soups and stews that it is almost impossible to list all of the available, flavorful varieties. You could try slow cooker or pressure cooker stews for an easy meal later in the day.
If you are trying to gain weight, opt for cream-based soups for their higher calorie content. Check out these delicious high calorie soup ideas!
Soft Casseroles
- Shepard’s pie
- Frittata
- Pot pie
- Twice-baked potato casserole
- Breakfast casserole
- Meatloaf
- Etc.
Some casseroles like shepherd’s pie, frittata, or pot pies are all potential soft food options that can serve as another kind of easy-to-cook meal.
Soft casseroles are highly variable in their nutritional content. But generally, these sorts of casseroles have a protein, a starch, and some nutrient-dense vegetables.
Therefore, they can serve as complete meals. Similar to soups and stews, because so many casseroles exist, it’s hard to recommend all varieties.
We want to mention that many casseroles aren’t necessarily soft to begin with. However, they can be easily made into soft foods for the elderly by how you prepare them.
Try chopping vegetables and proteins until very fine, cooking tough foods longer, and adding extra fluid to the casserole to change the texture of the meal.
Smoothies
- Strawberry banana
- Peanut butter mocha
- Spinach and blueberry
- Orange creamsicle
- Pineapple coconut
- Etc.
Smoothies allow for all kinds of fruits and vegetables to be easily consumed.
Depending on the recipe you follow, smoothies can be a delicious and nutritious soft food option.
If you want to boost the flavor of your smoothie, make it with yogurt or kefir instead of milk.
Or, try making your smoothie with orange juice or a splash of lemon juice. If you’d like to boost the nutrient profile of the smoothie, try adding a tablespoon of chia seeds or a drizzle of flax oil.
Additionally, leafy greens like spinach can usually be snuck into smoothies without creating any noticeable changes in flavor or texture.
Check out our articles, 31 Best High Calorie Smoothies for Weight Gain and 7 Delicious Homemade Protein Smoothies for Weight Gain, for some amazing ideas and recipes!
Extra Cooked Grains
- Brown rice
- White rice
- Quinoa
- Couscous
- Oats/oatmeal
- Cream of Wheat
- Porridge
- Buckwheat (soft)
- Polenta
- Bulgur
- Pastas
- Warmed bread (no seeds)
- Etc.
Grains include foods like rice, quinoa, oats, bulgur, and pastas. These foods, when normally prepared, are chewy and sometimes difficult for someone with oral health issues to safely eat.
Luckily, an easy fix for these grain foods is to cook them longer (and to add more liquid!). This will make the grains softer than normal, and will provide those with difficulty chewing a safer way to eat these foods.
Grains have a delicate flavor on their own, which can be difficult to taste. So, it can be a good idea to boost the flavor of these foods. Add cheese, tomatoes, and onion/garlic to increase taste and flavor.
Soft Dairy
- Cream cheese
- Cottage cheese
- Brie (no skin)
- Ricotta cheese
- Milk
- Kefir
- Yogurt
- Greek yogurt
- Ice cream
- Etc.
Soft dairy products like cream cheese, cottage cheese, and soft cheeses like brie can be somewhat bland on their own.
They are, however, easy to dress up with other flavors from herbs and spices that can be added to the cheese without changing the texture.
These soft dairy foods (in addition to milks and creams) are good ways to incorporate calcium, a highly important micronutrient for older adults, into a soft food diet.
Cheeses can be mixed with flavorful herbs like dill, chives, or tarragon to make soft spreads that can be eaten on top of soft foods or eaten on their own. Cottage cheese might need just a little bit of salt and pepper to become a delicious snack or side dish.
Canned and Preserved Foods
- Vegetables: corn, carrots, green beans, potatoes, etc.
- Legumes: black beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, navy beans, white beans, refried beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas, etc.
- Fruits: peaches, pears, fruit cocktail, etc.
- Pickled: onions, cucumber, peppers, okra, turnips, asparagus, etc.
Canned and preserved foods, both from the store and at home, will have a different texture than raw and frozen foods.
This is because these foods often become softer and don’t require as much chewing.
Store-bought canned and preserved foods are typically high in sodium and sugar. Be sure to check out nutrition labels before purchasing.
With homemade preserved foods, you are better able to control the sugar and salt content. If you’re looking for more information about which vegetables you can eat while following a soft foods diet, visit 15 Soft Vegetables for a Soft Food Diet.
Eggs
- Poached eggs
- Scrambled eggs
- Soft-boiled eggs
- Quiche
- Frittata
- Egg salad
- Etc.
Eggs, when prepared in the right way, can be a delicious option for a soft food meal.
Avoid tougher, chewier methods like frying or hard boiling. Instead, opt for methods like poaching, scrambling, or enjoy them as a quiche or frittata.
Eggs are a highly versatile food, and their light flavor allows them to soak up the flavors of whatever they are cooked with.
Eggs also have one of the most complete nutritional profiles. Aside from vitamin C and fiber, whole eggs contain at least a little bit of every vitamin and mineral. They are also a complete protein, and the yolk of the egg provides healthy fats.
Mashed Starches
- Mashed potatoes (no skin)
- Mashed sweet potatoes (no skin)
- Mashed carrots
- Mashed squash
- Mashed pumpkin (pureed pumpkin)
- Mashed peas
- Scalloped potatoes
- Etc.
Starchy vegetables like potatoes, carrots, squash, and peas are all great high-carbohydrate foods.
