Soft diet (1673)
Key points below
Why does my child need this diet?
The soft diet lets your child have foods and fluids when they are not able to tolerate a general diet. After being on this diet, your child will slowly move to being able to have a general diet.
Soft diet foods
Beverages
Foods recommended: Milk, malted milk, milkshakes
Foods to avoid: Any with caffeine
Breads
Foods recommended:
- Enriched white, rye or fine whole grain bread, soft tortilla, rolls and crackers
- Plain muffins, biscuits.
- Pancakes, waffles, cornbread, soft tortillas
- Coffee cake, sweet roll
Foods to avoid:
- Coarse breads, bran rolls, breads or crackers with seeds, coconut or nuts
- Any fried breads like a doughnut
Cereals
Foods recommended: Cooked and dry cereals without bran, nuts, seeds or dried fruits
Foods to avoid: Any with bran, nuts, seeds or dried fruits
Desserts and sweets
Foods recommended:
- Plain custards and puddings
- Sherbet, ice cream, fruit ices and frozen pops
- Yogurt, cottage cheese, gelatin
- Cakes, pies and cookies without nuts or seeds
Foods to avoid:
- Any with nuts, coconut or seeds
- Deep fried desserts
Fats
Foods recommended:
- Butter, margarine
- Cream and cream substitutes, whipped cream
- Gravy
- Sour cream, salad dressings Mayonnaise
Fruits
Foods recommended:
- Cooked, frozen, canned or dried fruits without seeds
- Avocado, banana, citrus sections without membrane (such as mandarin oranges)
- Fruit juices
Foods to avoid:
- Other raw fruits such as apples, oranges
- Canned, frozen or dried fruits with seeds and tough skins
- Any not tolerated
Potato or substitutes
Foods recommended:
- Mashed, baked (without skin), or creamed potatoes, sweet potatoes
- White rice, pasta and noodles
Foods to avoid:
- Hashbrowns, fried potatoes, potato skins, french fries
- Wild or brown rice, hominy
- Potato chips
Soups
Foods recommended:
- Broth, bouillon, consommé
- Any made from allowed food items
- Cream soups
Foods to avoid: Any soups made with foods to avoid
Vegetables
Foods recommended: Soft, tender, cooked vegetables such as green beans, asparagus, carrots, beets, peas, pumpkin, spinach, squash, tomatoes, celery, mushrooms
Foods to avoid:
- Raw vegetables
- Corn, others with coarse skins
- Fried vegetables
Miscellaneous
Foods recommended:
- Mild sauces and gravy
- Sugar, jellies, honey, syrup
Foods to avoid:
- Pickles, olives, relishes
- Coconut, nuts
- Potato chips and other fried snack foods; popcorn
- Jams and marmalades
Sample menu for child 7 to 10 years old
Breakfast
- Orange juice (½ cup)
- Cream of wheat (1 cup)
- Banana (1)
- Margarine (1 tsp)
- Reduced-fat (2%) Milk (1 cup)
Lunch
- Cream of tomato soup (1 cup)
- Saltine crackers (4)
- Macaroni and cheese (3/4 cup)
- Canned fruit cocktail (1/2 cup)
- Reduced-fat (2%) Milk (1 cup)
Dinner
- Roast chicken (3 oz)
- Mashed potatoes (1/2 cup)
- Gravy (1/4 cup)
- Green beans, steamed (1/2 cup)
- Peaches, canned (1/2 cup)
- Dinner roll (1)
- Margarine (1 tsp)
- Sugar cookie (1)
- Reduced-fat (2%) Milk (1 cup)
Morning snack
- Pudding (1/2 cup)
Afternoon snack
- Applesauce (1/2 cup)
Evening snack
- Banana bread (not nuts) (1 slice)
For other health and wellness information, check out this resource: https://kidshealth.org/ChildrensWi/en/parents