Soft Diet At times during your treatment it may be necessary to follow a special diet to correct nutritional problems that have occurred. Only your doctor or dietitian should decide when you need to follow a special diet and for how long of a period you should follow that diet. The soft diet is often used after you are able to eat full-liquids, but aren't ready to start back on a regular diet of solid food. This type of diet can be used for long periods of time because it meets your nutrient requirements. The foods in a soft diet are bland, low-fat foods that are cooked, mashed, pureed, or blended. Examples of Soft Diet Foods from NCI: All beverages Breads including French, Vienna, Italian, seedless rye, white, refined whole wheat, cornbread If tolerated: Muffins, French Toast, crackers, biscuits, rolls, pancakes, waffles Refined, cooked or ready-to-eat cereals such as cream of wheat, farina, hominy grits, cornmeal, oatmeal, puffed rice All flours except whole-grain, bran, or wheat All cheeses except sharp or strongly flavored cheeses and those with seeds and spices Ice milk, ice cream, sherbet, ices, custards, gelatins, or other desserts with allowed fruits Eggs cooked any way but fried Butter, cream, cream substitutes, vegetable shortening and oils, margarine, mayonnaise, sour cream, commercial French dressing All juices and nectars, avocado, banana, canned or cooked apples, apricots, cherries, grapefruit and orange sections without membrane, peaches, pears, seedless grapes, tomatoes, soft melons, such as watermelon, if tolerated Tender beef, lamb, veal, or liver that is baked, broiled, creamed, roasted, or stewed, roasted or stewed pork Chicken, cornish game hen, turkey, chicken livers Cooked, fresh or frozen fish without bones, tuna, salmon Creamy peanut butter All milk products Baked, boiled, creamed, scalloped, mashed, au gratin potatoes; mashed sweet potatoes; dumplings; noodles, brown or white rice, spaghetti Bouillon, broth, consomme strained cream and vegetable soups Apple butter, butterscotch candy, caramels, chocolate, plain fudge, lollipops, marshmallows, mints, honey, jelly, syrups, sugars in small amounts Aspic, catsup, gelatin, gravy, pretzels, soy sauce, vinegar, sauces including brown, cheese, cream, tomato and white, all finely chopped or ground leaf herbs and spices

Sample Soft Diet Meal Pattern from NCI   Breakfast 1/2 cup fruit juice 2 eggs scrambled 1 slice toast 1 tsp butter or margarine Jelly Sugar and cream Beverage Snack 1/2 cup cereal 1 cup milk Sugar Lunch 1/2 cup fruit juice 2 oz. meat, fish, or poultry 1/2 cup vegetable 2 slices of bread 1 tsp butter or margarine 1 cup milk Snack Banana 2 tbsp creamy peanut butter Dinner 4 oz. meat, fish, or poultry 1 cup potato 1/2 cup vegetable 1 slice bread or roll 1 tsp. butter or margarine 1 serving fruit or allowed dessert Beverage Snack 1/2 cup fruit or allowed dessert 1 cup milk, milkshake, or pasteurized eggnog