Soft Food Blog

I haven't blogged about food in awhile; though preparing and cooking and eating healthy food are definitely interests of mine as an internal medicine physician. This has been a season of a very different diet for me: soft food.  After undergoing multiple dental extractions and dental implants in June in preparation for a new bridge, I have a five month timeframe for soft food only, after an initial two weeks of a liquid/pudding diet.  I wanted to share what I have discovered to help anyone I can to survive if you're facing a similar fate.

First of all, do remember this is a journey and not a destination. Call it an exercise in flexibility, a test of patience and resilience. Suffering often presents the fork in the road: become better or bitter. In this case, your diet may become sweeter, and that will be hard to avoid as you will see.  If you are diabetic, please avoid some of the higher carb/higher starch recommendations of this post. 

LIQUID/PUDDING ONLY PHASE

Bolthouse Farms Chai and Immunity Berry Superfood Blast (mix the latter with lowfat plain Greek yogurt - don't bother with 0% fat yogurt, as you need calories)

Chocolate pudding (any kind)

Chicken noodle soup (more overcooked, finely chopped versions)

Congee - Chinese rice porridge

Ice cream - think melty, though I did get away with Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia and melty mint chocolate chip

M&Ms - plain M&Ms melt in your mouth,and can rescue you from a sugar low

Naked Smoothies: ***Protein varieties (more staying power). Also like Strawberry, Green Machine

Soups - butternut squash, potato, tomato, cream soups

SOFT FOOD (this may be a progression depending on how your mouth feels)

AFGHAN FOOD 

Borani banjan - eggplant appetizer

Borani kadoo - delicious pumpkin appetizer

Chicken or Lamb Lawand (chop with sharp knife, meat usually very tender)

ALL AMERICAN FOOD

BBQ Chicken (baked, use this recipe and marinade chicken for at least 2 hours: https://healthyfitnessmeals.com/baked-chicken-breast/)

Chantilly Berry Cake (Whole Foods)

Chicken Noodle Soup (toward overcooked, finely chopped) 

Lobster Mac and Cheese (Panera)

Mac and Cheese (home recipe)

BREAKFAST *the hardest meal to avoid all carbs

Cheesy grits (not health food but tasty)

Eggs prepared softly

Kodiak blueberry waffles (microwaved, NOT toasted)

Oatmeal (steel cut oatmeal is a whole grain, less starchy)

Omelettes

Quiche (just don't overcook the crust, or go with crustless quiche)

Smoked salmon and cream cheese (just not on a toasted bagel)

CHINESE FOOD

Dumplings (Jiao zi) of any variety

Congee

Eggplant - try the one from PF Chang's

Hot and Sour Soup

Tofu dishes

ENGLISH

Biscuits - soften in the microwave

Muffins - fresh or softened in microwave

Steel cut oatmeal

GERMAN FOOD

Cakes of various kinds

Chocolate

Kugel

Spaetzle (I got away with pairing it with bratwurst meat which I took out of the casings and divided into very small pieces, cooking the meat then adding a package of coleslaw greens (cabbage and carrots shredded) all sautéed together using a little vegetable stock -tasted really well!). 

ICE CREAMS

INDIAN FOOD

Biryani

Dal

Gulab Jamon (very sweet dessert)

Idli (with sauce)

Kheer (rice pudding, made delicious with cardamom)

Korma

Lassi (super sweet mango beverage)

Naan (fresh or sprinkle with water and microwave - good with hummus as well)

Palak (or Saag) Paneer

ITALIAN

Cioppino (seafood) soup - may need to use a sharp knife

Eggplant parmesan

Gnocchi - Aldi sells a variety, some need you to add a sauce

Pasta alfredo - go for it, if you need the calories!

Pasta bolognese

Pasta marinara

Spinach lasagna

Tiramisu - Sotto Sopra has the best, Whole Foods version is also good

JEWISH

Latkes

Matzo ball soup

Noodles kugel

MEXICAN and LATINx

Black bean dishes

Breakfast burrito (if you can get homemade tortillas, all-the-softer)

Empanadas (fresh, one small bite at a time)

Enchiladas (I prefer verdes - green sauce)

Fish tacos (broiled tilapia with Old Bay and paprika, squeezed lime after cooking, garnish with cilantro, tomatoes and cheese, on small flour tortillas**)

Gazpacho

Tortilla soup

MIDDLE EASTERN AND MEDITERRANEAN

Baba-Ghanoush

Hummus (with softened bread)

Tabbouleh (may get caught in spaces but doesn't require much chewing)

PERSIAN

Arsh (delicious and nutritious soup)

Fesenjan chicken with saffron rice (take time to chop with sharp knife)

Saffron rice

POLISH

Pierogi - Aldi sells them, microwaving makes them soft

RUSSIAN

Borscht

Dumplings

SCANDINAVIAN

Salmon or other types of fish

SOUPS, STEWS and HASHES

Cream of Crab - Giant Foods has a good one, but you may need to chop the corn and add some Old Bay

Lobster Bisque - go for it with heavy cream even if your usual diet never has this

Panera Creamy Potato or Cream of Broccoli (available at Target and grocery stores). Use a sharp knife to chop broccoli into smaller pieces

Potato and Salmon Hash - make mashed potatoes in an Instant Pot (skin on) and then mix in smoked salmon, stirring until the salmon flakes are thoroughly mixed. This works best with Yukon Gold potatoes but also with sweet potatoes

Pumpkin Curry Soup with Scallops - though I've not made this over the summer, it will be a fall staple. Don't overcook those pricey scallops! Yes, scallops pair well with pumpkin and curry spices

THAI FOOD

Drunken Noodles with Chicken (Thai Landing has finely chopped chicken)

Green Curry with Tofu (Thai Landing, Belvedere Square or Spice and Dice on Joppa)

Yellow Curry with Shrimp (slice the shrimp with a sharp knife)