What Is a Soft Diet?

A soft diet is made up of foods that are easy to chew, swallow, and digest.

• The soft diet may be ordered for clients who have trouble chewing or swallowing.  It may also be used for the client who has had head, neck, or stomach surgery. 
• The soft diet generally limits foods to those that are bland, without a lot of spices, and low in fiber.
• Some foods your client, on a soft diet, can have include: soft breads, cooked cereal, bananas, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, soup, yogurt, and pudding.

The Mechanical Soft diet consists of foods that are mashed or blended.

• Mechanical Soft is similar to the soft diet, except any food can be mashed, not just the bland foods.  
• The client can have spices and seasonings if desired.  And, foods with fiber are allowed.