We tell you what the doctor means when he advises you to follow a soft diet, the allowed and forbidden foods, whether it is to cut diarrhea from gastroenteritis or if you have swallowing problems, teeth problems, etc...
The bland diet is the primary recommendation usually made by the doctor in case of gastroenteritis.
But it is not the only one since there is not only one soft diet, although we always relate it to the diet that helps to cut diarrhea.
We tell you what types of soft diet exist, the foods of the soft diet and how to follow it.
What Is A Soft
Diet?
In this case, the "soft" diet is not literal; it can include "hard" foods. When this diet is recommended to help digestive problems, for example, due to gastric viruses, the correct term would be "gastric protection diet," since it is not about making a diet with "soft" foods, but that these are easily digestible.
But sometimes, the soft diet is a liquid diet because it has to do with chewing problems, for example.
Why Do A Soft
Diet?
The only reason to go on a soft diet is if your doctor recommends it:
✱ The most common is to do it when there is an intestinal disease such as gastroenteritis that causes disorders such as diarrhea, nausea or vomiting. The aim is to give little work to the stomach and also to stop too frequent bowel movements.
✱ It can also be followed when there are problems with teeth or gums that indicate this. Or when there are swallowing difficulties due to inflammation of the esophagus or throat.
✱ Physical activity may also be necessary in case of surgical operation, to prepare for it and/or after having undergone it. Also in other cases, such as when you have to undergo a colonoscopy for example.
Who can eat a soft diet? Adults as well as children, as long as it is under medical indication.
Types of Soft
Diets
Astringent: Seeks to curb problems such as diarrhea, stomach pain due to gastritis, etc.
Non-astringent: Seeks to solve chewing or swallowing problems; in this case, we are talking about a diet for dysphagia, that is, for people who have an inflamed esophagus or throat and cannot swallow.
Specific: for colonoscopy, for a surgical operation, etc.
Astringent Soft
Diet Foods
The foods
allowed in the soft diet are the following:
- Boiled white rice
- Boiled wheat semolina
- Boiled or steamed potatoes
- Bread, better if toasted
- Cooked vegetables (preferably carrots, pumpkin or zucchini).
- French omelette
- Boiled, grilled or baked chicken and fish (if you choose meats, make sure they are the leanest parts of them)
- Apple grated and somewhat darkened.
- Applesauce, pear compote...
- Jelly
Foods of The
Soft, Not Astringent Diet
✱ Vegetable broths, chicken, fish (unseasoned except with a bit of salt)
✱ Very digestive vegetable creams such as carrot, pumpkin, zucchini and avoid other more acidic vegetables such as tomato, peppers, etc... They should be low in salt, not spicy. Just boil the vegetables and mash them.
✱ Vegetable puree with legumes, chicken, fish... Very mashed and rinsed with broth for a thin texture so that they are effortless to swallow.
✱ Applesauce, pear compote...
✱ Yogurt
Why is it recommended to eat toasted bread on a soft diet? Toasted bread is usually recommended in the astringent soft diet because toasting also makes it more digestible.
Why is it better to grate the apple and let it darken? The oxidation (blackening) of its pulp causes the appearance of tannins, compounds that enhance its astringent action, that is, to help cut diarrhea.
Forbidden Foods
in Any Soft Diet
- Foods that are difficult to digest such as dried fruits, fried foods, pastries, precooked foods...
- Flatulent foods such as cabbages, legumes, etc.
- Acids such as tomatoes, citrus fruits, etc.
- Exciting foods such as coffee, soft drinks, tea, etc.
- Spicy foods
- Sweets
Recommendations When Following A Soft Diet
✱ Ask your doctor how long to follow this diet, which is usually no more than 2 or 3 days, after which you can begin to introduce a gradually more varied diet. If you do not feel any improvement after these first 2 or 3 days, consult your doctor again.
✱ Chew each mouthful thoroughly to swallow it as crushed as possible and well salivated. Remember that saliva contains enzymes that already initiate the digestion process.
✱ Eat small amounts so as not to fill the stomach and eat more frequent meals.
✱ Take food warm, neither hot nor cold, because, with a temperature closer to the body temperature, the stomach works better.
✱ The diet should be low in salt, and if you use any seasoning, use herbs that help digestion, such as oregano.
✱ It is essential to hydrate well, drinking water in small sips or infusions that help digestion, such as chamomile, lemon verbena, or pennyroyal, and, as we said before, always warm and in small glasses.
An Example of An Astringent Soft Diet Menu
- Breakfast: White bread toast, a slice of turkey breast (without starch, preservatives...), yogurt, and digestive infusion.
- Mid-morning: Apple compote or cooked 5 minutes in the microwave.
- Lunch: White rice, boiled or grilled white fish, and grated apple.
- Snack: Grated apple and digestive infusion.
- Dinner: Vegetable cream (carrot, pumpkin, zucchini) and French omelet, yogurt.
- Breakfast: Rice or other cereal
cooked in milk and mashed (with enough milk to make it very liquid. Infusion.
- Mid-morning and
mid-afternoon: Applesauce or unsweetened homemade fruit smoothie. Infusion.
- Lunch and dinner: Clear vegetable cream
with mashed chicken or fish inside. Liquid yogurt or kefir.
- Throughout the day: Vegetable or chicken broth.
What Would the Soft
Diet Be Like If You Are Vegetarian or Vegan?
The only thing that
changes is that neither meat nor fish would be taken. These foods can be
replaced by cooked and mashed legumes or tofu. In this case, the tofu must be
white, neither smoked nor spiced or spicy.
If the diet is lacto-ovo-vegetarian, milk, yogurts, and eggs can be consumed. Otherwise, cow's milk and yogurts can be replaced by vegetable versions (soy, almond, etc.).
Is the Soft Diet Good
for Weight Loss?
No, the soft diet is not designed for weight loss. As we have seen, it facilitates digestion, helps to cut diarrhea, ends intestinal discomfort, or helps to swallow, depending on the case, but it is not a slimming diet.