However, they may need a few texture alterations to make them safer when eaten. These kinds of starches are best consumed after being steamed, boiled, or otherwise softened, and then mashed up with liquids.
The empty canvas that is the mashed potato can be flavored with cream and butter. The sweetness of mashed carrots can be enhanced by brown sugar. The grassiness of peas can be masked with the addition of mint.
There are many ways that you can dress up these starches, making them great additions to meals as side dishes or as the main entrée itself.
Desserts
- Flan
- Mousse
- Custard
- Jell-O
- Popsicle
- Ice cream
- Frozen yogurt
- Sorbet
- Gelato
- Pudding
- Cheesecake
- Baked apples
- Baked peaches
- Milkshake
- Etc.
Soft desserts like flan, mousse, custard, Jell-O, and ice cream are all great tasting options for soft foods for the elderly. Sweet foods taste good to most people, and they can be highly appetizing to someone who might not otherwise want to eat a whole lot.
Desserts have a place in every diet, but they should not be relied on to get all the calories that a senior needs in a day, because then they might not be getting all of the vitamins, minerals, proteins, and other nutrients that they need.
Condiments
- Salad dressing
- Ketchup
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Honey mustard
- Relish
- BBQ sauce
- Teriyaki sauce
- Soy sauce
- Thousand-Island dressing
- Italian dressing
- Ranch
- Etc.
While they might not be entirely desirable on their own, condiments like dressings, mustard, ketchup, relish, mayonnaise, and many others can all be used to boost the flavor of otherwise bland soft foods.
Usually, a condiment only needs to be used in small amounts to get a great boost of flavor, so you don’t have to worry a whole lot about sodium or sugar content.
If ketchup is getting too boring, try mixing it up with unique flavor combinations!
Mayonnaise mixed with soy sauce can create a surprisingly tasty sauce for dipping or dressing, and many restaurants’ secret sauces can be easily remade with ketchup, mayo, mustard, and relish.
Soft Foods for the Elderly: Foods to Avoid
When following a soft foods diet, it’s important to know which foods are safe to eat, but also which foods you should avoid. These foods include:
- Whole and hard fruits like apples, pineapple, whole grapes, fruits with hard seeds (berries), and chunks of fruit
- Raw, crunchy, and fibrous/stringy vegetables like raw carrots, raw celery, raw broccoli, and raw kale
- Sticky foods like caramels, gummy candy, gum, and dried fruit
- Dry foods like crackers, toast, thin-crust pizza, and (unmoistened) cookies
- Crunchy foods like chips, dry cereal, and popcorn
- Hard foods like hard candy, nuts, seeds, and tough meats
- Tough and/or chewy meats like bacon, jerky, steak, and meat in a casing (such as summer sausage, chicken sausage, etc.)
Making Soft Foods for the Elderly More Enjoyable
How can you make soft foods for the elderly even safer and more delicious? Let’s look at texture, taste, and fortification.
Soft Foods for the Elderly – Texture Modifications
Some texture modifications have already been mentioned throughout this article, like pureeing, mincing, moistening, and mashing. Some of these modifications can improve the acceptability of foods, but some might be too drastic of a change to be acceptable.
For example, a pureed banana may not look as appetizing as a whole banana. In these circumstances, it is usually necessary to improve the acceptability of a food in other ways.
These ways can include trying food molds and avoiding stringy or highly fibrous textures.
Soft Foods for the Elderly – Taste Modifications
Another way to modify foods is to make them taste better. It might seem self-explanatory, but if food tastes better, it makes someone more likely to want to eat it.
Learning what tastes good to the individual person you’re making food for can help to increase the amount of food eaten per meal. Simple additions like sugar, salt, dressings, sauces, and gravy can go a long way in increasing the acceptability of food.
Soft Foods for the Elderly – Fortification
Another modification that you can make to foods is fortification. Essentially, fortifying a food means that you are adding in nutrients that aren’t usually there. Industrially, food manufacturers often fortify foods by adding vitamins and minerals, like calcium and vitamin D to orange juice.
At home, there are ways that you can fortify foods as well. This fortification will usually be macronutrient (carbs, fat, protein) additions that add calories to meals. For a super easy recipe on fortified milk, visit Weight Gain Milk: A Fortified Food to Gain Weight.
Helpful Tips and Additional Resources for Soft Foods for the Elderly
Adding moisture to foods can help to make them soft enough for safe eating. To add moisture, try using broth, butter, gravy, sauces, olive oil, sour cream, milk, or juice.
Additionally, make sure that small bites are taken, and that meal times aren’t rushed. Chew food thoroughly and set aside enough time to eat.
Below, we’ve gathered some of our top resources on soft foods and elderly nutrition. Visit the links below for more information on specific topics.
- Simple Soft Diet Meal Plan [Free PDF]
- 33 Delicious Soft Snacks [Dietitian Approved]
- Soft Food Ideas [According to a Dietitian]
- Soft Foods 101: A Comprehensive Guide
- Simple Soft Diet Meal Plan [Free PDF]
- 101 Soft Foods to Eat When Chewing Hurts [Free PDF]
- The Geriatric Dietitian’s Soft Foods Archive
Soft Foods for the Elderly Wrap-up
In all, soft foods for the elderly are often necessary due to oral health issues like dysphagia or oral pain. Soft foods can be just as tasty as harder or crunchier foods, and some regular favorites can be easily transformed into great tasting soft foods.
Remember, experiment with different flavors and food combinations to find your favorites. We wish you luck on your soft foods for the elderly journey!